A Visit to the 'Big House'

[Dave White]

Yesterday, I was able to cross an item off my bucket list by visiting the Allman Brothers’ Big House Museum as well as their graves in nearby Rose Hill Cemetery.

The house is packed with memorabilia from the bands earliest (pre-Allman Brothers) days to the present. There are lots of the band’s instruments on display – including several of Duane’s. Below is a photo of the Les Paul Duane used for the band’s first two albums, many concerts, and his work on Derek and the Dominoes’ Layla and Other Love Songs. You can read more on the history of this guitar here (it has its own website!).

The museum staff was helpful and friendly and I learned a lot about the Brothers and the time they spent in Macon. If you visit the museum, ask for Richard to show you around - he has a wealth of knowledge about the Allman Brothers and the Macon area.

Duane, Gregg, and Berry Oakley are all buried at nearby Rose Hill Cemetery. A number of the band’s early publicity shots were taken at the cemetery and several of their songs reference others buried at Rose Hill.

If you are in the Macon area, the tour is well worth your time. In the meantime, you can experience a virtual tour here.

[DianeB]

Very cool, Dave. I believe I see the Coricidin bottle that Gregg got for Duane when he was sick, and on which he learned his first slide moves. Thanks!

[Dave White]

14 minutes ago, DianeB said:

Very cool, Dave. I believe I see the Coricidin bottle that Gregg got for Duane when he was sick, and on which he learned his first slide moves. Thanks!

You are correct Diane - I took a close-up of those bottles!

[UncleHammy]

1 hour ago, DianeB said:

Very cool, Dave. I believe I see the Coricidin bottle that Gregg got for Duane when he was sick, and on which he learned his first slide moves. Thanks!

All because of a skittish horse ride!  

Think of how different music would be without Duane's slide guitar sound.  

Makes me feel really whimpy when I can't play my guitar because of hand issues.

[matonanjin]

How is this for timing?  I just watched a 1/2 documentary on AXS TV about the Allman Brothers and then went to practice.  Checked this forum quick before practicing.  Definitely looks like an interesting, fun place, Dave.  Thanks for the info.

[Maybellene]

 Wowzers, does that look like an interesting place to visit. You must have had a blast. Thank you for sharing.  

[John Wells]

Long time ago and makes me scratch my noggin. As I recall, Gregg was "Born a Ramblin' Man," before Duane jjoined the band. They wuz good! Lotsa luck.

[Odie]

On 4/14/2018 at 4:31 PM, DianeB said:

Very cool, Dave. I believe I see the Coricidin bottle that Gregg got for Duane when he was sick, and on which he learned his first slide moves. Thanks!

Like a few of their tunes but don't know any history. So, what's the story behind the Coricidin bottles?

[Dave White]

41 minutes ago, Odie said:

Like a few of their tunes but don't know any history. So, what's the story behind the Coricidin bottles?

Here you go (from Wikipedia):

Duane learned to play slide guitar on his birthday in 1968. He was recovering from an injury to his left elbow, caused in a fall from a horse. Gregg brought him a birthday present, the debut album by Taj Mahal, and a bottle of Coricidin pills. He left them on the front porch and rang the bell, as Duane was angry with him about the injury. "About two hours after I left, my phone rang," Gregg recalled. "'Baby brother, baby brother, get over here now!'" Duane had poured the pills out of the bottle and washed off the label and was using it as a slide to play along with the album track "Statesboro Blues" (on the recording, the slide guitar is played by Jesse Ed Davis). "Duane had never played slide before," said Gregg, "he just picked it up and started burnin'. He was a natural." (-quoted from:Muscle Shoals (film)). The song became a part of the Allman Brothers Band's repertoire, and Duane's slide guitar became crucial to their sound. Because of his use of the early-1970s-era Coricidin medicine bottle, which is no longer manufactured, replica Coricidin bottles are now popular with slide guitar players who like its glassy feel and sound.

By the way - check out what people want for those bottles on eBay.