Blackberry Smoke Plays Brit Turner’s Favorite Classic Rock Songs With Special Guests At Atlanta Tribute Concert

Blackberry Smoke honored the life and legacy of late founding drummer Brit Turner with a hometown tribute concert in Atlanta on Friday (August 23). The band devoted the start of their encore at Chastain Park to guest-filled performances of classic rock favorites Turner loved culminating with a rousing rendition of “Surrender” featuring Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen.

Brit Turner tragically died in March at age 57. The drummer had bravely battled glioblastoma since he was diagnosed with the form of brain cancer in 2022. Blackberry Smoke dedicated their lone Atlanta show of the year to Turner’s memory and screened tributes to Brit filmed by several of his musical heroes throughout the night.

The band was joined by Atlanta-based rocker Butch Walker on guitar and vocals when they returned to the Cadence Bank Amphitheatre stage for the encore on Friday. “We decided we’re going to get together and play some of Brit’s favorite songs if that’s okay with you,” BBS frontman Charlie Starr declared before Walker led a chant of “We love Brit!”

Butch Walker and Charlie Starr co-helmed Blackberry Smoke on a cover of Van Halen’s 1979 hit “Dance The Night Away.” The song was the first of three cover debuts rolled out in Brit’s honor.

Next, Jackyl’s Jesse James Dupree fronted the band on the AC/DC classic “Have A Drink On Me.” The Australian rockers issued the song on their famed 1980 studio album, Back In Black.

“Butch was at our first rehearsal. He’s seen everything from the beginning. Then, Jesse produced our first record and took us on the road for the first month of our career in 2001,” Starr told Rolling Stone about the band’s conncection to Walker and Jesse James Dupree.

Blackberry Smoke brought out Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick to join the fray on “Surrender” to end the three-song string. Butch Walker and Dax Nielsen also added to BBS’ debut version of Cheap Trick’s 1978 hit. Starr and Walker traded verses on “Surrender.”

Check out fan-shot video of “Have A Drink On Me” and “Surrender” below:

All three covers were debuts for Blackberry Smoke. The band ended the night and Brit Turner tribute sans guests with an extended version of their own “Ain’t Much Left Of Me.”

Blackberry Smoke heads to Black Mountain, North Carolina for a two-night stand this weekend. The group then travels overseas for a tour of Europe and the UK.