Gregg Allman Talks Dickey Betts, Allman Brothers & Bob Weir

In a revealing new new interview with K-Earth 101 Gregg Allman discusses his relationship with Dickey Betts, how he feels about Bob Weir, the legacy of the Allman Brothers Band and other topics.

In a follow-up to recent statements about Dickey Betts, the guitarist who parted ways with the Allman Brothers Band in 2000, Gregg seems to hint it’s only a matter of time before he performs with Dickey again. When asked about his beef with Betts and his recent comments, Gregg responded “Well, it makes no sense to hold grudges for the rest of your life, that’s a childish thing. You just gotta let bygones be bygones. You know, there was that time that we were climbing fool’s hill: you know we all gotta climb it! When you have six or seven or eight guys playing together, there’s inevitably going to be some distention between two of them, sooner or later. Especially over that many years. So, you know, you get it fixed and go on! You know? But if nobody says anything and you sit there and don’t talk it out, it simmers and it festers and it simmers and it festers and it gets bigger and bigger and nastier and it’s just not right, you know?”

When asked whether he’d perform with Dickey Betts in private or in public, Gregg said “I didn’t say whether just me and him would be sitting in a room, having a guitar pull…two writers, two players, and one guitar. We used to do that all the time. And we’d laugh, and we’d marvel at each other’s playing.” When pushed on whether a Gregg/Dickey summit would happen Allman said “I think that you can probably count on it, bro.”

Gregg is open to an Allman Brothers Band reunion tour, “If it comes to pass that the Allman Brothers reform for old time’s sake, it won’t be for a night. It’ll be for a whole damn tour of major cities. And if I play with Dickey again, it will be for more than one night. It will be to play in front of all the people who we always played in front of.” However don’t expect it to happen this year or next. “We’re talking about something that you shouldn’t even think about happening before 2017,” Allman said.

Interviewer Brian Ives brought up the possibility of Gregg teaming with Bob Weir for a potential tour, but Allman would have bigger plans in mind. “Bobby Weir is one of my favorite people on this earth. Yes, I think it would be wonderful if we all merged and came up with something brand-new. Not necessarily Grateful Dead songs and Allman Brothers songs, but all-new material,” Gregg said.

Gregg Allman is currently on the road with The Doobie Brothers.