Warren Haynes

Warren Haynes
Haynes performing with Govt Mule, July 9, 2006
Background information
Born	April 6, 1960 (1960-04-06) (age 51) Asheville, North Carolina United States
Genres	Southern rock, hard rock, blues, blues-rock
Occupations	Musician Songwriter Record producer
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1982-present
Labels	Epic, Sony, Sanctuary, Evil Teen Records
Associated acts	The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule, The Warren Haynes Band, Dickey Betts Great Southern Band, The Dead, Dave Matthews Band, David Allan Coe
Website	Official website,
Notable instruments
Gibson Les Paul

Warren Haynes (born April 6, 1960) is an American rock and blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. Haynes is best known for his work as a guitarist for David Allan Coe and The Dickey Betts Band ^[1] early in his career, and later as a founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule,^[2] and as a long time member of The Allman Brothers Band. Haynes also is known for his associations with the remaining members of The Grateful Dead, including touring as a member of Phil Lesh and Friends, and with The Dead.^[3] In addition Haynes founded and manages Evil Teen Records.^[4]

Personal background and style

In addition to singing and playing acoustic and electric guitar, Haynes is also a songwriter. He spent his formative years in Asheville, North Carolina, where he lived with his two older brothers and his father, Edward Haynes. Warren began to play the guitar at age 12. His primary guitar is a Gibson Les Paul '58 Reissue Electric Guitar. His choice of a '58 is most likely because of Duane Allman's famed '58 Les Paul and the tone he achieved with that, rather than the more commonly used '59 Les Paul model, popularized by guitarists such as Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page).

Haynes has referred to himself as a "Gibson man", often playing Gibson Firebird and Gibson ES-335 models as well as the Les Paul models. This was acknowledged by the American guitar maker Gibson Guitar Corp. which has included a limited edition Warren Haynes signature Les Paul in its product line. Built according to Haynes' specifications and modeled on his '58 Les Paul.^[5] Haynes is married to Stefani Scamardo, a DJ for Sirius radio and the long-time manager of Gov't Mule.

Influences

In a 2006 interview with Gibson.com's Backstage Pass Haynes explains his early influences ^[6]: "When I first started—chronologically speaking—Hendrix and Clapton and Johnny Winter were the first three people I got turned on to. That was the Cream era of Clapton. Then eventually, I heard the Allman Brothers and everybody else from that era that I stole something from (laughs). Of course, I would read interviews with all these people and find out who they listened to. And they all listened to B.B. King and Freddie King and Albert King and Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters and Elmore James, so I would go back and discover that stuff."

During the same 2006 interview Haynes talked about his realization of how much the blues had influenced his one-time employer, David Allen Coe. "When I joined Coe’s band, I realized how much he loved blues. Whenever his voice was tired on tour, we would go out just the two of us and open up with a bunch of Jimmy Reed songs. Then segue that into the show. One by one, the drummer would walk on and the bass player would walk on, and eventually the whole band would be onstage. He was really influenced by Jimmy Reed and Lightnin’ Hopkins. That stuff was way back in his formative years, so whenever it came out, it was very genuine." ^[6]

Professional career

The early years and David Allan Coe

Warren Haynes joined David Allan Coe's touring and recording band in 1980 when he was 20 years old.^[2] Coe's bass guitarist Mickey Hayes had first seen Haynes performing at a nightclub called "The Brass Tap" in Asheville. Coe and the band had just finished a movie called Lady Grey, and Coe had decided to drop his current lead guitarist at the time, so Hayes went to Coe and told him of a promising guitarist he'd seen play, recommended Haynes be hired to join the band and fill the spot. Upon Hayes' advice, Coe called and asked Haynes to join the band. He joined that night and played his first gig with the band in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

After playing with Coe for four years,^[2] Warren Haynes and Mickey Hayes left Coe and relocated to Nashville, where they shared an apartment and worked together to form the band "Rich Hippies" which consisted of Dennis Robbins on slide guitar and backing vocals, Mickey Hayes on Bass guitar and backing vocals, Mark Dever on drums, Warren Haynes on lead guitar and lead vocals, and Tommy Irwin on steel guitar. The band lasted over a year from 1984 to late 1985, during which they performed in various clubs around Nashville.

After the Rich Hippies, Haynes got a gig with The Nighthawks, while continuing to play with local musicians and doing session guitar and vocal work. One notable achievement of this period is a song he co-wrote^[7] with Dennis Robbins and Bobby Boyd for the famed country-rock musician Garth Brooks, titled "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House", which was released on the album No Fences and remained the number 1 single on Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart for twenty weeks.

Dickey Betts Band and The Allman Brothers Band

Around 1987, Warren got a call to perform back up vocals on a studio album by Dickey Betts, along with Dennis Robbins. Dickey decided to add Warren to his band as his guitarist after this meeting. With Matt Abts on drums and Johnny Neel on keyboards the now formed Dickey Betts Band released the 1988 album Pattern Disruptive.

In 1989, The Allman Brothers Band decided to reunite, and Betts recruited Haynes to join the band. Also joining were Johnny Neel on keyboards and Allen Woody on bass guitar. Haynes has since played on four well-received studio albums, including the gold certified Where It All Begins (1994). He also has played on four official live releases from the band, including the 2003 DVD Live at the Beacon Theatre. Haynes and Woody left the group in March 1997 to focus solely on their side project Gov't Mule. Shortly after Woody's untimely death on August 26, 2000, Haynes began appearing with The Allman Brothers Band again in 2000 alongside young guitar prodigy Derek Trucks. He returned to the band as a full time member a few months later.

Gov't Mule

Haynes playing with Gov't Mule, 2008

In 1994, Haynes formed Gov't Mule with Abts and Woody. Haynes and Woody initially split time between Gov't Mule and The Allman Brothers Band, but after The Allman Brothers' last show of their 1997 run at New York's Beacon Theatre on March 26, 1997, both left the band to focus on Gov't Mule full-time. They released three albums and became known for their powerful live performances. Some of these performances have been released as official live albums (Live At Roseland Ballroom, Live With A Little Help From Our Friends and Mulennium – the latter two capture their annual New Year's Eve shows).

In August 2000 Woody died, and a decision was made to finish the tour acoustically as the "Smile at Half-Mast" tour. Gov't Mule released two studio albums (The Deep End, Volume 1 and The Deep End, Volume 2) and a live album/DVD (The Deepest End, Live in Concert) featuring many of Woody's favorite bass players. In 2003 Andy Hess (bass) and Danny Louis (keyboard/organ) were added as permanent members to the group and in late 2004 they released their first studio effort, Deja Voodoo, which later included an EP of newly recorded material titled Mo Voodoo. After recording 2006's High & Mighty, Gov't Mule also released a dub EP titled Mighty High and a DVD titled Tail of 2 Cities that contained two full performances recorded in 2004 and 2006. The two shows on the DVD captured the first show of the Deja Voodoo Tour and the last show of the High & Mighty Tour, serving to encapsulate what was created over those two years. In 2008, Andy Hess left Gov't Mule to pursue other projects and was replaced by relative unknown Jorgen Carlsson. By a Thread, the first studio album from Gov't Mule with Jorgen, was released in 2009 on Haynes' own label, Evil Teen Records.

In 2010 they went back to the vault and released Mulennium a 3 disc recording of a show from New Years Eve 1999 in Atlanta. This was the first official recording released of the original trio since the death of Allen Woody in 2000. It also featured an appearance by Little Milton, one of Warren's guitar heroes from his youth.

The Dead

Since the death of Jerry Garcia in 1995, Warren has performed and toured with many of the remaining members of the Grateful Dead. In 1997 Haynes and Abts came onstage to jam with Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman in a small club that was being filmed for Robert Mugge's film on Robert Johnson, Hellhound On My Trail. Then in 2000 Phil Lesh approached him to play lead guitar and sing for his solo group Phil Lesh & Friends, where he played for 3 years. In 2004 when The Dead (remaining members of the Grateful Dead) were in need of a new guitarist they called upon Haynes to come play lead and sing for that summer's "Wave That Flag Tour". His run with The Dead ended on a night where he came in with them, then performed a solo acoustic set, and then ended the night playing with The Allman Brothers Band and started out on his next tour with them. He played lead guitar for The Dead again in late 2008 when they performed at a benefit at Penn State for then-presidential candidate Barack Obama and then toured with them in the Spring of 2009.

Solo artist and guest appearances

Performing at Peaches Records, Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, Florida

In 1993, Warren released his first solo album, Tales of Ordinary Madness, which was produced by former Allman Brother keyboardist Chuck Leavell. He toured briefly in support of the record with various musicians.

In 2003 and 2004, Warren released two solo acoustic albums, The Lone EP, a collection of live performances and Live From Bonnaroo which documents his solo performance at the 2003 Bonnaroo Music Festival. When not touring with one of his electric bands, Warren will often take time out to do solo acoustic shows which include a variety of well-known and rare covers along with his own material. In 2004, Warren Haynes performed five full-length solo acoustic shows, as well as opened 23 times for The Dead and once for The Allman Brothers Band.

He has also made 45 song appearances and 28 concert appearances with Dave Matthews Band, including on two released live albums: Live at Central Park Concert in which he performed "Cortez the Killer", and "Jimi Thing", and Live at Piedmont Park where he performed "What Would You Say".

In 2005 Warren performed a one time only show under the name Warren Haynes & Friends. The band included Abts on drums, Dave Schools of Widespread Panic on bass, John Medeski of Medeski Martin & Wood, and Skerik the avant-garde sax player of bands such as Critters Buggin' and Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade. The group played a selection of blues songs, including songs of Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Tom Waits, and Gov't Mule standards. The band was also featured as the house band during a number of tapings of Carson Daly's late show in early February 2005. During one of these tapings, the scheduled musical act was absent, so Warren performed an acoustic rendition of U2's One. The song also appeared on his Live from Bonnaroo album.

After recording Gov't Mule's By a Thread album, Haynes formed The Warren Haynes Band. The group included George Porter Jr. on bass, Ivan Neville on keys and Raymond Weber on drums. Also joining them on keys was Ian McLagan, as well as vocalist Ruthie Foster and Ron Holloway on tenor sax. The Warren Haynes Band made their debut performance at Haynes' annual Christmas Jam in Asheville, North Carolina on December 11, 2010.^[8] The album Man in Motion was released in May 2011. An extensive tour occurred after the release through the rest of 2011; the touring version of the band included Holloway, drummer Terence Higgins of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, bassist Ron Johnson, keyboardist Nigel Hall, and various vocalists, either Foster, Alfreda Gerald, or Alecia Chakour^[9].

Haynes has stated that his further solo efforts might take him into still other fields. "There are other projects I want to do, too," he relates. "I'm interested in recording a singer-songwriter oriented album with more acoustic instruments, a jazzy instrumental CD and a straight-up blues record. But like Man In Motion, those albums will have to wait until the time is right." ^[10]

The Christmas Jam

Starting in 1989, Haynes put together an annual charity benefit show, inviting musicians originally from his home town of Asheville who were home for Christmas, the only time of year they would all be in town at the same time. The first show, held at the 45 Cherry club in Asheville on December 29, 1989, was dubbed "The Christmas Jam: Musician's X-Mas Reunion." Some of the artists at the first Christmas Jam were Warren Haynes, Mike Barnes, Crystal Zoo, The Stripp Band and the McBad Brothers Band.

In the initial years the proceeds from the concert were donated to various charities but eventually the organizers decided to focus on Habitat for Humanity,^[11] a charity that builds houses for the disadvantaged. In tribute to his financial support of Habitat for Humanity, a subdivision in Lower Hominy, North Carolina, a suburb of Asheville, North Carolina has a street named after Warren Haynes.^[12] In 2002, Haynes was presented the Key to the City of Asheville by Mayor Charles Worley. In 2003, Mayor Worley proclaimed December 18 "Warren Haynes Day." ^[13]

The event has continued to grow every year and is now dubbed "Warren Haynes Presents: The Christmas Jam." Due to increasing audience demand the show was eventually moved to the Asheville Civic Center, and was now featuring many well known artists and friends Haynes played with over the years.

Some past performers include The Allman Brothers Band, Blues Traveler, Jackson Browne, Johnny Winter, Drive-By Truckers, DJ Logic, Peter Frampton, Gov't Mule, John Hiatt, Bruce Hornsby, Hot Tuna, John Paul Jones (musician), Ray LaMontagne, Phil Lesh & Friends, Umphrey's McGee, Little Feat, Living Colour, Branford Marsalis, Dave Matthews, Neville Brothers, New Orleans Social Club, North Mississippi Allstars, Phish's Trey Anastasio and Mike Gordon, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, John Scofield, Dr.Ralph Stanley, Marty Stuart, Taj Mahal Trio, Susan Tedeschi, The Derek Trucks Band,Bob Weir, Widespread Panic's John Bell, Dave Schools, John (Jo Jo) Herman, Todd Nance & Jimmy Herring, Kevin Kenney from Drivin' N Cryin', and Edwin McCain.

In 2008, for its twentieth anniversary, "The Christmas Jam" consisted of two nights of music; including "The Christmas Jam By Day," ^[14] a series of events including daytime concerts, movie screenings, and art, photo, and poster exhibits taking place in downtown Asheville on the days leading up to the show. The event reverted to one night in 2009 but retained the "The Christmas Jam By Day," and included the new "Christmas Comedy Jam." ^[15] The same format was repeated in 2010.

Instructional Videos

Haynes has recorded two instructional videos; Electric Blues & Slide Guitar ^[16] and Acoustic Slide and the art of Electric Improvisation.^[17] He discusses his influences and shows an array of techniques such as "call and response", string bending, vibrato, slide guitar in standard tuning and some acoustic open tuning licks in G and E tunings. For the demonstrations of the Electric Improvisation section of the second video he is accompanied by Allen Woody and Matt Abts.

Taping policy

All of Warren Haynes' projects allow audio taping/trading/online distribution. He does not approve of video recording or photography of his performances and does not provide 'soundboard patches'.^[18] The Allman Brothers Band also allows pro-taping/trading, but discourages distribution of their shows via the internet via applications such as BitTorrent. In a 2005 USA Today article, Haynes stated that while widespread tape-trading may cut into band profits, "it does more good than harm. It brings more people into the fold"^[19]

Discography

Allman Brothers Band

• Seven Turns, 1990
• Shades of Two Worlds, 1991
• An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band: First Set, 1992 (live)
• Where It All Begins, 1994
• An Evening with the Allman Brothers Band: 2nd Set, 1995 (live)
• Hittin' the Note, 2003
• One Way Out, 2004 (live)

Gov't Mule

• Gov't Mule, 1995
• Live at Roseland Ballroom, 1996
• Dose, 1998
• Live ... With A Little Help From Our Friends, 1998
• Life Before Insanity, 2000
• Wintertime Blues: The Benefit Concert, 2000
• The Deep End, Volume 1, 2001
• The Deep End, Volume 2, 2002
• The Deepest End, Live In Concert, 2003
• Deja Voodoo, 2004
• Mo' Voodoo (EP), 2005
• High & Mighty, 2006
• Mighty High, 2007
• Holy Haunted House, 2007 (Live)
• By a Thread, 2009
• Mulennium, 2010 (Live)

Dave Matthews Band

• Live at Piedmont Park
• The Central Park Concert
• Live Trax Vol. 20

Warren Haynes

• Tales of Ordinary Madness - 1993
• The Lone EP - 2003 (live)
• Live at Bonnaroo - 2004 (live)
• Man in Motion - 2011

Phil Lesh & Friends

• There and Back Again - 2002

Garth Brooks

• No Fences, writing credits on song "Two of a Kind, Workin' on a Full House" - 1990

David Allan Coe

• Live - If That Ain't Country... , 1997 (live)

Corrosion of Conformity

• America's Volume Dealer - Stare Too Long - 2000

The Derek Trucks Band

• Already Free, writing credits on song "Back Where I Started" - 2009
• Out Of The Madness, vocal obligato and lead guitar on "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl", "Forty-Four" and "Death Letter" - 1998

Compilation

• Freeway Jam: To Beck and Back Jeff Beck Tribute - 2007 - Track #7 "The Pump"

Kevn Kinney (Drivin' N Cryin')

• The Flower & The Knife - Producer, Backup Vocalist and Guitarist on most of the tracks - 2000

References

1. ^ The Gibson Interview: Warren Haynes, http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Lifestyle/Features/warren-haynes-0504-2011/, retrieved 2011-08-12 
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Mule.Net: The Band (Warren Haynes Bio)". http://www.mule.net/the_band/warren.html. Retrieved 2009-08-12. 
3. ^ "Family Tree Warren Haynes". http://www.allmanbrothers.info/familytreewarrenhaynes.htm. Retrieved 2009-08-12. 
4. ^ "Evil Teen Records (About Us)". http://www.evilteen.com/. Retrieved 2009-08-12. 
5. ^ "Warren Haynes Les Paul Standard". Gibson.com. http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-Custom/Warren-Haynes-Les-Paul-Standard/Features.aspx. 
6. ^ ^{a b} GIBSON.COM, http://www.gibson.com/backstage/200702/warrenhaynes.html, retrieved 2011-08-11 
7. ^ "Mule.Net: The Band (Warren Haynes Bio)". http://www.mule.net/the_band/warren.html. Retrieved 2009-08-12. 
8. ^ Need We Say More? > News > The Warren Haynes Band.... Confirmed for Christmas Jam, http://www.jambands.com/news/2010/10/11/the-warren-haynes-band-steve-miller-band-gregg-allman-and-umphrey-s-mcgee-confirmed-for-christmas-jam, retrieved 2011-08-11 
9. ^ Warren Haynes - warrenbase, http://www.warrenhaynes.net/warrenbase/listing/Warren%20Haynes%20Band/2011, retrieved 2011-11-06 
10. ^ "About: Man in Motion". warrenhaynes.net. http://www.warrenhaynes.net/about/. 
11. ^ Warren Haynes Presents Christmas Jam, http://www.xmasjam.com/2010/mission.php, retrieved 2011-08-11 
12. ^ Music star Warren Haynes gives back to community - CNN.com, 2008-12-23, http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/23/christmas.jam/, retrieved 2011-08-11 
13. ^ Warren Haynes Presents Christmas Jam, http://www.xmasjam.com/2009/mission.php, retrieved 2011-08-11 
14. ^ Warren Haynes Presents Christmas Jam - Christmas Jam by Day, http://www.xmasjam.com/2010/press.php?article=42, retrieved 2011-08-12 
15. ^ Warren Haynes Presents Christmas Jam - Comedy Jam, http://www.xmasjam.com/2010/press.php?article=48, retrieved 2011-08-11 
16. ^ Amazon.com: Warren Haynes: Electric Blues and Slide Guitar: Hot Licks, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BM7YXS, retrieved 2011-08-12 
17. ^ Amazon.com: Warren Haynes: Acoustic Slide and the art of Electric Improvisation:Hot Licks, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014BJ122, retrieved 2011-08-12 
18. ^ "Legal Policies: GovtT Mule Audio Recording, Photo and Video Policy". Mule.net. http://www.mule.net/legal_policies.html. 
19. ^ "Live Music On Demand". Hittin' The Web with The Allman Brothers Band. http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/print.php?sid=479. 

External links

• Warren Haynes

Persondata
Name	Haynes, Warren
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 6, 1960
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death