Alan Paul's Blog, page 36
March 27, 2014
Things have been moving fast and furious and all in the r...
Things have been moving fast and furious and all in the right direction. One Way Out remained ont he Best Seller’s List for three weeks, and is still selling very well. 
I’ve been wanting to post some of my favorite interviews and press links but everything has just been zinging too fast. I finally have a moment to exhale.
RADIO:
•Macon NPR interviewed me for a Macon-centric profile that came off really well.
•The Soundcheck Guide to the Allman Brothers…featuring me.
This includes not only a lengthy interview with me guiding host John Schaefer through the Allman Brothers music, as well as a full page write up.
•A nice one with Paul Harris of the nationally syndicated American Weekend.
A couple of new print highlights:
•Jim Farber of the New York Daily News:
“Though enough tomes have been published about the Allmans’ troubled history to deforest half of Brazil, only Paul’s book gets all the principal figures assessing and confessing. However open and moving Gregg Allman’s autobio from 2012 may have been, Paul’s book gives a much fuller picture of the dynamics that drive every member — including why guitarist Dickey Betts remains so vexing.”
This was part of his over-reaching ABB preview.
•”Alan Paul’s just-published biography, One Way Out, is a thorough account of the group’s birth, several implosions and multiple resurrection.”
- Rolling’s Stone’s David Fricke, in his ABB overview.
“…the vision of the late Duane Allman was for a musical means of free expression—of the blues, of race and revolution, and of brotherhood. Paul’s One Way Out excels in encouraging and presenting that same freedom of expression when the subject in focus is the band itself.” Full review here.
The Seattle Post Intelligence:
“No matter what you think you know about the ABB, One Way Out is bound to be revelatory on many levels…. This is essential reading that strips away the myth to expose all the moving parts in vivid detail.”
March 24, 2014
Allman Brothers band postpone final 4 Beacon shows
Photo by Dino Perucci, Beacon Theatre 3-19-1t make it.
The Allman Brothers Band have postponed their final 4 shows at The Beacon Theatre due to Gregg Allman‘s ongoing struggle with bronchitis.
Official Release:
“As a result of Mr. Allman’s illness, the Allman Brothers Band is unable to perform at the level to which they aspire. All ticketholders should retain their tickets, which will be honored for the soon-to-be-announced rescheduled engagements. Those ticket holders desiring refunds may obtain them from the original point of purchase.”
Wishing Gregg a speedy recovery.
The Friday and Saturday shows without him were musically spectacular, but I understand not wanting to finish the run if he can’t make it.
March 12, 2014
Don Imus interviews Alan on One Way Out and the ABB
Here’s a link to Imus in the Morning interview. Don Imus interviews Alan about the band and the book…
March 6, 2014
One Way Out is a NY Times Instant Best Seller
Thank you everyone who helped One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band become a New York Times Instant Best Seller. I am humbled and honored to announce that the book debuted in its first week tied for ninth on the Hardcover Non-Fiction List.
I thought all along that I was tapping into something bigger than most others realized, but I was not certain that I was not delusional.
My goal was nothing less than the ultimate word on the greatest band in rock history and I am deeply appreciative of the feedback that indicates I may just have pulled it off, via reader emails and the reviews – in newspapers, magazines, blogs and by regular readers like you on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com.
I wanted to share one email I received from a svery pseical reader: john Cowan, the great bassist and singer for New Grass Revival and the doobie Brothers, among many other great outfits.
I have never met John and had no previous contact with him. His manager reccomended he read One Way Out. He did so, then wrote me the following email. Hard to describe how meaningful this is to me.
Alan,
John Cowan here. Well I finished it. What a triumph for you and all of us dedicated “Brother” fans. I literally read it every spare moment I had since starting it. This book is so revelatory and constructed in such a fashion that I really can’t thank you enough.
It’s just so nice to have such insight and access to the band with no bullshit axe grinding or tattle-tailing. I hope the guys in the band are pleased, they should be. Anyone of us that has made a life in the music business would be lucky to have a smart, well-”spoken”, thoughtful advocate like yourself.
The truth is about New Grass Revival that Sam & I, especially in the ’70′s version of the band were using the Allmans as our template. We absolutely consciously were trying to do with Bluegrass what the Allmans were doing to the blues, which is put our own honest, personal, contemporary spin on the whole deal. Though it pissed a lot of people off and we never scaled the heights the Allmans did, I know I take a lot of personal satisfaction in the effort we made.
One of the things the book reminded of time and again is that we are supposed to create for the sole (soul) experience of creativity. Anything else is sometimes icing on the cake and sometimes just shit on our shoes.
Thank you again,
John C
And just so you know who John is… check this out:
March 1, 2014
West Coast Book Launch – San Rafael
If you’re in If you’re in or around the Bay Area, come see me at the Terrapin Crossroads for my West Coast launch of One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers.
Sunday, March 2 4-7:30 PM. American Jubilee, Mark Karan and other special guests.
Food, drinks, music, and of course, plenty of Allman Brothers talk
RSVP here: http://on.fb.me/1llObQZ Or just show up.
I can’t wait to see old friends, but can’t wait to make new ones, either! Please share with interested friends
February 25, 2014
East Coast Book Launch for One Way Out with Videos
“Blue Sky”… the Big in China band featuring Andy Aledort:
Saturday was the East Coast Book Launch for One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band and it was a great night in my hometown of Maplewood, NJ.
We had a great crowd for the reading and signing at Words. I did not break Garrison Keiller’s in-store record for book sales but I gave him a run for his money.
Afterwards, we celebrated in proper style, with a great gig around the corner, with my Big in China band and special guests Andy Aledort (Dickey Betts) on guitar and Mark Alexander (Joe Cocker) on keys. I felt like we played as well as we ever have. Fortunately, I had a videographer – my friend Duncan Pettigrew – on hand to capture it all.
Here’s a taste… Lots more music to come… I’m especially excited to share some of our ABB tunes, including “Blue Sky,” “You Don’t Love Me” and “Soulshine.”… But this will get you started.
An overview of the reading at the great Words, Maplewood bookstore:
“Great Rain”:
“Serve Somebody”:
East Coast Book Launch for One Way Out
Saturday was the East Coast Book Launch for One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band and it was a great night in my hometown of Maplewood, NJ.
We had a great crowd for the reading and signing at Words. I did not break Garrison Keiller’s in-store record for book sales but I gave him a run for his money.
Afterwards, we celebrated in proper style, with a great gig around the corner, with my Big in China band and special guests Andy Aledort (Dickey Betts) on guitar and Mark Alexander (Joe Cocker) on keys. I felt like we played as well as we ever have. Fortunately, I had a videographer – my friend Duncan Pettigrew – on hand to capture it all.
Here’s a taste… Lots more music to come… I’m especially excited to share some of our ABB tunes, including “Blue Sky,” “You Don’t Love Me” and “Soulshine.”… But this will get you started.
An overview of the reading at the great Words, Maplewood bookstore:
“Great Rain”:
“Serve Somebody”:
February 21, 2014
Maplewood Book Talk and Party TOMORROW night
I’m really looking forward to celebrating the launch of One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band at home in Maplewood TOMORROW night. (2/22)
As you know by now, book is the result of 25 years of reporting, interviewing, thinking.. so very satisfying to have it out there and being well received. It came out three days ago and I’ve been running ragged doing interviews, coordinating this and that, blah blah blah… Now I’m ready to do this with my people.
•Reading/Talk/signing at Words at 7:30 followed by party at Highland Place. (And they are running some specials if you bring a receipt from Words.)
My Big in China band will be playing fortified by some special guests:
•Guitarist Andy Aledort, who has played with Dickey Betts Great Southern for a decade, and has also performed with Band of Gypsys (they call him “Andy Hendri”x in Japan, where he headlined the Mt. Fuji Festival); Steve Vai, Buddy Guy, Joe Satriani… too many to name. He was also Musical director of the first few Hendrix Tribute tours. He’s the best and all that time with Dickey has him playing slide about as close to Duane as you’ll hear from anyone anywhere.
•Keyboardist Mark Alexander just came off the road with the Rascals. He has toured and recorded extensively with Joe Cocker, Meat Loaf, Enrique Iglesias and many others. He was a founding member of Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. Another first-call guy we are very honored to have in our midst.
More guests to come as well. Come on by.
February 17, 2014
Promo video for One Way Out
Promo video made by my friend Brandon Findlay.
All photos from One Way Out: The Inside History of the Allman Brothers Band.
“This pot-stirring oral history reads like a backstory of how musical lightning comes to be. All of the surviving band members get to have their say.”
—Rolling Stone
Photos by Kirk West, Twiggs Lyndon, Sidney Smith, Bill Truran and John Gellman.
