Derek Trucks Guests With Phish For The Only Time On This Date In 1999

Guitarist Derek Trucks sat-in with Vermont jam quartet Phish for the first and only time on this date in 1999. Trucks came out for Phish’s encore of “Possum” and “Funky Bitch” at the Blockbuster Pavilion in Charlotte on July 7, 1999.

Derek was a mere 20-years-old at the time, but showed off his ample skill set over the course of his collaboration with Phish. One summer later the Allman Brothers Band would often perform long and exploratory versions of “Mountain Jam.” A version in Holmdel, New Jersey was a bit over the top for Gregg Allman who according to Derek told his mates, “OK, who’s the fucking Phish fan? That was too much.”

Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio has shared the stage with Derek a number of times and holds Trucks in high regard. When JamBase asked Trey about the potential for starting a new band, Anastasio mentioned Derek by name as a potential second guitarist.

The two guitarists collaborated twice at the 2019 LOCKN’ festival in Arrington, Virginia. Derek joined the Trey Anastasio Band for their entire second set and encore on August 23. Anastasio returned the favor by guesting with the Tedeschi Trucks Band for a complete performance of Derek & The Dominos’ iconic Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs album on August 24.

While video of Derek’s 1999 guest spot has yet to surface, take a listen to audio of the whole show shared by YouTube’s From The Aquarium. Trucks comes out around the 2:45:00 mark:

[Originally Published: July 7, 2017]