War Songs: "Masters of War" and "War"

Politics and political figures have a great influence on artists and the music that they write and create to represent their own personal beliefs on times of trial and controversy. Bob Dylan is a singer that wrote a plethora of music based on the events of the era, including songs like “Chimes of Freedom” and “Masters of War.” In the song “Masters of War,” Dylan mentions the wars created by the government and political figures, criticizing their choices. By choices, it is meant that they create wars that the younger generation, mostly men but also women, have to fight for and help repair society once the war is over. Dylan’s point of view, as seen throughout this song, is that it is wrong for these political figures to create and build up a war that threatens the lives of the citizens and soldiers for a war they created. Several poetic devices are seen in “Masters of War,” including anaphora. Anaphora is the repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive phrases or clauses, which may be seen in the lines “You that build all the guns/You that build the death planes/You that build the big bombs.” The word “you” is repeated at the beginning of successive lines, creating emphasis and drawing attention to the word. Also seen throughout the song is the use of similes. “But I see through your eyes/And I see through your brain/Like I see through the water/That runs down my drain” is an example of a simile that compares his ability to see through them like he can see through water. A paradox in this song is seen in the lines “You that never done nothin’/But build to destroy” because you cannot do nothing, and you would not expect to build something to destroy it; both statements contradict themselves. Finally, “Masters of War” contains imagery as seen through the lines “You hide in your mansion/As young people’s blood/Flows out of their bodies/And is buried in the mud.” The reader can picture the image of a mansion and blood flowing out of the bodies of a human being as is seeps into the soupy mud. Another use of imagery is seen in the final lines of the song: “And I’ll watch while you’re lowered/Down to your deathbed/And I’ll stand o’er your grave/’Til I’m sure that you’re dead.” The reader can also imagine the lowering of a casket into the deceased’s final resting place. Diction can also be found throughout the song through the use of abbreviating over so that it is pronounced o’er and changing the word until so that it is pronounced ’til. Finally, there is also the presence of alliteration in the line “build the big bombs.” This song has many poetic qualities, such as that it tells a story through rhyming verses; it is also very profound in its approach to delicate topics such as war and politics.

Another song about war that was influenced by political events is the song “War” by Bob Marley. Like Bob Dylan, Marley presents his view of war though it differs greatly. In the song, he tells about the war in Africa and the large gap present between first and second class citizens. He also notes that the philosophy of one race being superior to another is present in Africa and he, like other citizens, wants war to discredit it. Marley’s view of war is that he feels it is necessary, as well as his feelings of confidence in the people’s ability to win the war. Figurative language and poetic devices can also be found throughout the song, including alliteration which can be seen in the line “second class citizens.” There is also a point of view change in the song “War” as, in the beginning, Marley is speaking from his own point of view and his declaration of war as seen in the line “Me say war.” Further into the song, Marley switches the point of view so that he is speaking as a part of a group. This can be seen in the lines “And we know we shall win/As we are confident/In the victory.” The use of “me” in the beginning shows his own individual opinion while the use of “we” shows the opinion and confidence of the citizens of Africa. Marley also uses allusion in his song, as it can be seen in the lines “And until the ignoble and unhappy regimes/That hold our brothers in Angola,/In Mozambique,/South Africa;” this alludes to the regimes in Africa that unfairly treat the citizens of Angola, Mozambique, and South Africa. The poetic qualities that this song possesses are short, to-the-point verses and phrases as well as rhyme and repetition. Both songs are similar in that they tell and describe the point of view of the artist, yet they are also different because they show opposing opinions of war.

Song Analysis of "Give Peace A Chance"

Many people disagree with the actions of the government on certain and specific political issues and choose to voice their opinion, as allowed by the Constitution. During the sixties and seventies, many Americans were against the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War and spoke out against it. Artists, as well as citizens, chose to clearly denounce the war. John Lennon, for example, wrote and performed the song "Give Peace A Chance." This song reflects Lennon's views on the Vietnam War and war in general.

Immediately in the first verse, Lennon lets the reader know his stance on the political issue of war. He demonstrates this through the line "All we are saying is give peace a chance," telling the reader that he or she should strive for peace and not war. Additionally, in the lines "Ev'rybody's talking about/Ministers, Sinisters, Banisters and canisters" Lennon shows the involvement of ministers, sinisters, and canisters during this time of war. The term minister reflects how religious preferences, most commonly Christianity, had an effect on a person's view of war. The next term, sinisters, is referring to the evil and menacing people were involved in the war. Whether Lennon directed this statement towards the United States government, spies, or the enemy is unknown, but it is known that he did not agree with those who were evil and menacing. Finally, the mention of the term canisters is showing the technology and weapons of war; a canister held many shells, or bullets, that were contained in a gun to be used in war. Lennon also refers to an expression of his own creation, bagism, in the line “Ev’rybody’s talking about/Bagism, Shagism, Dragism;” the term bagism, according to Lennon, refers to wearing a bag over someone’s head. He further explained his idea that if a person wore a bag over his or her entire body, a person could not be judged by others on the basis of race, sex, or other physical attributes. In the last verse, Lennon mentions numerous well-known figures during that time, including “John and Yoko…Tommy Smothers…Bob Dylan”; this mention is also called an allusion, since they are well-known by the majority of Americans. He connects all of these people by saying that "All we are saying is give peace a chance." This statement shows that all of the people he mentions all want peace, and not war. His entire song also contains diction, as can be clearly seen through the use of apostrophes in the word everybody (ev’rybody). Lennon also uses short and direct references, without the use of commas, as in the line “Ev’rybody’s talking about/Revolution, evolution, mastication,” which may also be called asyndeton.

Differing political views on war was a vehement and fervent topic during the Vietnam War. Not only John Lennon, but other artists as well, wrote and performed their songs in order to voice their own personal views on war, peace, and other topics; such artists include Bob Dylan, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Buffalo Springfield. Addressing their views through their music was a surefire way to get them heard by the public, and their goal was accomplished. Because of these artists’ expression of opinion, we may look at how war affected the everyday American as well as their differing opinions.

"Give Peace A Chance" by John Lennon

Ev'rybody's talking about
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism
Isn't it the most
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Ev'rybody's talking about
Ministers, Sinisters, Banisters and canisters,
Bishops and Fishops and Rabbis and Pop eyes,
And bye bye, bye byes.
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Let me tell you now
Ev'rybody's talking about
Revolution, Evolution, Mastication, Flagelolation, Regulations.
Integrations, Meditations, United Nations, Congratulations
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Oh Let's stick to it
Ev'rybody's talking about
John and Yoko, Timmy Leary, Rosemary, Tommy smothers, Bob Dylan,
Tommy Cooper, Derek Tayor, Norman Mailer, Alan Ginsberg, Hare Krishna,
Hare Krishna
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance

Song Analysis of "War"

Throughout time, music has been influenced by the events of that time period and politics in general. Artists, such as Edwin Starr, express their political views by writing and performing songs that exemplify how they feel when it comes to certain topics (appositive). Edwin Starr's song "War" describes his views on war, as the song's title clearly states.

In the first verse, Edwin Starr blatantly tells the reader "War.../What is it good for?/Absolutely nothing." Obviously, Starr believes that there is no use for war, as it brings pain rather than peace. He further explains his views in these following lines: "War I despise/'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives/War means tears in thousands of mothers' eyes/When their sons go out to fight and lose their lives." Starr is showing that war kills innocent people who have nothing to do with the problems or views of the government. The mothers of these soldiers begin to cry as they watch their sons go off to war in order to defend their country, and possibly lose their lives in a war that they may or may not believe in. The lines "It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker.../War has shattered many young men's dreams/Made him disabled, bitter and mean" show that war destroys men's lives, causing them to be disabled and bitter. "War can't give life, it can only take it away" is Starr's overall belief of war.

Destructive and at times unnecessary, war seems to be a popular political topic that artists discuss through their music (adjectives out of order). Many people do not believe in war and find it to be a fault in human nature. The idea of being a peaceful nation was shared by many during a time when the United States was at war with another country, the Vietnam War. Because of artists like Edwin Starr, the opinions and views of many Americans were changed; war was unnecessary, and peace is what should be strived for.

"War" by Edwin Starr

War... Huh... Yeah!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing!
Uhuh... uhuh...!

War... Huh... Yeah!
What it is good for?
Absolutely nothing!
Say it again y'all
War... Huh... Look out!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing!
Listen to me - AAH!
War I despise
'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War means tears in thousands of mothers' eyes
When their sons go out to fight and lose their lives

I said:
War... Huh... Good God y'all!
What it is good for?
Absolutely nothing!
Say it again
(War... Huh!) Lord, Lord, Lord...
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing!
Listen to me:

(War) It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
(War) Friend only to the undertaker
War is the enemy of all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest within the younger generations
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die?

AAH! War... Huh... Good God y'all!
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing!
Say it, say it, say it!
War... Huh...! (Uhuh... Yeah... Huh!)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing!
Listen to me:

(War) It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
(War) Got one friend, thats the undertaker
War has shattered many young men's dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is but too surely precious, to spend fighting wars each day
War can't give life, it can only take it away!

AAH! War... Huh... Good God y'all!
What it is a good for?
Absolutely nothing!
Say it again
War... Huh... Lord, Lord, Lord...
What it is a good for?
Absolutely nothing!
Listen to me:

(War) It ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
(War) Friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding tell me,
is there a place for these today?
They say we must fight to keep our freedom,
but Lord knows there's got to be a better way

War... Huh... Good God y'all!
What is it good for?
You tell me!
Say it, say it, say it, say it!
War... Good God now... Huh!
What is it good for?
Stand up and shout it! (Nothing!)

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Diction

The quartet of David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young, formerly a trio before Neil Young was added as a fourth member, is a folk-rock super group as each member was an accomplished artist before the band was established. Many of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s songs contained elaborate vocal harmonies, as well as political activism, which led to the group’s lasting influence on music and culture. The songs “Ohio” and “Wooden Ships,” which both stem from political issues at the time, show contrasting diction. Diction, defined as a writer’s choice of words, can be clearly seen in both songs and the differences between the two are reasonably different.

The song “Ohio” is one of the more up-beat songs by the band, as it has an electric guitar that does not overpower the lyrics or message of the song, which is a response to the murders of Kent State. When reading the lyrics, one will notice that the phrases and verses are very short and that, when listening to the song, many words are cut short at the end of each line. This can be clearly seen in the written form through the lines “Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin'/We're finally on our own/This summer I hear the drummin'.” The lyrics are also directed toward “us,” or American citizens, through the lines “Gotta get down to it. /Soldiers are gunning us down. /Should have been done long ago.” The lyrics are also directed towards “you,” possibly the reader or listener, which can be found in the lines “What if you knew her and/Found her dead on the ground?/How can you run when you know?” Additionally, many words and phrases are repetitive throughout the song, bringing attention to what those phrases are supposed to mean or represent; this includes the repetition of “Four dead in Ohio” leading up to the song’s end. What is unique about this song and what sets it apart from others by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young is that the president, Richard Nixon, is directly identified in the line “Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin'.”

The diction in “Wooden Ships,” on the other hand, is different. This song, unlike “Ohio,” is more calm and a little slower. Along with soft electric guitar that, unless closely paid attention to can be missed by the listener, is piano that helps give the song its softness. The lines and verses of this song are more drawn out and have a lot more imagery and description, such as the lines “Wooden ships on the water, very free and easy/Easy, you know the way it's supposed to be/Silver people on the shoreline, let us be/Talkin' 'bout very free and easy.” The reader can more clearly imagine in his or her mind the scenes being described than in the song “Ohio.” The lyrics of the song, furthermore, are being told from the writer/singer’s point of view, directing what is being said towards “you,” the reader or listener. For example, “Go, take your sister then, by the hand/Lead her away from this foreign land;” the writer is telling about “you” the reader, and is not making general statements. The song “Wooden Ships” also has rhyming, as the rhyming pattern of the second verse can be described as ABBA/CDCE (easy/be/easy/be, die/cries/die/us).

Both the songs “Ohio” and “Wooden Ships” contain specific diction, though not clearly specific and almost seemingly similar. This ability to create and use two different forms of diction is not limited to Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, but it can be found in the music of a countless number of bands and artists. This ability is necessary for artists to show their flexibility when it comes to showing variety in their music while remaining with their core genre.

"Ohio" by CSNY

Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin'.
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drummin'.
Four dead in Ohio.

Gotta get down to it.
Soldiers are gunning us down.
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her and
Found her dead on the ground?
How can you run when you know?

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na.

Gotta get down to it.
Soldiers are cutting us down.
Should have been done long ago.
What if you knew her and
Found her dead on the ground?
How can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin'.
We're finally on our own.
This summer I hear the drummin'.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.
Four dead in Ohio.

"Wooden Ships" by CSNY

If you smile at me, I will understand
'Cause that is something everybody everywhere does
in the same language.
I can see by your coat, my friend,
you're from the other side,
There's just one thing I got to know,
Can you tell me please, who won?
Say, can I have some of your purple berries?
Yes, I've been eating them for six or seven weeks now,
haven't got sick once.
Probably keep us both alive.

Wooden ships on the water, very free and easy,
Easy, you know the way it's supposed to be,
Silver people on the shoreline, let us be,
Talkin' 'bout very free and easy...
Horror grips us as we watch you die,
All we can do is echo your anguished cries,
Stare as all human feelings die,
We are leaving - you don't need us.

Go, take your sister then, by the hand,
lead her away from this foreign land,
Far away, where we might laugh again,
We are leaving - you don't need us.

And it's a fair wind, blowin' warm,
Out of the south over my shoulder,
Guess I'll set a course and go...

Imagery in "Chimes of Freedom"

Literary and poetic terms are used in every day life in various forms of writing. One literary and poetic term is imagery, which is when words and phrases are used to recreate vivid sensory experiences. Imagery can be found in song writing, more specifically in Bob Dylan's song "Chimes of Freedom." Through Bob Dylan's descriptive words, the reader can recreate scenes of what is being read.

There are several examples of the use of imagery in "Chimes of Freedom." One phrase showing Dylan's use of this literary term is "Far between sundown's finish an' midnight's broken toll." From reading this, the reader can imagine the time between sundown, where the sky is beginning to become darker, and the black sky of midnight. Another example is "As the echo of the wedding bells before the blowin' rain," where Dylan describes the bells as wedding bells, which the reader can understand to be deep, low tones, which are echoing. Bob Dylan also further describes the rain as blowing rain, which the reader can imagine as if there is a wind. "Through the mad mystic hammering of the wild ripping hail" is yet another example of imagery, allowing the reader to imagine harsh hail that is hammering against roofs, windows, and cars. Finally, an exemplary example of imagery in "Chimes of Freedom" is the phrase "a cloud's white curtain in a far-off corner flashed/An' the hypnotic splattered mist was slowly lifting/Electric light still struck like arrows." The reader can imagine a "white curtain" of clouds in a corner of the sky as he or she is reading the lines, though when continuing to read the verse, is then able to imagine a rising mist; by the end of this phrase, the reader is thinking of lightening bolts ripping across the sky as if they were arrows. Throughout the song, the reader is constantly being led to imagine different scenes in order to heighten the experience of listening to the song.

Though the use of imagery is prevalent in song writing, such as in Bob Dylan's song "Chimes of Freedom," it can also be found in other forms of writing. Newspaper articles, for example, uses imagery to recreate a scene from the news, whether it be a high school football game or a car accident. Authors also use imagery to catch the reader's attention as well as to keep his or her interest. Imagery is found in everyday life and used for innumerable reasons.

"Chimes of Freedom" by Bob Dylan (1964)

Far between sundown's finish an' midnight's broken toll
We ducked inside the doorway, thunder crashing
As majestic bells of bolts struck shadows in the sounds
Seeming to be the chimes of freedom flashing
Flashing for the warriors whose strength is not to fight
Flashing for the refugees on the unarmed road of flight
An' for each an' ev'ry underdog soldier in the night
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

In the city's melted furnace, unexpectedly we watched
With faces hidden while the walls were tightening
As the echo of the wedding bells before the blowin' rain
Dissolved into the bells of the lightning
Tolling for the rebel, tolling for the rake
Tolling for the luckless, the abandoned an' forsaked
Tolling for the outcast, burnin' constantly at stake
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

Through the mad mystic hammering of the wild ripping hail
The sky cracked its poems in naked wonder
That the clinging of the church bells blew far into the breeze
Leaving only bells of lightning and its thunder
Striking for the gentle, striking for the kind
Striking for the guardians and protectors of the mind
An' the unpawned painter behind beyond his rightful time
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

Through the wild cathedral evening the rain unraveled tales
For the disrobed faceless forms of no position
Tolling for the tongues with no place to bring their thoughts
All down in taken-for-granted situations
Tolling for the deaf an' blind, tolling for the mute
Tolling for the mistreated, mateless mother, the mistitled prostitute
For the misdemeanor outlaw, chased an' cheated by pursuit
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

Even though a cloud's white curtain in a far-off corner flashed
An' the hypnotic splattered mist was slowly lifting
Electric light still struck like arrows, fired but for the ones
Condemned to drift or else be kept from drifting
Tolling for the searching ones, on their speechless, seeking trail
For the lonesome-hearted lovers with too personal a tale
An' for each unharmful, gentle soul misplaced inside a jail
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

Starry-eyed an' laughing as I recall when we were caught
Trapped by no track of hours for they hanged suspended
As we listened one last time an' we watched with one last look
Spellbound an' swallowed 'til the tolling ended
Tolling for the aching ones whose wounds cannot be nursed
For the countless confused, accused, misused, strung-out ones an' worse
An' for every hung-up person in the whole wide universe
An' we gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.

The Allman Brothers Band's contribution to the practice of song-writing

The Allman Brothers Band consisted of several members in addition to Gregg and Duane Allman, including Dickey Betts, Berry Oakley, Butch Trucks, and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson. Throughout the band's existence, it has lost and gained several members due to personal reasons or, for some, death. Today, the band consists of Gregg Allman, Butch Trucks, and Jaimoe Johanson, all of whom were original members, along with new members Warren Haynes, Marc Quinones, Oteil Burbridge, and Derek Trucks.

Even though many of their songs were instrumental, the Allman Brothers Band contributed greatly to the practice of song-writing. The band had incorporated elements of hard rock and blues-rock in their music, and was also considered as the "principle architects of Southern rock." The band’s debut album The Allman Brothers Band had few listeners due to the fact that it had mostly a blues-rock sound, though it attracted a small, cult-like following. The band's live album At Fillmore East showcased its unique mixture of not only hard rock and blues, but also jazz and even classical music. This album was a huge success, eventually being named as one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

One of the band's later albums Eat a Peach was yet another hit. One writer, Greil Marcus, had described parts of the album as "ageless, seamless... front-porch music stolen from the utopia of shared southern memory." The Allman Brothers Band's success being a Southern rock band in the early 1970s led to the prominence of several other Southern rock groups, including the Marshall Tucker Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Several songs by the Allman Brothers are used in various television programs and advertising campaigns. Throughout the years, the Allman Brothers Band has experienced much success and critical acclaim, including being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band continues to tour and record music to the present day.

Song Analysis of "The Whipping Post"

At one point or another in a person’s life, the person they love will hurt them or they may even feel trapped in a relationship. Many artists incorporate these experiences in their music, showing that this predicament is universal. "The Whipping Post" by the Allman Brothers Band is a prime example in describing how a person feels when trapped in a relationship.

In the first verse, the singer describes how a person may feel when their loved one is mistreating them by saying, "I been run down, I been lied to/I don't know why I let that mean woman make me a fool...Now she's with one of my goodtime buddies/They're drinkin' in some cross-town bar" (1-5). This man feels terrible because the woman he is in a relationship with has lied to him and is cheating with one of his friends, making him feel foolish for believing in her. Every time this man finds out his girlfriend has lied to him, he says he feels as if he's "been tied to the whipping post" (7). This, of course, is a simile; the singer is describing his pain as if every time she lies a whip is lashing him. However, no matter how painful it is to be in this relationship, he has "to stand by and take it...all for lovin' [her]" (12); he loves his girlfriend so much that he will not leave her and he continues to endure the pain she causes him. The singer further elaborates by saying, "[I] drown myself in sorrow, and I look at what you've done/But nothin' seems to change, the bad times stay the same/And I can't run" (13-15). These lines explain that as he reflects on his relationship with his girlfriend, he realizes that it has not gotten better but it continues to stay terrible; he feels trapped by this relationship and he cannot get out.

Life is never what you would imagine it to be, and we will not love all the situations we are put in. A relationship may not always be pleasant, and if you love the person, sometimes saying goodbye can be difficult or even impossible. Many of us are put in this position, no matter how much we try to avoid it. "The Whipping Post" shows us that no one is immune to a relationship in which he or she may feel trapped, and the Allman Brothers Band does a fantastic job in showing that this dilemma can happen to anyone.

"The Whipping Post" by The Allman Brothers Band

I been run down, I been lied to,
I don't know why I let that mean woman make me a fool.
She took all my money, wrecked my new car.
Now she's with one of my goodtime buddies,
They're drinkin' in some crosstown bar.

Sometimes I feel, sometimes I feel,
Like I been tied to the whipping post,
Tied to the whipping post,
Tied to the whipping post,
Good Lord, I feel like I'm dyin'.

My friends tell me, that I've been such a fool,
And I have to stand by and take it baby, all for lovin' you.
Drown myself in sorrow, and I look at what you've done.
But nothin' seems to change, the bad times stay the same,
And I can't run.

Sometimes I feel, sometimes I feel,
Like I been tied to the whipping post
Tied to the whipping post,
Tied to the whipping post,
Good Lord, I feel like I'm dyin'.

Sometimes I feel, sometimes I feel,
Like I been tied to the whipping post
Tied to the whipping post,
Tied to the whipping post,
Good Lord, I feel like I'm dyin'.

The Allman Brothers Band: Videos

The Allman Brothers Band performing "Jessica"
The Allman Brothers Band performing "Midnight Rider"

The Allman Brothers Band: Timeline

March 25, 1969: The Allman Brothers Band forms in Jacksonville, Florida.
November 8, 1969: The Allman Brothers Band’s self-titled debut is released on Capricorn Records.
March 12-13, 1971: The Allman Brothers Band are recorded at Bill Graham’s Fillmore East; the best performances are used in the album classic The Allman Brothers Band at Fillmore East.
October 29, 1971: Duane Allman, guitarist and founder of the Allman Brothers Band, dies in a motorcycle accident in Macon, Georgia.
February 12, 1972: Eat a Peach by the Allman Brothers Band is released. This album features the last studio recordings by Duane Allman.
November 11, 1972: Berry Oakley, the bassist of the Allman Brothers Band, dies in a motorcycle accident three blocks from Duane Allman’s fatal crash that occurred a year earlier.
July 28, 1973: The Band, the Grateful Dead, and the Allman Brothers Band perform for a crowd of 600,000 at the Watkins Glen “Summer Jam.”
August 25, 1973: The Allman Brothers Band releases Brothers and Sisters; it is their highest charting (#1) and longest charting (56 weeks) album.
November 3, 1973: The Allman Brothers Band's Ramblin’ Man reaches #2, making it the highest-charting single of their career.
May 12, 1976: The Allman Brothers Band temporarily dissolves.
February 13, 1979: The reunited Allman Brothers Band release Enlightened Rogues.
January 23, 1982: The Allman Brothers Band perform on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ their last performance for four years.
May 14, 1989: Dreams, a box set spanning The Allman Brothers Band’s career, is released.
June 1989: Warren Haynes (guitar) and Allen Woody (bass) join The Allman Brothers Band.
June 19, 1991: The Allman Brothers Band releases Shades of Two Worlds.
April 26, 1994: Where It All Begins, an album of The Allman Brothers Band's new material, is released.
January 12, 1995: The Allman Brothers Band is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
1996: The Allman Brothers Band won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "Jessica."
March 16, 1999: The Allman Brothers Band begins their 30th anniversary tour with eighteen nights at the Beacon Theater in NYC.
August 26, 2000: The bass player for the Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule, Allen Woody, dies.
November 14, 2000: The Allman Brothers Band’s Peakin’ at the Beacon, a live album recorded at Beacon Theater, is released.
2003: Duane Allman, Warren Haynes, Dickey Betts, and Derek Trucks are added to Rolling Stone Magazine's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
2004: The Allman Brothers band is ranked 52nd on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

From: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: The Allman Brothers Band

The Allman Brothers Band: Links

* The Allman Brothers Band Museum

* Rolling Stone: The Allman Brothers Band

* The Allman Brothers Band Official Website

* Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: The Allman Brothers Band

* Classic Bands: The Allman Brothers Band

* Allman Brothers Band sues record group for $13 million

The Allman Brothers Band: Most Interesting Facts

-The band has received 11 Gold and 5 Platinum albums between 1971 and 2005.

-In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked them 52nd on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

-Rolling Stone listed The Allman Brothers' album At Fillmore East as one of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

-Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident on October 29, 1971 and just over a year later another band memeber, Berry Oakley, died in a motorcycle accident only three blocks from the site of Duane's accident.

-Gregg Allman married Cher; they eventually separated.

-The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

-They won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance for "Jessica" in 1996.

-Rolling Stone Magazine added Duane Allman, Warren Haynes, Dickey Betts, and Derek Trucks to their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time in 2003, with Allman coming in at #2 and Trucks being the youngest guitarist on the list.

-The band has played the 2900-seat Upper West Side Manhattan theatre 173 times since 1989 in a tradition known as the "Beacon Run" among fans; people travel from across the United States, Canada and Western Europe to see these annual March and April shows.

-The band continues to record and tour to the present day.