Posted on 06/24/2010 11:01:31 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache
Allman Brothers Band cofounder Gregg Allman underwent successful liver transplant surgery this morning, forcing the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band to cancel its performance at Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival at Chicago's Toyota Park on Saturday. The Derek Trucks Band will replace the Allmans on the lineup, which also includes Jeff Beck, John Mayer, B.B. King and Buddy Guy.
Check out Rolling Stone's rundown of the Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
Allman is being treated at Jacksonville, Florida's Mayo Clinic after battling Hepatitis C for several years. In 2007, the singer was advised that the damage to his liver was severe enough to necessitate a transplant, and he went on a wait list for the organ. "I changed my ways years ago, but we can't turn back time," he said in a statement. "Every day is a gift, and I can't wait to get back on the road making music with my friends."
Adding that he hopes to make a speedy recovery, Allman said, "I feel pretty good, considering everything that's happened." Doctors notified Allman this morning that an appropriate liver had been donated and the surgery was quickly scheduled. "All I can really say is 'thanks,' " Allman said.
While the Crossroads date is definitely off, the status of Allman's two solo shows plotted for late September is currently unknown.
My prayers for his recovery and special prayers for the donor and their family.
One of my favorite bands, timeless music that never dies.
I find it odd that the surgery is called “successful” and it just took place this morning. It seems to me that it would be a while before we know it is “successful.”
That said, I hope he recovers well.
Point of trivia . . . "Melissa" (one of my favorite songs from that band) was written by Gregg Allman as an ode to the long-haul truck driver that he probably would have been had he not been successful in music.
Treat that new one nice now!
Based on his drug abuse and alcohol consumption, he shouldn’t have been on the transplant list. No non-celeberity would be. I love his music too.
PING
How did he qualify? I thought you had to be drug and alcohol free to even be considered? Maybe he got the David Crosby exemption?
Or, in the case of Rambling Man, never ends.
Fancy pick’n
Greg quit doing drugs a long time ago. As far as I know Hep C is a blood transmitted disease and can not be caught from drinking booze. It was not reported that he had cirossis, though Hep C makes one more susceptable to other forms of liver damage.
? That looks like Crosby?
Beck and Clapton are basically performers, and as long as a performer keeps up his chops, he can maintain his career.
McCartney is basically a song writer. It is neither easy nor normal to produce creatively over an extended period of time. McCartney produced some great songs over about a span of about a decade. Now the well is dry.
of about . . .
It is David Crosby.
That’s a warmup song. :)
Gregg Allman claimed in a radio interview he contracted Hepititis C from a tatoo parlor.
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