By Jenna Moore
ON FRIDAY, April 4 at 8 p.m., the Warren Haynes Band will take the historic stage of the Lucas Theatre for the Arts at the Savannah Music Festival.
An illustrious artist and GRAMMY Award-winner, Warren Haynes has had a remarkable music journey. From the Allman Brothers Band and Gov’t Mule to the Warren Haynes Band, this legend earned every iota of the respect he receives from fans and fellow musicians.
A guitar genius and gifted storyteller, the collaboration list for Warren Haynes is endless.
He has worked with so many incredible artists — Peter Frampton, Chris Stapleton, Carlos Santana, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Phil Lesh & Friends, James Hetfield, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Dave Matthews, George Porter, Jr. (The Meters), Ivan Neville (Dumpstaphunk), Ruthie Foster, Grace Potter, Marcus King, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi — to name a few!
The recent release of his fourth solo record, “Million Voices Whisper” (2024), glorifies his soulful blues-rock sound backed by his exalted supergroup. The current roster for the Warren Haynes Band is Kevin Scott (bassist for Gov’t Mule), Terence Higgins (drums, known for his work with Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Ani DiFranco), Greg Osby (saxophone for Phil Lesh & Friends) and John Medeski (keys from Medeski, Martin & Wood).
And this album is full of special guests like Derek Trucks, Lukas Nelson and Jamey Johnson. Even Gregg Allman contributed a song — “Real Real Love.” It was a tune that Gregg Allman started but never finished. Warren decided to do that for him and record it in honor of his former bandmate.
The rest of the record’s track topics revolve around ways to improve circumstances in life and love and how to make the world a better place, as the lyrics suggest in “These Changes.”
Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, Haynes picked up his first guitar at 11 years old. His early influences musically included Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter and Eric Clapton, who was in his Cream era at the time. But Warren eventually discovered the Allman Brothers Band and began discovering all the musicians that inspired the Brothers. Old blues legends like The Kings (B.B., Freddie and Albert), Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters and Elmore James.
In 1980, Warren Haynes started playing in David Allan Coe’s band. After four years with Coe, he moved on to a new venture with The Nighthawks but continued his session work and collaborations with local musicians.
Five years or so after the Allman Brothers broke up for the second time, circa 1987, Haynes signed up to play with Dickey Betts for a studio session, which led to him joining the Dickey Betts Band with Matt Abts (drums) and Johnny Neel (keys). Haynes even managed to write/co-write songs for other musicians like Garth Brooks (“Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House") and Gregg Allman (“Just Before the Bullets Fly”) during this time.
When the Allman Brothers Band reunited in 1989, Dickey Betts asked Warren to join the original members along with Johnny Neel (keys) and Allen Woody (bass).
In 1994, Warren Haynes, Matt Abts and Allen Woody established a side project, Gov’t Mule. They split their time between bands until finally leaving the Brothers in ‘97. When Woody passed in 2000, Warren began playing in the Allman Brothers again with Derek Trucks, who was 20 years old at the time — the same age Warren was when he started with David Allan Coe.
Haynes has also toured with the surviving members of the Grateful Dead since the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995.
Above all, Warren Haynes exceeds expectations when it comes to charitable contributions. In 1998, Warren Haynes presented Christmas Jam hosted in his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. Christmas Jam is a “music marathon” for performing artists to give back to the community for the holiday season. The Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity has built 50+ houses from the proceeds and more than 2.8 million dollars has been raised!
These days, Warren Haynes is quick to share his gratitude for his early influences and experiences… and after three decades, Gov’t Mule plays on.
The Savannahian spoke with Warren Haynes about this and that — and this is how the conversation went!
This might be challenging, but do you have a most memorable music moment?
Well, there are definitely a lot of memorable moments after all this time, but I would have to say doing Woodstock in 1994 and being inducted into the Hall of Fame with the Brothers was incredible… that concert in Cleveland was something else! I have been so fortunate.
If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing — was there ever a backup plan or were you always certain you would be a musician?
I never really had a backup plan. I was so lucky early on in my career that I knew I would be a musician. But if I wasn’t doing what I’m doing… I’d probably be involved in creative writing.
You do this so well… when you’re on stage, in a call-and-response type of situation with other musicians — what is the best approach to complimenting the other players without breaching any boundaries, playing too much or not enough?
I think the best way to reach the highest level of improvisation is to shut your brain off and just ride the wave. It’s important to avoid overthinking. Simply respond and react with whoever you’re sharing the space with naturally. The best improv moments evolve by being lost in the moment and not thinking at all. I am lucky enough to share those moments with so many talented musicians.
Once you discover that kind of aspect of playing and that level of improvisation, it’s hard to not get lost in the music.
What would you tell Savannahians to expect at this upcoming Savannah Music Festival performance?
We’ve been doing a lot of stuff from the new album with occasional songs from the Allman Brothers and Mule. It’s a condensed setlist because there are only four solo records to pull songs to play.
Why have you only released four records over four-plus decades?
I am always busy doing other things and working on a variety of projects. This might be my first solo album in a decade, but Mule has released three records in that time. Mule takes priority.
How do you decide what songs make it to your solo albums versus Mule records?
I have established a line for myself to help me differentiate between Mule or solo songs and I always leave room for one or two ‘departures’ — that’s what I call the songs that are on the fence… songs that could potentially go either way.
For Mule, it’s a little easier because we try to stay true to the original trio sound. We evolve yet remain the same. We never stray too far from our signature sound.
How many guitars do you have in your collection?
I have about 250 guitars. You know, it’s funny because Allen Woody had 500 and I used to give him shit about having so many… Now, here I am with half that!
(He shared this with a jolly, reminiscent laugh).
Do you have a favorite instrument?
My 1958/59 Les Paul is my favorite. My signature Les Paul guitars are all modeled after that one.
Do you name them?
Sort of. Our beloved guitar tech, Brian Farmer, named all of my guitars. He did it without my permission or knowledge, but he labeled them one day to make his job easier and I have kept the labels and the names just as he had it before he passed away.
If you could only have three albums to listen to for the rest of your days, what would they be?
That’s tough because it depends on the day! I want to include Allman Brothers Live at Fillmore East, but I will recuse that one from the list.
- Little Feat’s “Waiting for Columbus” (1978)
- Steely Dan's “The Royal Scam” (1976)
- Miles Davis’ “Nefertiti" (1968)
Savannahians, don’t miss what will surely be an unforgettable night of music. You can get your tickets for the Warren Haynes Band’s performance for the Savannah Music Festival at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts on April 4, 2025. The show starts at 8 p.m.!
Follow Warren Haynes on Facebook and Instagram for more!
And don’t forget to check out all the spectacular Savannah Music Festival events from March 2 - April 11, 2025!