Allman Brothers Band co-founder and drummer Claude Hudson "Butch" Trucks has died. He was 69.
Trucks' booking agent confirmed the news to Rolling Stone that the drummer had passed away Tuesday evening (January 24) in West Palm Beach, FL. A cause of death is currently unknown.
UPDATE (01/26, 3:17 p.m. EST): The Daily Mail reports that Trucks' death was a suicide. According to police reports obtained by the publication, Trucks' wife called police saying the drummer had shot himself in the head with a pistol. You can read the full report here.
"The Trucks and Allman Brothers Band families request all of Butch's friends and fans to please respect our privacy at this time of sadness for our loss," Trucks' rep told the publication in a statement. "Butch will play on in our hearts forever."
Guitarist Gregg Allman provided a statement to the magazine on Trucks' passing:
I'm heartbroken. I've lost another brother and it hurts beyond words. Butch and I knew each other since we were teenagers and we were bandmates for over 45 years. He was a great man and a great drummer and I'm going to miss him forever. Rest In Peace Brother Butch.
Trucks was born in Jacksonville, FL, on May 11, 1947. Rolling Stone points out that according to Randy Poe's Skydog: The Duane Allman Story, Trucks began playing drums in eighth grade and got his first kit in Grade 11, following a promise to his parents that he would never play in venues that served liquor.
Following high-school bands and stints as a timpani player in the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Jacksonville Symphonette, Trucks attended Florida State University and formed a band called the Bitter Ind. It was at a Bitter Ind performance where Trucks first met Gregg and Duane Allman, who would invite Trucks to form the Allman Brothers Band three years later.
Butch Trucks was also an uncle to guitarist Derek Trucks, known for his work with the Derek Trucks band and the Tedeschi Trucks band, in addition to the Allman Brothers.
Find some tributes to Trucks below.
Trucks' booking agent confirmed the news to Rolling Stone that the drummer had passed away Tuesday evening (January 24) in West Palm Beach, FL. A cause of death is currently unknown.
UPDATE (01/26, 3:17 p.m. EST): The Daily Mail reports that Trucks' death was a suicide. According to police reports obtained by the publication, Trucks' wife called police saying the drummer had shot himself in the head with a pistol. You can read the full report here.
"The Trucks and Allman Brothers Band families request all of Butch's friends and fans to please respect our privacy at this time of sadness for our loss," Trucks' rep told the publication in a statement. "Butch will play on in our hearts forever."
Guitarist Gregg Allman provided a statement to the magazine on Trucks' passing:
I'm heartbroken. I've lost another brother and it hurts beyond words. Butch and I knew each other since we were teenagers and we were bandmates for over 45 years. He was a great man and a great drummer and I'm going to miss him forever. Rest In Peace Brother Butch.
Trucks was born in Jacksonville, FL, on May 11, 1947. Rolling Stone points out that according to Randy Poe's Skydog: The Duane Allman Story, Trucks began playing drums in eighth grade and got his first kit in Grade 11, following a promise to his parents that he would never play in venues that served liquor.
Following high-school bands and stints as a timpani player in the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Jacksonville Symphonette, Trucks attended Florida State University and formed a band called the Bitter Ind. It was at a Bitter Ind performance where Trucks first met Gregg and Duane Allman, who would invite Trucks to form the Allman Brothers Band three years later.
Butch Trucks was also an uncle to guitarist Derek Trucks, known for his work with the Derek Trucks band and the Tedeschi Trucks band, in addition to the Allman Brothers.
Find some tributes to Trucks below.
Awfully sad to hear of the passing of Butch Trucks. A deserving legend, with a family full of ridiculously talented and truly sweet people.
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) January 25, 2017
Just got word that original Allman Brothers drummer
— Charlie Daniels (@CharlieDaniels) January 25, 2017
Butch Trucks has passed away.
Condolences to family and band mates
Pearl Corporation sends condolences to the friends, family, and bandmates of Allman Brothers Band drummer and founding member Butch Trucks. pic.twitter.com/jpfcpRcx3j
— Pearl Drums (@PearlDrumCorp) January 25, 2017
Rest In Peace Butch Trucks, cofounder and a drummer in the legendary Allman Brothers Band that helped define southern rock. pic.twitter.com/nANsFDFGrm
— TIDAL (@TIDALHiFi) January 25, 2017
