The Ferocity Of Creativity

It is well known that Keith Richards often said of The Stones: "The only way to leave this band is in a coffin."

He has always understood the magic. He knows how hard, how fortuitous it is to assemble a bunch of musicians that create a musical alchemy that translates.

Translates into beautiful music. Translates into something meaningful for millions of fans.

He was warning any member that disturbing this delicate balance was a punishable offense.

I think on another level he is saying that once you are a Rolling Stone, you are a Rolling Stone forever, whether you are playing with the band or not.

The Allman Brothers Band have a similar story.

They went through a number of different lineups before they clicked with the band that exploded on the scene in 1969. All bands go through this. Searching for the right combination of musicians, searching for the right sound.

Duane Allman was the driving force. He was the leader, the supremely gifted guitar aficionado who practiced endlessly to become a guitar players' guitar player.

He fought to put this band together.

Things were a little ragged just before the magic happened. Gregg was not convinced they would ever get anywhere and he was out in California doing his own thing. At one time he entertained the idea of becoming a dentist. How bizarre.

Duane got together Dickey Betts, "Jaimoe" Johanson, Berry Oakley, and Butch Trucks, and he knew he had something. It was down south. Florida or Georgia. I forget. Shoot me.

He had to coerce Gregg to come back from California to sing and play with the band. Along with his doubts about ever making it in rock 'n roll, Gregg did not have a lot of confidence in his singing abilities.

Come back he did. The six of them got together in a small house and jammed for a while.

Eventually Duane stood up and walked over to the front door and said: "Anybody who wants to leave this band is going to have to fight their way out of here."

The ferocity of creativity.

A rare, delicate and beautiful thing.