Derek Trucks Reveals Valuable Lesson Learned From Duane Allman Via Butch Trucks

Guitarist Derek Trucks was born into The Allman Brothers Band family and achieved superstardom when he joined the legendary group in 1999. The co-leader of the Tedeschi Trucks Band and nephew of Allman Brothers drummer Butch Trucks revealed an important insight he gained from ABB co-founder Duane Allman after his uncle shared a story from his early days of performing with the late great guitarist.

Both Derek Trucks and his brother can thank Duane Allman for their names. While sibling Duane Trucks of Widespread Panic shares the same first name as the late guitar hero, Derek’s forename was inspired by Allman in a more indirect fashion. Duane Allman was a key member of Eric Clapton‘s short lived yet highly influential Derek And The Dominos. Derek was named after the supergroup who released the iconic Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs album.

Derek’s parents Chris and Debbie Trucks were in the room when The Allman Brothers Band played the historic 1971 shows at Fillmore East documented on the iconic live album and often spun Live At Fillmore East and other ABB recordings for their sons. “The ‘Fillmore East’ and ‘Layla’ record were kind of my first memories,” Trucks told the Star Tribune. “I started playing music and the thing that hit me first was the sound of Duane’s slide [guitar]. It was just something different about it. The energy he played with. And the way everyone talked about him.”

Butch Trucks told his nephew about an experience he had with Duane Allman before the guitar hero’s tragic death in 1971. “There was one night when Butch let off the gas a little bit and he wasn’t giving everything he had,” Derek explained. “Duane stopped midtune and was giving it to Butch. The switch went on and it never went off. I always carry that: ‘You never take a night off.’”

Tedeschi Trucks Band pulls into Minneapolis tomorrow for their first of two consecutive shows at The Armory. “It’s nice to dig into the repertoire a little deeper,” Derek shared with the Star Tribune about why he enjoys two-night stands. “It’s nice to give the crew a day off from loading in and load out. We work hard because we tour a lot but the crew works twice as hard, maybe three times as hard.”

Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks swung by Chicago on Tuesday. Derek threw out the first pitch at Guaranteed Rate Field before the Chicago White Sox took on the Kansas City Royals.

Margo Price opens in Minneapolis as she will for the rest of the TTB’s summer tour. Scroll below for a full list of Tedeschi Trucks Band tour dates.