Today has been a difficult day for music fans everywhere, as Butch Trucks, the legendary founding drummer of the Allman Brothers Band, passed away at the age of 69. Trucks has been an active musician for 50-plus years, helping to start the Allmans in 1969 and remaining a vital part of its lineup and tradition until his death.
One of the most fun crossover moments for fans of the jam scene came in 1995, when Phish visited Trucks’ hometown of West Palm Beach in Florida. Phish was really making a name for themselves around this time, and they’d garnered a strong reputation within the musician community.
When the band arrived at the West Palm Beach Auditorium, they invited Mr. Trucks up on stage at the end of the second set, entreating him to keep down the rhythm for their bluesy number, “Possum.” Fortunately, video of this sit-in exists, and we can watch it below courtesy of ikoiko95 on YouTube.
This sit in would kick off a long, albeit sporadic, relationship between Phish and the Allman Brothers. Trucks would again sit in with Phish in 1996, and members of Phish have sat in with the Allmans over the years. You can watch a rendition of “Franklin’s Tower,” played by the Allman Brothers with Trey Anastasio, here.
RIP Butch.