Skynyrd vs ABB

quote:

---

Thoughts?

---

There is no best America band.

Nor is there a single best English, Tibetan, Black, Hawaiian, Pink Floyd, or Dead band.

quote:

---

ABB was a great, tremendous, unbelievable, start to southern rock, and jam band, but just weren’t as driven as Ronnie and the boys

---

I'd say they had quite a bit of tragedy of their own to overcome

quote:

---

Skynyrd vs ABB

---

Depends on my mood; both are great but comparing them is like comparing apples to VWs

quote:

---

Skynyrd is the best band America has ever produced.

---

Not sure by what metric, but to each his own. Setting personal taste aside, here’s my take:

I grew up on ABB, my dad worshipped them and my guitar savant cousin was briefly a member. The insane revolving door of talent that came through their doors over the years coupled with how long they did it and how hard they went til the very end (i.e., Gregg’s death) is hard to match. Not to mention all the studio / extracurricular work Duane did with some incredibly gifted musicians who clearly valued him, plus Gov’t Mule’s astronomical success in their own little corner of the music world.

Lynyrd Skynyrd, to me, had “it”. That special combination of not the most technically proficient, not the best gimmick, not the most creative sound, but got DAMN they were the perfect amounts of the perfect ingredients at the exact right time. They just plain rocked and kicked major arse in ways that ABB, in my opinion, didn’t - at least not consistently. Skynyrd brought the fricking heat on every song, every show. But, they never seemed to be able to sustain it after the plane crash - the fire burned much hotter for much shorter compared to ABB.

As for me? I’m glad I don’t have to choose. We will forever have the magic of both and can turn them up as loud as we want!

quote:

---

Duane died and they replaced him with Jimmy Herring, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, and even Dan Toler shredded.

---

Don’t forget about Jackie, too, baw!

Quick fun fact: Zakk Wylde played a show with ABB in the 90s. There’s audio out there on YouTube, but I can’t find video evidence haha

Dickey Betts was the driving force in ABB for most of their existence. They all complemented each other masterfully.

ABB > Skynrd and it’s not close.

Just my opinion. Don’t beat me up too badly

The ABB had much better and more talented musician. There isn’t a single southern rock guitarist better than Duane. Very few white men have ever sang with the kind of pure soul like Gregg. Chuck Leavell is without a doubt the best southern rock piano player of all time. Now throw in the rhythm section, which was absolutely stellar.

For me, it’s ABB all day long.

quote:

---

Very few white men have ever sang with the kind of pure soul like Gregg

---

I could not have said it better myself! Love Gregg Allman’s vocals, my favorites are his songs from his solo album “I’m No Angel”.

ABB had better musicians Skynyrd had better songs for the masses imo. Both are awesome and glad I don't have to choose.