Gregg Allman in his own words: ‘I’m not a superstar’

Editor’s note: Southern rock pioneer and Allman Brothers Band star Gregg Allman, who died Saturday at age 69, granted his share of interviews. They include a lengthy 1984 conversation with former Telegraph writer Scott Freeman. Today, we share some of Allman’s wit and wisdom from reporter Joe Kovac Jr.’s compilation of excerpts of Allman’s remarks from the 1970s and ’80s, many of which provide a glimpse of Allman’s music and his personality.

I’m not a superstar. I’m an accomplished, successful artist.

I tend to take things on myself as being my fault if something goes wrong.

I was never really satisfied with the recording of my voice singing on an album until even after the Allman Brothers first started recording. ... I wasn’t satisfied with my vocals until the “Fillmore East” record, which was live.

Feeling worry and remorse doesn’t get a damned thing done.

I play for peace of mind.

You people (in Macon) love to boogie. I know because I used to live here myself.

I started out playing guitar, playing lead guitar, and my brother played rhythm guitar and sang. I grew up listening to rhythm and blues mostly, and blues — “Howlin’ Wolf,” “Sonny Boy” Williamson. I met this black guy when everybody else was listening to “Surfer Joe.” We hung out and played in the same band together. He caught a lot of hell from his friends for hanging out with this white boy. He took me over to this little combination barber shop, pawn shop, record shop. And they had all these records over there in these bins, like a truck had just dumped all these 45s in there. I found some incredible records in there.

It’s important to know every aspect of music.

I used to throw every spice imaginable into the food I prepared. I don’t do that anymore.

I’d played piano in a band before, but I’d never played a Hammond (B-3 organ). I’d sat down behind one I think one, maybe two times in my life. And it was strange there at first, learning how to fly on one of those things.

I have to listen to other people’s music.

Yeah, it’s true. I wrote (“Whipping Post”) down on an ironing board. I was living in this house. It was real dark, and I couldn’t find a pencil. Plus there was a child there. The house was pitch black, and I struck matches and used them to write the song. ... The next morning I caught hell for it.

It was one of those songs that comes to you in five minutes. But they aren’t all that way.

Good music is always going to be enjoyed. People don’t like crap.

You can’t get out and work yourself to death because it becomes a job. You lose your creativity.

When the breakup came down with me and Cher, I came back East with one thing on my mind, which was to get the Brothers back together. I was the one who initiated it.

I came back from California after realizing I couldn’t live out there.

I was on a long, long, down-deep, negative trip from not playing. And I was homesick and missed my buddies. All I wanted to do was play.

One thing I have to have to write songs is peace of mind.

I still don’t have a whole lot of confidence. I still don’t have as much as I should.

I don’t think one ever knows what one wants to reach, you know?

There was a lot of political stuff going wrong with the Allman Brothers Band. It was mostly outside hassles.

I stopped drinking whiskey and just started feeling altogether good about myself.

When I go out on stage, I’m sure I’m giving the best I can.

The music now is either real good or real bad, and they know who they are, the real bad groups.

I often feel (brother) Duane’s presence.

You never know how much you lean on somebody until they die.

I was (angry) at (Duane) for dying. ... I was afraid. Man, I was every emotion you could be. But you immediately muster up all the strength that you can possibly have in your being. ... It’s a real test.

Of course, all things must pass. All things must come to an end.

Lord, ain’t nothin’ like a hometown crowd.

This story was originally published May 30, 2017 at 3:02 PM with the headline "Gregg Allman in his own words: ‘I’m not a superstar’."