Alan Paul

Maplewood

Senior Writer, Guitar World at Future

3 x NYT best-selling author, Brothers & Sisters, One Way Out & Texas Flood; Friends of the Brothers/ https://t.co/dPD25xj9bX

Articles

Happy Birthday Workingman's Dead

2 weeks ago | open.substack.com | Alan Paul

My book Brothers and Sisters: the Allman Brothers Band and The Album That Defined The 70sis about a lot more than the album of the same name and includes the most extensive reporting ever about the relationship between the Grateful Dead and the ABB. This story about Workingman’s Dead is adapted from the book. Low Down and Dirty is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
That’s What Friends Are For

3 weeks ago | alanpaul.substack.com | Alan Paul

I’ve written before how working and hanging out at Ann Arbor’s Rick’s American Café from 1984-87 was hugely influential in terms of my love of live music, blues especially. I saw and interacted with many amazing acts, including Koko Talor, Son Seals, Robert Cray, Albert Collins, NRBQ, Fishbone, 10,000 Maniacs, Johnny Copeland and Buddy Guy, as well as many great local and regional acts, including Cleveland reggae bands Ital and First Light.
Jaimoe remembers Gregg: "There's not anybody I ever heard who sang with more truth and passion than Gregory."

1 month ago | alanpaul.substack.com | Alan Paul

Reposting from last year… and I just might do so every May 27 going forward. Gregg Allman passed away eight years ago today, on May 27, 2017. Earlier that morning, I reunited on phone with my Chinese bandmate Woodie Wu after not talking to him for seven years. I was riding a high when my phone started blowing up with the news that knocked me to a real low. As Rebecca said, “You lost a musician you love and gained a musician you love.” This was true, but also an understatement.
Low Down and Dirty

2 months ago | alanpaul.substack.com | Alan Paul

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Happy 56th Birthday Allman Brothers Band! (More or less)

Mar 26, 2025 | alanpaul.substack.com | Martin’s Press |Alan Paul

It’s the 56th anniversary of the Allman Brothers Band. This story of their formation is adapted from Brothers and Sisters: the Allman Brothers Band and The Album That Defined The 70s, copyright 2023, Alan Paul.If you enjoy this post, please share and subscribe - and consider a paid subscription, which allows me to dedicate more time to this venture, with more new and original writing, and upcoming video and audio interviews. I’ll send a thank you gift to the next 50 paid subscribers.
When Their Time Comes: A Dawes Appreciation And Interview

Mar 24, 2025 | alanpaul.substack.com | Martin’s Press |Alan Paul

In 2009, while I was writing my first book, Big in China, I shut off most new music, digging deeply into familiar sounds to fuel the writing process. I had Dawes’ debut CD North Hills sitting on my desk for a few months, sent to me by their publicist Ken Weinstein, a longtime friend and publicist I trust. When he bugged me a little, I threw it in and the CD immediately joined the rotation with a lot of beloved classics.
Confessions of a Heartbreaker: Mike Campbell

Mar 21, 2025 | alanpaul.substack.com | Martin’s Press |Alan Paul

Mike Campbell’sHeartbreaker: A Memoircame out this week and it’s a great read, delving deeply into his complicated, decades-long relationship with Tom Petty. Campbell was the lead guitarist in Petty’s Heartbreakers and before that in Mudcrutch and what becomes clear throughout Heartbreakeris he was also a crucial glue guy in keeping the band together and harmonious for decades.
A (pretty damn good) interview with Paul Westerberg

Mar 18, 2025 | alanpaul.substack.com | Martin’s Press |Alan Paul

The Replacements were a very important band to me. I saw them in September, 1984, at the late and lamented Joe’s Star Lounge, weeks after arriving in Ann Arbor as a freshman. Per Hoffman – now one of my oldest friends, then a new and exciting acquaintance – told me that his friends were talking endlessly about the Replacements and we had to go.
How Warren Haynes is finishing what Gregg Allman started with Derek Trucks’ help - and why he’s fallen for J Mascis’ Squier Jazzmaster

Mar 17, 2025 | yahoo.com | Alan Paul

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Warren Haynes has been one of the greatest, most active musicians on the roots and jam scene for four decades now, working with Gov’t Mule, the Allman Brothers Band and the Dead, among many others. Yet the new Million Voices Whisper is only his fourth studio solo album across all those years.
Georgia On My Mind: An Epic, Magical Weekend in Macon

Mar 4, 2025 | alanpaul.substack.com | Martin’s Press |Alan Paul

Discover more from Low Down and DirtyInterviews and insights about rock and blues music, sports, fatherhood and expat life from New York Times best-selling author Alan Paul. Over 4,000 subscribersBy subscribing, I agree to Substack's Terms of Use, and acknowledge its Information Collection Notice and Privacy Policy. Reporting back from Macon after a needed day of rest. The most common question I got was, is jaimoe Ok? Yes! He just didn’t want to do that travel.