Don Lovel
Hunter
Last night in Atlanta, Godfather of jam band genre, Col. Bruce Hampton died on stage while performing on his 70th birthday with a stage full of amazing musicians including, members of the Allman Brothers, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Blues Traveler, The Black Crowes, Widespread Panic, and his own band Aquarium Rescue Unit. Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, all the members of bands Bruce was friends with in his home town Atlanta Fox Theatre.
Bruce was a classy guy, with an incredible knack for being able to get instrumentalist to perform at amazing levels.
He was a consummate clown on stage and a sincere grandfather figure to many gigging musicians around the country.
Appropriately enough, two of the song's he sang last night were the very funny "I'm Basically Frightened" and apparently very prophetic, "Fixin To Die" both long time set list favorites of his shows with Aquarium Rescue Unit.
Years ago I was lucky enough to get to interview Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi for one of Fender Guitar's online forums.
Susan and I were talking about how the logistics of working with talented folks from all walks of life and different musical genre that is found with Tedeschi Trucks, Gov't Mule and other successful bands. She directly attributed their run of luck and professional capability to what she had learned from being friends with Col Bruce Hampton. She was very fond of him and they were very close friends. I saw in the video from last night the instant she realized something was wrong on stage, I feel real sorry for her loss. She was also very close to BB King before his death. Sad deal, the band was jamming having lots of fun with a couple dozen folks on stage for the final number.
High Tides and Green Grass, RIP, Col. Bruce Hampton, US Army retired, class act and kind fun man. Died with his boots on doing what he loved with the folks he loved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM8V5mMGYas&list=RDwM8V5mMGYas
Bruce was a classy guy, with an incredible knack for being able to get instrumentalist to perform at amazing levels.
He was a consummate clown on stage and a sincere grandfather figure to many gigging musicians around the country.
Appropriately enough, two of the song's he sang last night were the very funny "I'm Basically Frightened" and apparently very prophetic, "Fixin To Die" both long time set list favorites of his shows with Aquarium Rescue Unit.
Years ago I was lucky enough to get to interview Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi for one of Fender Guitar's online forums.
Susan and I were talking about how the logistics of working with talented folks from all walks of life and different musical genre that is found with Tedeschi Trucks, Gov't Mule and other successful bands. She directly attributed their run of luck and professional capability to what she had learned from being friends with Col Bruce Hampton. She was very fond of him and they were very close friends. I saw in the video from last night the instant she realized something was wrong on stage, I feel real sorry for her loss. She was also very close to BB King before his death. Sad deal, the band was jamming having lots of fun with a couple dozen folks on stage for the final number.
High Tides and Green Grass, RIP, Col. Bruce Hampton, US Army retired, class act and kind fun man. Died with his boots on doing what he loved with the folks he loved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM8V5mMGYas&list=RDwM8V5mMGYas
