Captions by Chris Epting  •  Photography by Kimberly Annette

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Where the Allman Brothers Band called home back in the early 1970s is less than two hours down the road from Atlanta. When TheRockRag went back recently for the big Greg Allman and friends show at the Fox, we, of course, took a little detour down to Macon to visit the Allman Brothers Band Museum, also known as the “Big House.”

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In 1970, starting at $225 a month, the band moved into the Big House, along with wives, kids and girlfriends. If you ever wondered why Allman Brothers music sounds so warm and familiar, it probably has a lot to do with the fact that much of it was created in this house. Of course, Macon is loaded with sites related to the Allman Brothers Band. There are recording studios, restaurants, other homes and even final resting places. But the Big House was the center of the Allman Brothers Band universe.

Today, it represents the largest collection of Allman Brothers memorabilia in the world. More importantly, it’s an opportunity to step into the space and breathe the air where so much life and musical magic happened. There’s the living room window where Dickey Betts sat and wrote “Blue Sky.” Or hang out in the kitchen where he wrote “Ramblin’ Man,” “Midnight Rider,” “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More” and many other ABB classics.

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From the moment you walk in, you get a sense of what took place here. Each room bursts with artifacts. Instruments, clothing, photos, tickets, amp cases —since opening in 2009, the Big House Foundation has worked tirelessly to display, protect and preserve thousands of Allman artifacts.

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We sat down with the museum director Lisa and curator E.J. who explained to us how involved the band members still are and how fans all over the world flock to this most special music reliquary.

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Wandering through Duane Allman’s bedroom, or the nursery where his daughter slept as a baby, gives one deep pause. There is gravity here. You close your eyes and you can almost hear the conversations spilling out from room to room. When you stand in the space downstairs where the band would rehearse, ghostly melodies feel suspended in the air.

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This was a very special stop on our journey, and we highly encourage everybody to visit the Big House in Macon, Georgia. It also boasts a terrific gift shop, and some truly knowledgeable docents that are just dying to tell you a few great Allman stories.

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The road may go on forever. But it certainly stops at 2321 Vineville Ave. and we’re happy we did, too.

THE BIG HOUSE WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND WEBSITE FACEBOOK | TWITTER |  ITUNES | AMAZON

CHRIS EPTING |  WEBSITE | FACEBOOK BOOKS BY CHRIS EPTING | WEBTALK RADIO: BACKSTAGE – ONSTAGE – ON THE RECORD

KIMBERLY ANNETTEWEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

 

Big House Memories
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