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Allen Woody

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For the filmmaker and jazz clarinetist, see Woody Allen.

Allen Woody
Woody playing an Epiphone Viola Bass with Gov't Mule
Woody playing an Epiphone Viola Bass with Gov't Mule
Background information
Birth nameDouglas Allen Woody
Born(1955-10-03)October 3, 1955
DiedAugust 25, 2000(2000-08-25) (aged 44)
Queens, New York, U.S.
GenresSouthern rock, hard rock, blues rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
InstrumentBass
Years active1975 – 2000
Formerly ofThe Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule, The Peter Criss Band, The Artimus Pyle Band, Blue Floyd, Montage

Douglas Allen Woody (October 3, 1955 – August 25, 2000)[1] was an American bass guitarist best known for his eight-year tenure in the Allman Brothers Band and as a co-founder of Gov't Mule.

Biography

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After having studied at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music,[2] Woody joined the Allman Brothers Band along with guitarist Warren Haynes upon the group's reunion in 1989. Woody and Haynes formed side project Gov't Mule in 1994 with former Dickey Betts drummer Matt Abts. Haynes and Woody decided to leave the Allman Brothers Band in 1997 to put a full-time effort into Gov't Mule. Prior to that, Woody played in the 1970s jazz fusion rock band Montage, and following that with former Kiss drummer Peter Criss in the Criss Penridge Alliance in the 1980s.

Death and legacy

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Woody was found dead the morning of Saturday, August 26, 2000 at the Marriott Courtyard in Queens, New York. A preliminary autopsy performed was inconclusive and showed no immediate cause of death;[3] but he was subsequently determined to have died of a heroin overdose.[4] He was survived by his wife Jenny and daughter Savannah.

Woody's death helped Haynes in his decision to return to the Allman Brothers Band. Gov't Mule continued on after Woody's death with Andy Hess assuming bass duties after a three-year period that saw a rotating group of bass players including Mike Gordon, Dave Schools, Oteil Burbridge (Woody's replacement in the Allman Brothers Band), George Porter Jr. and Les Claypool.

The Canadian band Big Sugar wrote one song "Nashville Grass" about Woody's death and funeral.

Musical equipment

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Woody had a large collection of bass guitars (around 450), featured in his own bass instruction video and was held in high esteem for his playing. The Epiphone Rumble Kat signature bass was similar to two specially built double-neck instruments that Gibson made for him: a bass/guitar and a bass/mandolin. With the Allman Brothers, although Woody used many different basses, Gibson Thunderbirds were his preferred instruments, along with Alembic basses. With Gov't Mule, Allen usually played the Gibson EB series, particularly the hollow-bodied EB-2 and the solid-bodied EB-3. At times he played a Rickenbacker or Gibson Thunderbird. Ampeg SVT was his amp of choice most of the time. Epiphone posthumously released an Allen Woody Limited Edition Bass, a semi-hollow arch-top similar to the Rumble Kat. Woody played esthetically customized Musicvox 4 string Spaceranger and Space Cadet Basses with Gov’t Mule. He played a Musicvox Space Cadet 12 String guitar and Yellow Musicvox Space Cadet 12 String Bass on tour with Blue Floyd performing extended 12 string bass solos in his role as second guitarist in the band.

The movie Rising Low, directed by fellow bass player Mike Gordon, is a documentary about bass players dedicated to the memory of Allen Woody and features bass players that he respected and knew in his lifetime.

Discography

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With the Allman Brothers Band
With Gov't Mule

References

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  1. ^ "Allen Woody - Gov't Mule / The Allman Brothers Band | Fallen Heroes Of Southern Rock". Puresouthernrock.com. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
  2. ^ Moseley, Willie G. (May 11, 2001). "Allen Woody: Of Short-Scale Basses and Long, Long Songs". Vintage Guitar Magazine. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  3. ^ "Allen Woody Page in Fuller Up, The Dead Musician Directory". Elvispelvis.com. August 26, 2000. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
  4. ^ Dixie Lullaby by Mark Kemp. Free Press: 2004. ISBN 0743237943 pgs 201-2
  5. ^ "Gov't Mule Premiere "Spanish Moon" from New 'Sco-Mule' Album with John Scofield — Exclusive | Guitar World". Archived from the original on February 13, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
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