Rolling Stone Magazine recently published a story reporting that Allman Brothers bass player Oteil Burbridge, the man who has been providing the lower end for the Allman Brothers for decades is leaving the band. Fans of the band immediately began protesting and about the shake-up.
“We’re here to assure you that that is not true,” said Oteil, refuting the claim on Social Media, “and he will be playing with the Allman Brothers throughout 2014. Happy New Year and thank you to all the fans for your support!”
Oteil also had this to say on his website:
“For the record…. It was an amazing experience recording and playing with the Zac Brown Band and with Dave Grohl in November. It was an awesome time and a reunion of sorts for me with old friends Chris Fryar, Penn Robertson, and Eric Pretto (the drummer, bass tech and guitar tech for ZBB, respectively) who I’ve known for over a decade. I am proud to be part Zac’s record.
2014 will mark the beginning of my 16th year with the Allman Brothers and as we celebrate the bands 45th anniversary, it reminds me what a huge part of my musical life this incredible band has been. I’m really grateful and proud to be such a big part of the ABB history. And we ain’t done yet!
I certainly hope to work with the Zac Brown Band again in the future. They are incredibly talented and great guys. Wherever I land in the future, I hope my fans understand that my primary concern is for the wellbeing of my family and will continue to bring you the highest level of groove and improv that I can muster.”
Butch Trucks has also taken to Facebook to debunk the story. “Ok. Apparently there was a quote from Gregg in Rolling Stone that Oteil is no longer playing with the ABB. I have no idea where that came from but it is absolute BS. Oteil was offered a gig with another band but he turned it down. He is as much the bass player with the Allman brothers today as he has ever been. Please don’t spread this crap. Does no one any good.”
This isn’t the first controversy Rolling Stone Magazine has been embroiled in recently. The magazine was recently the focal point of widespread criticism and major retailers refusing to stock it’s magazine over it’s decision to feature Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on it’s cover — a move that has been called “ill conceived, at best”, and “a slap in the face to the great city of Boston.”
