Watch The Allman Brothers Band Perform “Midnight Rider” on This Day in 1973
Photo by Scott Gries/GettyIt’s been a little over a year since we lost a legend: Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band, who passed away in May of 2017 after battling liver cancer. He was, among many things, an instigator of the southern rock genre, an expert live performer and a talented solo artist responsible for a number of hits in the American rock canon. His final solo album, Southern Blood, was released posthumously almost a year ago to the day, on Sept. 8, 2017. The album was an apt farewell, 60 minutes of heartbreaking country twang, bluesy arena rock and gritty southern narrative.
Flashback to 45 years ago: On this day in 1973, The Allman Brothers performed at the historic Grand Opera House in Macon Ga., treating an eager southern crowd to hits like “Midnight Rider” and “Southbound.” The band had just released Brothers And Sisters, which harbors their biggest hit “Ramblin’ Man” and was the follow-up to their 1972 masterpiece Eat A Peach. It had been just two years since Gregg’s brother and fellow Allman Brothers founding member Duane was killed in a motorcycle accident.
You can watch The Allman Brothers Band play “Midnight Rider” at that show below. Listen to them play two other tracks from the same night further down. While you’re at it, read this ranking of Gregg Allman’s best live performances.