The only thing good about this book was his discussion about music and the changing music scene in his era. He could have said what he had to say in 1/3 of the book and it would have been important. ( )

I purchased My Cross to Bear, by Gregg Allman at a library-sponsored used book sale about four or five years ago. I wasn't sure I was going to like this book but for $1.50 it was worth the try. It is surprisingly folksy and readable.

I started listening to the Allman Brothers in 1971, when I started listening to WNEW-FM. A friend of mine introduced me to Gregg Allman's solo music during the summer of 1979, with the album "Laid Back." My favorite song of his, on that album, "These Days" (written by Jackson Browne), is still going through my head..

"My Cross to Bear" is an illustration, even "Exhibit "A" of the Neil Young song, "Needle (or bottle) and the Damage Done." Many of the musicians, including Gregory (as he preferred to be called) were so intelligent and talented. The self-destruction in their lives was, simply put, a waste. The drugs were in the culture. It was known, early on, that they were destructive.

The life of a touring and performing musician often does not blend well with domesticity. It made hard but compelling reading.

All the same, the book gave me a new appreciation of his music, and the music that blossomed in the fertile days of the late 1960's and early 1970's. It is a testament to his talent that he remained a performer through the early 2010's. He was great. The book was near-great and I'm glad I picked it up after some false starts. ( )

Självbiografi skriven av en av mina favoritmusiker, Gregg Allman, tillsammans med författaren Alan Light. Boken är underhållande med härliga "inside-stories", detaljerade beskrivningar om Allmans uppgång och fall i sitt privatliv, men även med sitt band, The Allman Brothers Band. Om man gillar The Allman Brothers Band så är denna bok ett måste! ( )

Enjoyable book about his life. ( )

ebook version