If there's anybody who knew how to play in a studio, it was Duane Allman.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
When we started, it was so intense: it was like a religion. And when you played with Duane Allman, you either gave it your all or you got out.
I trained as a classical guitarist but that was it.
Anytime I'm playing music or getting ready to record, Duane Allman will enter my thoughts, and so will Berry Oakley. It's part of my musical makeup and mental process when it comes to music. We learned to play together and taught each other a lot.
On Eye of the Zombie, I had so-called studio musicians.
I had the opportunity to do a movie with Roger Daltrey of The Who. In the movie, I played a guitar student. Since I had to learn how to play somewhat for the movie, I was introduced to the guitar.
The Allman Brothers 1969 to 1971... were all about... jumping off the cliff... Just taking music and being adventurous with it.
When I was a kid and I bought a record, I ripped that thing open, I wanted to know who was playing what, what studio it was cut at, who was the string arranger, who was the engineer.
When we started the Allman Brothers, it was all about the music.
I had sat in one day in Central Park with Bonnie and Delaney, and Duane was playing with them, so I asked if he wanted to work on an album. You never had to say to him how to play the guitar.
We started with Denny Cordell, and he was a great record producer. He knew exactly how to take a band that knew absolutely nothing, and guide you without trying to tell you what to do.