Gregg Allman Memoir Reveals Addiction, Grief, Finding God
Iconic rock and roller Gregg Allman has released his memoir, which reveals everything from the success of the Allman Brothers to more personal stories such as his divorce from Cher.
My Cross to Bear, which hit stores last week, talks about sex, drugs, and music as well as the co-founder of The Allman Brothers' career and the impact of his brother's death in a motorcycle accident.
As The Allman Brothers Band was gaining popularity, pioneering slide guitarist for the group Duane Allman was killed in 1971.
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"I can tell when he's there, man," Allman explained of his older brother in the book. "I'm not going to get all cosmic on you. But listen, he's there."
Shortly after Duane's death, The Allman Brothers lost another band member, bass guitarist Berry Oakley, who also died in a motorbike accident.
The autobiography was written with music journalist Alan Light and features never-before-seen photos from Allman's hard-lived life. The 64-year-old co-founder of The Allman Brothers opens up about many bouts with drug and alcohol addiction as well as woes with women that have included seven divorces.
With open and honest conversational style, the book also reveals Allman's realization of his love for God. The rocker explained that he's "come out of the closet" after years of shunning organized religion.
"I just said, 'Man, I ain't drivin' this mule no more,'" wrote Allman. "'I'm in the driver's seat, you take the wheel. Take it where it's supposed to go.'"
In recent years Allman's health forced the music superstar to postpone the book tour for My Cross to Bear in order to undergo preventative tests on his heart.
Additionally, just two years ago, the music man had a liver transplant due to Hepatitis C and has only recently recovered from the effects.
His book tour is scheduled to kick off May 8 as long as his health permits.
Despite problems with his health, Allman continues to tour with remaining members of The Allman Brothers.
Allman was inducted along with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2006.
