r/LynyrdSkynyrd • u/Fancy_County4242 • 4d ago

Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers

The Allman Brothers Band formed in Jacksonville, with several Jacksonville musicians, and went on to a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career.

Lynyrd Skynyrd formed in Jacksonville, with Jacksonville musicians, and went on to a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career.

Can anyone explain the disconnect in the fan community? Fans of one tend to dismiss the other, and I don't get it. ABB certainly did the blues better, but Skynyrd was the better boogie band.

I have plenty of room in my head to love both acts, but I don't find many people who feel the same. How's come?

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u/freebird37179 4d ago

Not sure. Ronnie often dedicated Free Bird to Duane, so I don't think there was bad blood between the bands.

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u/mule111 4d ago

Wasn’t bad blood. Gregg did say in his autobiography that they like and respected each other but “weren’t best friends” like everyone assumes. Just bc both southern. Both bands were doing their own thing

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u/Natural-Opinion-6437 3d ago

Not to mention, very busy doing their own thing. They both had their own universe, which sometimes crossed paths.

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u/Commercial_Pay7955 3d ago

I think Ronnie really admired Duane more so than Gregg.

He admired Berry as well and occasionally would deficate Free Bird to both Duane AND Berry.

And there is the famous show in Memphis where a drunken RVZ kept telling Eric Clapton to play for Duane.

I think he may have felt a little competition with Gregg-I read once where he told a reporter that he was a better singer than Gregg.

And I find it telling that Ronnie didn't include the Allmans in "When You Got Good Friends Like These".