Post by ekforum on Dec 1, 2009 13:00:13 GMT -5
Allen's remembered for his FREE BIRD solo but his rhythm guitar parts were always real interesting to me. He had a style all his own. Allen was a GREAT rhythm player. He had STYLE.
Collins was one of those people that could eat his weight and never gain a pound. Us fat people don't care much for that.
Allen was a great rhythm guitar player...highly original. He'll always be known for his lead on FREEBIRD, but this punchy, staccato rhythms were very cool.
One day, when I skipped rehearsals, Allen took my WORKIN FOR MCA riff and turned it around a little bit - turned it into ON THE HUNT. I was flattered.
Allen was a light-hearted guy, always joking around. He was the only one I ever saw who could jump onto the hood of a car from a standing position on the street! He'd just bend his knees a LITTLE and !WHAM! ... he'd be standing on the car's hood.
It was amazing to see him when I visited him on the road during the Rossington-Collins tour. His attitude was so changed - understandably, of course, having lost some close friends in that plane crash. He wasn't so cheerful anymore, but quite melancholy. Then later on he lost his wife and then came the car crash that put him in the wheelchair. Man...I don't even want to write about this anymore! Allen was always real good to me.
Q - You've said he was the smoothest rhythm guitarist you've played with. I'm just curious, are there many guitarists that can go from rhythm to playing a hard hitting fast paced Freebird solo?
I don't think I EVER said Allen was 'smooth'. His rhythm parts were percussive, jerky and animated...NOT smooth. VERY INTERESTING guitar parts.
The intro to Double Trouble" is a PERFECT EXAMPLE. Not smooth...but animated. Allen Collins LOVED Jerry Reed's rhythm playing! I don't think I've ever said that before. Allen loved it. And there are some of his parts (Dub Trub and Country Boy come to mind) that are EXTREMELY REED-INSPIRED. Amos Moses was one of Allen's favorite songs.
Allen Collins was the most upbeat one in the band (with Bob Burns a CLOSE 2nd). I think my relationship with all the band members was on a very superficial level. The only meaningful conversations I ever had were with Ronnie. I didn't know the others that well.
I've heard from others who knew Allen that his personality took a left turn after the plane crash and an even more severe turn after his wife's death. Understandable, for sure.
I can only testify to what he was like from Oct. '72 to June '75. I can't recall him EVER being upset about ANYthing.