Midnight Riders: The Story of the Allman Brothers Band

by Scott Freeman

In this riveting tale of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll, Freeman brings to life the turbulent career of the original Southern rock band. This history includes the band's blues roots, their wild early days on the road and their recent resurgence.

Genres: Music, Biography, Nonfiction, History, Southern, Music Biography, Biography Memoir

343 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 1995

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Rod Horncastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite bands of all time. Great songs for sure... but it also presented Warren Haynes to the world. That's priceless!

Sometimes it's amazing these people managed to produce any music at all. It seemed to get in the way of them doing drugs, more drugs, alcohol, even more drugs, and eventually fighting about financial matters that they should have been concerned about... but then there were the drugs to consider. They didn't seem to care about their wives or children or fans, or even showing up for a gig.

Somebody who reviewed this book commented that some of the band members don't think fondly of the author of this book. As if that validates the musicians credibility and the truth. Nope. Just look at the arrests, charges, deaths, failed marriages, neglected children, missed gigs, failed studio sessions... don't need the author for that. And all that crap is embarrassingly on almost every page of this book. Party like a Rockstar indeed.

But the book is also full of the music. And that is what is so precious. The greatest mixture of Country, Jazz, Blues, Rock, R&B etc. The Allman's were never just a dumb southern rock band.

I hope that someday keyboardist "Chuck Leavell" writes a book. He apparently failed to do all the required drugs and managed to make an amazing career with his keyboard skills (he's still a touring member of the Rolling Stones) It's great to see that he's friends with Warren Haynes (Gov't Mule) and that these jams continue on to this day.

A great book of the blessings and curses of the music industry.

[John Branney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers the Allman Brothers Band from Duane and Gregg's boyhood through 1994. The book is well written and researched and is hard to put down.

The history of the Allman Brothers Band is tragic.

Drug and alcohol abuse dominated the band's existence and helped fuel both personal and financial tragedy for most of the band members and their families.

It is disgusting to think about the amount of money these guys wasted on drugs, alcohol, divorces, and extravagant life styles. Their drug-fueled behavior was shameful and embarrassing, especially when you compare them with hard-working everyday folks who financially struggle just to feed and cloth their families. This band never grew up.

It is interesting to speculate what would have happened to this band if Duane Allman would have been around. Although he also had his own alcohol and drug demons, he was the driving force behind the band.

I once read a quote that said, "If a person is destined to drown he will find a way to do it on the desert." In my opinion, this band and its members were destined to drown with or without Duane Allman, because of the alcohol and drug abuse.

I am looking forward to reading Gregg Allman's new book to see how he spins the chaos he created and who he blames for his failures.

After reading Midnight Riders, I have no sympathy for Gregg Allman, just pity.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Midnight Riders: The Story of the Allman Brothers Band by Scott Freeman (Little, Brown and Co. 1995)(784.54) is another interesting take on the rise and fall of the Allman Brothers Band. Here’s a quote from Midnight Riders: The Story of the Allman Brothers Band by Scott Freeman (Little, Brown and Co. 1995) concerning the breakup of the band after Gregg testified in the Scooter Herring trial:
“The formal announcement of the breakup came in mid-August in, of all things, a letter to the editor that Jaimoe sent to the Macon News after a reporter from the Washington Post called to ask him about the future of the band.
“There is no more Allman Brothers Band,” Jaimoe wrote. “So far as Gregg Allman is concerned, the so-called driving force behind the band, he was no more than any of the original band. He wrote a ton of great songs and we played some great music. I love Gregg Allman, but for eight years I have seen him hurt the people who loved him…he wasted himself on the ones that did not give a damn more than what they could get out of him. They are the vampires, leeches, etc. He overstepped his boundaries when he got a man who saved his life more than once a seventy-five-year jail sentence. Gregg Allman could be a star like Elvis, Sinatra, or Elton John. I am sure they all have hang-ups too. I certainly have many hang-ups. For a man that has so much going for him, Gregg is a very insecure person. For these reasons, I can no longer work with or for Gregg Allman, but I still pray for God to help him and all of us. For he is a human being and I love him still.”
“After Jaimoe’s pronouncement, the others soon followed. “There’s no way we can work with Gregg Again. Ever,” Dickey told Rolling Stone. “When a man who’s worked with you for two years and saved your life twice is sitting there with his life on the line, and you walk into court and tap on the mike and say, “Testing, one, two, three’: which is a fact, it’s what Gregg did. And Scooter’s sitting there with his fucking life on the line.”
“Butch laughed sardonically when he was told that Gregg had decided to put together a solo band and continue playing music. “Who’d want to see him perform?” Butch said. “I tell you, he must b e ready to duck bricks. I wouldn’t get on stage with him, even if I didn’t know him, for fear of my own life.” - Midnight Riders: The Story of the Allman Brothers Band
by Scott Freeman (Little, Brown and Co. 1995), p. 237.

There is additional material presented, but the saga ends at that point for all intents and purposes. My rating: 5/10, finished 11/16/12.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scott Freeman is both a local (Macon, GA) journalist and a musician, so this is a pretty good biography of the band. Still an outsider's view, though, since Gregg Allman and Dickie Betts wouldn't talk to him. My main impression of this book is, How did these guys write such brilliant music when they were SO wasted ALL THE TIME???

[Andrew Mitofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent recounting of a truly amazing band and group of musicians and the first band I ever saw in concert. This book helped me rediscover some of the Allman Brothers best songs and learn of their history and meaning while introducing me to new ones I hadn’t heard before. After reading this book and understanding the author’s appreciation of the musicians I now consider myself even luckier to have seen the Allman Brothers about a dozen times, once with an Eric Clapton encore, and several Gregg Allman solo shows. After reading this, one is left to wonder how much more amazing music they could have written if drugs and alcohol weren’t such an essential part of their lives, though it’s impossible to know if their actual catalog would exist had they not partaken in such activities. Nevertheless, a must read for any Allman Brothers and music fan. While this book ends at around the mid 1990s, I would love to read a sequel given the continuation the band had through the mid 2010s until its eventual retirement. While the band may be no more, the music will always live on 🍑🍄.

[Patrick Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent book but not a lot ground breaking for anyone who has followed this group over the years watching their ups and downs. Their outstanding music and drug abuse. Their failed relationships and their constant struggle to keep the music pushing the envelope while ignoring the maintenance required to keep a large group of people on the same page.

I was a bit disappointment that the book ended just after Warren Haynes joined and before Derek Trucks came aboard. An updated version of the book could take the story farther down the line.

All in all, for anyone just learning of the Allman Brothers this would be a good book. For those already into them, or those that grew up listening to them and watching the headlines, it's more like a recap known events.

[1.1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great story of music, passion, drugs, deceit, and disaster as they forged and tore a great band apart. Amazing this band managed to pull out of the nosedive at all, let alone twice. Loved it just for the well-documented inspirations, which reminded me that I've never given a thorough listen to Bobby 'Blue' Bland and some other iconic musicians, and the album post mortems conducted on Allman Brothers material were also sharp.

Definitely worth a look if you ever gave a damn about rock music generally, or the Allman Brothers specifically.

[Jim Townsend · Rating 5 out of 5]

A greatly detailed biography of one of the greatest rock bands ever, even though the band members themselves were not interviewed for it, as author Scott Freeman states in his acknowledgements section. I did not review the hardcover edition because I had this one. Very readable, the book tells the entire story of the band from its very beginnings until 1994, the triumphs, the tragedies, the successes and failures. Any fan of rock music, and particularly Southern rock, should read this book.

[Bruce Kirby · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was well-written but as one review on Goodreads indicated, the drug abuse depicted was unbelievable. You should know what you're getting into before you read this book. I still love the music but it shed a new light on this band.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly well-researched, and in an approachable, laid-back narrative style.

[Colleen Garnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving it so far. The first third of the book was my favorite because it deals with the lives of the musicians before the excesses of fame take over. I've got about another quarter to go. I have a hard time critiquing (sp?) biographies. I don't know if any of it wasn't true, so how can I argue? This guy seems to have done a lot of research and has relevant quotes from major players, so I am on board. The subject matter itself is interesting enough to keep me reading even if the writing isn't good, which it is.

Update: great book. Lots of ups and downs and several sad endings, but that's how it was.

[Delano Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I read and enjoyed this book, I had the rare opportunity to speak with one of the roadies, Red Dog, who had nothing good to say about this portrayal of the band. There is so much history with the band, so many things to say, many of which are still unfolding. Much of the mystique around this band comes from their experiences and the unique time in our country's history, which may not traverse time or translate well to pen. I don't know if there will ever be a definitive book about the ABB, further adding to the mystery...and that may be a good thing.

[Crowey]

An excellent, though somewhat dated, biography of one of my favourite bands. It covers the period of its formation up to the early 90s - so doesn't cover Dickey Betts getting kicked out, or Derek Trucks coming in. But covers well the important stuff - the original band. It is also especially good reminding one of the bizarre Greg & Cher years! :) It also has an excellent discography at the end. Another good read.

[mikeyO · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, really cool book about how the band came together, wrote music, toured, and of course partied their asses off. Some pretty tragic events as well, but I don't want to spoil it. For anyone who knows anything about the band, you know what I'm talkin about.
You really get the feel for how gruelling it can be to be on tour as a rock star.

[Patrick Farr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great insight to the roller coaster ride that has been The Allman Brother Band. Good read if you want to know how and why they made the decisions they made over the years. Greg Allman is lucky to be alive if his drug use is not exaggerated by the author. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll!

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good view of the band. Learned a lot from the book about the history of the music as well as the people in the band.

[Vicky Beltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read about the band.