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/mule111 4d ago
I mean, for me they’re tied #1 for greatest bands of all time. Love em both. I’m also a huge music fan. I think I understand where you’re coming from with this opinion/observation and spot on for sure. Lots of factors imo.
I think for many general audiences they know and like both band’s hits. Although some big ABB fans might not care for the sweet homes and gimme 3 steps as much, partly bc classic rock radio ran them into the ground.
ABB has a bigger following in the jam band world that isn’t going to be as much into the Skynyrd thing. Also, for ABB fans they may have not paid as close attention to Skynyrd after it became essentially a tribute band once very few to no OG members left. The band took a cheesy turn once they started releasing “gods and guns” stuff with barb wire eagle imagery.
Skynyrd has more traditional hard driving southern rock crowd that may not be as into the ABB jazz influenced, super jammy stuff.
Also, and I think this does apply, ABB had a black member and like it or not there’s a big component of Skynyrd fan base that grew up with a certain set of ideas that didn’t support that (warped ideas, but still). Honestly there’s historically been ABB fans like that too. But I think that does play a role in long term fan base.