Read this even if you've never heard of Bruce. It's an amazing story right out of a fairy tale, captivating enough to have been the most-read story on WSJ.com for days on end. Trust me on this one!
I had tickets to the show where he died and sold them the day of the show as I wasn't going to make it to Atlanta. I really regret that now. I guess the last time I saw him on stage was at two Allman Brothers / Widespread Panic shows in 2009 in Birmingham.
Do you know if they filmed that tribute show at the Fox?
I like the Zappa analogy. Both FZ's & the Colonel's music taught me that sometimes what becomes your favorite takes a while for you to appreciate the genius behind it.
Very nice tribute. I knew of Bruce and saw him perform once, possibly at an ABB or DTB show. Honestly, I didn’t know what all the fuss was about but came to appreciate his influence mentoring so many great players and I imagine non-musicians as well. Dynamic people are like that; they receive back as much as they give. Thanks for sharing this.
One story, I told the Colonel to throw anything into a deep planter bed to fill it up while I went for another load of dirt.
So this Atlanta housewife accosts Bruce while he was wrestling a 30’ vine into the planter which already had paint cans, a tree stump etc. in it, and hysterically asks him, “What’s the meaning of this?” He turned on her & focused those electric blue eyes on her, paused, then said, “Ma’am, there’s some things in this world that can’t be explained.” She screamed & ran into the house!
Bruce used to say to me, “I’ll be huge when I’m dead.” Knowing him since his days of stand-up comedy, working for me in the landscaping biz (where he ruined every client ) to road manager of ARU, it was an unforgettable friendship. A void remains that can never be filled...
I have heard of him but don't really know much about Col Bruce. These articles make me fell like I am in a music class with Professor Alan Paul. Great article!
Any idea if there are master recordings of the 70th Birthday Bash? If so, what are the chances that they'll be released one of these days? I'd love to hear the whole show with a fade-out just before the inevitable.
Col. Bruce was a major player in my love of music. The last ARU reunion tour - and their stop in Raleigh, NC - got me through a really tough time in my life. It was quite possibly the most epic night of musicianship I had ever heard. Kofi and Branford Marsalis sat in all night. The smiles on all the band's faces told the story.
I also saw him many years before that, again in Raleigh, with the Codetalkers. It was a weeknight and there might have been 10 people there. They walked out in their disheveled suits and played for nearly 3 hours straight. It seemed that Col. Bruce didn't even realize there wasn't anyone there...like it didn't matter anyway.
It is all so ironic....Hendrix, SRV, Duane, Berry and Bruce all passed in emotionally stirring ways that remain tragic and unforgettable.
So many emotions, I cannot begin to describe...shall I pray, cry, applaud, SHOCK and unforgettable
I had tickets to the show where he died and sold them the day of the show as I wasn't going to make it to Atlanta. I really regret that now. I guess the last time I saw him on stage was at two Allman Brothers / Widespread Panic shows in 2009 in Birmingham.
Do you know if they filmed that tribute show at the Fox?
Beautifully said, I was at The Fox that faithful night , after many years before discovering Col Bruce and ARU by accident at The Cotton Club.
I like the Zappa analogy. Both FZ's & the Colonel's music taught me that sometimes what becomes your favorite takes a while for you to appreciate the genius behind it.
Keep up the great work Alan Paul.
Very nice tribute. I knew of Bruce and saw him perform once, possibly at an ABB or DTB show. Honestly, I didn’t know what all the fuss was about but came to appreciate his influence mentoring so many great players and I imagine non-musicians as well. Dynamic people are like that; they receive back as much as they give. Thanks for sharing this.
One story, I told the Colonel to throw anything into a deep planter bed to fill it up while I went for another load of dirt.
So this Atlanta housewife accosts Bruce while he was wrestling a 30’ vine into the planter which already had paint cans, a tree stump etc. in it, and hysterically asks him, “What’s the meaning of this?” He turned on her & focused those electric blue eyes on her, paused, then said, “Ma’am, there’s some things in this world that can’t be explained.” She screamed & ran into the house!
Bruce used to say to me, “I’ll be huge when I’m dead.” Knowing him since his days of stand-up comedy, working for me in the landscaping biz (where he ruined every client ) to road manager of ARU, it was an unforgettable friendship. A void remains that can never be filled...
I have heard of him but don't really know much about Col Bruce. These articles make me fell like I am in a music class with Professor Alan Paul. Great article!
Any idea if there are master recordings of the 70th Birthday Bash? If so, what are the chances that they'll be released one of these days? I'd love to hear the whole show with a fade-out just before the inevitable.
Col. Bruce was a major player in my love of music. The last ARU reunion tour - and their stop in Raleigh, NC - got me through a really tough time in my life. It was quite possibly the most epic night of musicianship I had ever heard. Kofi and Branford Marsalis sat in all night. The smiles on all the band's faces told the story.
I also saw him many years before that, again in Raleigh, with the Codetalkers. It was a weeknight and there might have been 10 people there. They walked out in their disheveled suits and played for nearly 3 hours straight. It seemed that Col. Bruce didn't even realize there wasn't anyone there...like it didn't matter anyway.
I miss the Col.