How has the Allman Brothers Band changed since you and Woody left?
WH: The vibe now is so much better than it was in ’97 when Woody and I left the band. When we left the band, there was no rehearsing, no writing, no sound-checking, no plans for recording. The band was just going through the motions, playing live the same material that we already knew. Gov’t Mule, on the other hand, was writing and recording and rehearsing, constantly pushing ourselves creatively. That’s where the Allman Brothers are now. The Allman Brothers are back in a mode where everybody’s excited about breaking new ground. We just recorded a brand new record. It’s the first record since Where It All Begins, which was released in ’94. So it’s a really good feeling for everybody to be back into the music, and in some ways the vibe is better than ever. RD: One of the most obvious differences between the current incarnation of the band and the outfit you left in ’97 is the absence of Dickey Betts. Did his departure spark the creative rejuvenation of the band? WH: Not necessarily. Dic
