Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #379975 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-30
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 159 pages

Customer Reviews

solid narrative
Willie Perkins was road manager for the Allman Brothers Band from their scruffling days in 1970 through the peak of their popularity. He continued in varying capacities until the end of the 1980's when the band changed management companies. For the biggest part of a year he was Duane Allman's roommate on the road, so if anyone knows where the bodies are buried, he does. While he supplies a solid and conherent narrative, he rarely goes into any detail and leaves the reader wanting more. This is particularly true when it comes to Dickey Betts more mercurial tendencies and the twisted financial dealings of the band with Capricorn Records. Yet the strenth of the narrative itself provides a framework on which to place and evaluate other (sometimes mythological) stories. As a writer his style is flat, rarely showing the passion he had to have to work with this organization for so long.

However, I feel like I come away knowing the characters better, and the details of the infamous Grove Hill bust are worth the price of admission. I recommend the book. In combination with Randy Poe's Skydog, and Jan Reid's recent book about the Layla sessions, and Chuck Leavell's wonderful Between a Rock and A Home Place, the reader can get a fair presentation of the band's story.

Sticks to the basics
As noted in the acknowledgments, this is just a personal memoir and not a full-blown history of the Allman Brothers Band--so anyone who says "he's an awful writer" had better get their eyes checked. Perkins lays out his thoughts and stories in a very simple but plain fashion--in some spots, it's more a collection of essays. (He's honest about it, and not every autobiography is meant to be in-depth with insightful deep meditations of actions and deeds.)

Yes, as noted elsewhere, he's fiercely loyal to the band, but the deceased members were close friends--so what else would be expected? And no, the ABB and associates were not known for their social graces either.

What Perkins does well is to give a glimpse into the financial and management whirlpool that can be found in the music industry. Any wanna-be managers or agents would be well off reading this if only to learn more about the reasons why it's sometimes insane to say "I'm with the band" and expect nothing but fast and exciting living without paying the price.

A primary source that will prove vital to fans and researchers of The Allman Brothers Band
No Saints, No Saviors: My Years With The Allman Brothers Band by Willie Perkins (President of Republic Artists Management) is based on the authors' direct involvement with The Allman Brothers Band from 1970 to 1976, and with Gregg Allman from 1983 to 1989. Gripping in its detail of personal tragedy, the nightmares of drug and alcohol abuse, the sad deaths of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley, and the band's phoenix-like rise from ashes, No Saints, No Saviors is a primary source that will prove vital to fans and researchers of The Allman Brothers Band and a valuable insight into the music industry in general for others. Black-and-white photographs enhance this poignant, personal, and singularly perceptive memoir.