A remembrance of tribute to the great drummer and major character on the fifth anniversary of his death. Claude Hudson “Butch” Trucks, 5/11/47 - 1/24/17
Wonderful tribute to a cool and interesting guy and great drummer. Ironically I was listening in my truck to Gregg singing “God Rest His Soul” when your email blast came through. I too, Alan, was at the Roots Rock Revival, year-one. It was quite special. (Signed up for year-two but the dates changed.) I love that Piedmont Park photo. It reminds me of one morning at the camp when I walked into the jam barn and Butch was in there all alone. He was drumming a soft but clearly audible pattern on his legs - with his sticks. Asked me if I could hear it. “Yes I can,” I told him. “Not me,” he replied and kinda chuckled. “Too many years sitting in front of big Marshall stacks!” Now he laughed. Thanks for posting this. What a legacy.
At Duane’s final gig the powers that be at Merriweather Post cut the power late at night to force a show ending, but Butch and Jaimoe continued a jam in the darkened bowl for what seemed like 20-30 minutes. (Who could judge time then let alone 50 years on.) When power came back on so did the Brothers, picking up where they’d left off. Years later at a Sea Level gig Jaimoe remembering with me, wished someone had been running real tape that night - what he considered the highest high of the original band. All of us there that night - on stage and off - will carry that jam in the dark with us forever!
Just a Fan here. Being a guitar player, I was drawn to the Allman Brothers Band due to Duane and Dickey then Derek and Warren. But when I saw them live for the first time, I felt something in my entire body that you just can't FEEL on a record or CD. Those DRUMS. I was lucky enough to see Butch with the Allman Bros about 7 times and always had to get within the first 5 rows because up there, you could feel the drums knocking your whole body around and it's something that in my experience was unique only to Butch and Jaimoe. What an incredible experience it was to see them Live and in person! I remember waking up 5 years ago and opening up Facebook and seeing Butch trending in news stories... I was totally gutted and still am.
Alan, dear friend. Thank you for posting your heart's writing on the occasion of this sad anniversary. I KNEW this exhilaration from close-up too: "... it was like coming home to something very special and indescribable. It was a physical sensation as much as anything; something I felt deep in my bones and which gave me a feeling that I couldn’t have known I missed so much until I felt it again. I wish every one of you could have watched an Allman Brothers show from the side of this percussion powerhouse. It was an overwhelming experience and one that helped you understand the very deep, profound impact the drummers had on the greatness of the music." Through the years...since 1971 when I first saw them at Vanderbilt University (at age 18, I had hitchhiked from Bloomington, Indiana) til the last time I was at the Beacon... I am so thankful for the music and my side stage otherworldly experience... THAT FREEDOM... they brought. xo Mindy
Heartfelt words as this day passes. Thank you again for this Alan. Trying to remember the last time I saw Butch, it had to be in Atlanta, at least 20 years back, with the Brothers. Luckily, I saw him and the band perform 14 times at A Warehouse, New Orleans every performance there for them, of course, in the parks too, (Audubon & City) over the weekends after shows, like Piedmont Park. As you well know, NOLA was a place they could call home, each performance was just that, a performance by all members. Later on, my younger brother and friends met Butch one day at the farm, sounds like it was a bit, well crazy. But.. everything in those days was a bit. We will always love Butch, just have to. RIP forever.
Had backstage passes to a few Beacon shows many years ago and got to sit in the wings on Butch's side of the stage for just the vantage point you mentioned and it was a powerful one indeed. I was also at a 2014 Beacon show in which Butch was sick and unable to perform. The show went on but it was never more obvious how much Butch drove that train than when he wasn't there. Five years later, still sorry for your and all of our loss.
This is without a doubt my favorite of all since you started this particular system. The reason is Butch was not only a great guy but one I had the pleasure of spending time with. He was everything mentioned here in this column and much more! Thank you very much for putting this together I will save it and refer to it again and again.
I knew Butch pretty well. I met Melinda and helped indirectly in getting Seth into NYU. We lived in Tallahassee then. I admired and enjoyed Butch and mourned his passing. Thanks for the article.
Wonderful tribute to a cool and interesting guy and great drummer. Ironically I was listening in my truck to Gregg singing “God Rest His Soul” when your email blast came through. I too, Alan, was at the Roots Rock Revival, year-one. It was quite special. (Signed up for year-two but the dates changed.) I love that Piedmont Park photo. It reminds me of one morning at the camp when I walked into the jam barn and Butch was in there all alone. He was drumming a soft but clearly audible pattern on his legs - with his sticks. Asked me if I could hear it. “Yes I can,” I told him. “Not me,” he replied and kinda chuckled. “Too many years sitting in front of big Marshall stacks!” Now he laughed. Thanks for posting this. What a legacy.
At Duane’s final gig the powers that be at Merriweather Post cut the power late at night to force a show ending, but Butch and Jaimoe continued a jam in the darkened bowl for what seemed like 20-30 minutes. (Who could judge time then let alone 50 years on.) When power came back on so did the Brothers, picking up where they’d left off. Years later at a Sea Level gig Jaimoe remembering with me, wished someone had been running real tape that night - what he considered the highest high of the original band. All of us there that night - on stage and off - will carry that jam in the dark with us forever!
Just a Fan here. Being a guitar player, I was drawn to the Allman Brothers Band due to Duane and Dickey then Derek and Warren. But when I saw them live for the first time, I felt something in my entire body that you just can't FEEL on a record or CD. Those DRUMS. I was lucky enough to see Butch with the Allman Bros about 7 times and always had to get within the first 5 rows because up there, you could feel the drums knocking your whole body around and it's something that in my experience was unique only to Butch and Jaimoe. What an incredible experience it was to see them Live and in person! I remember waking up 5 years ago and opening up Facebook and seeing Butch trending in news stories... I was totally gutted and still am.
Alan, dear friend. Thank you for posting your heart's writing on the occasion of this sad anniversary. I KNEW this exhilaration from close-up too: "... it was like coming home to something very special and indescribable. It was a physical sensation as much as anything; something I felt deep in my bones and which gave me a feeling that I couldn’t have known I missed so much until I felt it again. I wish every one of you could have watched an Allman Brothers show from the side of this percussion powerhouse. It was an overwhelming experience and one that helped you understand the very deep, profound impact the drummers had on the greatness of the music." Through the years...since 1971 when I first saw them at Vanderbilt University (at age 18, I had hitchhiked from Bloomington, Indiana) til the last time I was at the Beacon... I am so thankful for the music and my side stage otherworldly experience... THAT FREEDOM... they brought. xo Mindy
Heartfelt words as this day passes. Thank you again for this Alan. Trying to remember the last time I saw Butch, it had to be in Atlanta, at least 20 years back, with the Brothers. Luckily, I saw him and the band perform 14 times at A Warehouse, New Orleans every performance there for them, of course, in the parks too, (Audubon & City) over the weekends after shows, like Piedmont Park. As you well know, NOLA was a place they could call home, each performance was just that, a performance by all members. Later on, my younger brother and friends met Butch one day at the farm, sounds like it was a bit, well crazy. But.. everything in those days was a bit. We will always love Butch, just have to. RIP forever.
Had backstage passes to a few Beacon shows many years ago and got to sit in the wings on Butch's side of the stage for just the vantage point you mentioned and it was a powerful one indeed. I was also at a 2014 Beacon show in which Butch was sick and unable to perform. The show went on but it was never more obvious how much Butch drove that train than when he wasn't there. Five years later, still sorry for your and all of our loss.
This is without a doubt my favorite of all since you started this particular system. The reason is Butch was not only a great guy but one I had the pleasure of spending time with. He was everything mentioned here in this column and much more! Thank you very much for putting this together I will save it and refer to it again and again.
I knew Butch pretty well. I met Melinda and helped indirectly in getting Seth into NYU. We lived in Tallahassee then. I admired and enjoyed Butch and mourned his passing. Thanks for the article.
Have read of but not heard the cassette… and looking at stage photos yes, of course, Painters Mill - not sure why I had M Post in my head!