My Cross to Bear audiobook

His friends called him Gregory, he writes. Sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll pretty much sum up his adult life. Count me as one of his legions of fans. A lot of this stuff has been already covered in the media. I found the parts where he discusses his creative processes at songwriting to be among the most interesting. His vivid descriptions of his liver transplant operation are unforgettable. I like how he discusses his love for his older brother Duane, both before and after his tragic death at 24. Fortunately, he mellowed out after achieving his sobriety and finding spiritual meaning. He stayed friends with Cher, which is nice to learn. Best of all, we can still enjoy his musical legacy.

I totally loved this book but am very aware of the fact that my reaction is deeply personal and not at all that of an objective reviewer. I love a lot of the Allman Brothers' music and have idolized Duane Allman since I first heard him play guitar, so I'm predisposed to love any book that goes into his life in any depth. Over the years, Gregg lost some credibility for me, thanks to his marriage to Cher and his involvement in a drug trial where a friend of his paid the price for getting drugs for Gregg. But I closed this book feeling respect for him that I haven't in years.This is definitely an "as told to" book -- the book doesn't follow a strict chronological order. Rather, it appears coauthor Alan Light grouped together Allman's random memories into richly detailed chunks that ebb and flow into each other. Sometime I found it a little difficult to keep track of the time frame. But what I never had trouble with was the emotional honesty of the book. It's a little self-serving and, as a woman, I found Allman's sexist attitude towards women a little off putting at times. But overall, who he is as a person comes across loud and clear. He's not the brightest bulb in the room but he's funny and vulnerable and surprisingly innocent in some ways. Pretty much the first half of the book is about his youth and the development of the original band, with a strong slant towards the vital role his older brother Duane played in both Gregg's development as a person and the development of the band. This part of the book is hands down the most insightful material I've ever read about Duane Allman and I was fascinated, impressed and deeply moved, so much so that I cried at the section that covers his death. That Gregg Allman has spent the rest of his life dealing with Duane Allman's death is very clear. Points to him for laying it out there like that.The second half of the book covers the constant struggle of the band to keep making the best music it could, with music seeming to be the only reason Allman stayed alive. By now, the story of the alcoholic, drug abusing rock star is part of contemporary culture. But this account of one such rock star's life will always stand out for its intimate detailing of how a talented human being was shaped, both positively and sometimes, very much not so, by the life and death of a genius who happened to be his brother. I think Gregg -- oops, Gregory -- would very much agree with that statement, which is why I ended up finding this book so very poignant.

I found this at the library and thought Id give it a read. Gregg got up and jammed with my band The Elvis Brothers in St. Louis around 1986 he played guitar with us which was a thrill and he liked The Elvis Brothers... After the show we were hanging in our dressing room with Gregg who was feeling no pain but just wouldn't chill so to speak. We had to leave our own dressing room for some peace and quiet... I remember thinking to myself " I can't believe I just had to leave my own dressing room to get away from Gregg Allman " It's a cool story and he's got it together now and of course he's well he's "Gregg Allman ". I'm looking forward to reading this book. He's been doing it longer than most and is still here to tell the tale. OK I've read the book Gregg has had a incredible live he's not the greatest literary writer but he's not claiming to be... His early career in the 60's is fun to read about, the rise of The Allman Brothers is blusey hard work, the premature death of his brother really hurt him... The story he tells of Duane giving his then girlfriend 19,000 miles worth of penis is really funny. Gregg walked up to a table where Dyane was sitting doing math figures on a piece of paper he looked over Duane's shoulder and Duane had all these numbers going on. Somewhat bewildered Gregg asked him what on earth he was doing ? Duane said he figured his penis was 6" long and for every ten pumps of screwing his girl friend that was 60" and if he pumped her 100 X per fuck that was 600" times how ever many time he screwed her. He proudly came up with 19,000 miles that was a lot of penis he gave her so Duane thought. Gregg just shook his head... (that alone a almost worth the read.) Gregg talking about why he can't write songs with Dickie Betts is humorous as long as you're not Dickie. His being married to Cher is interesting and finally his ongoing health problems are enough to scare you away from drink and drugs...At the end of the day Gregg is still a musician at heart and a talented one at that, one can only wish this survivor the best.My hats off to you Gregg great job on the book.

Not the most well- written book I've ever read but overall a good read. I saw Gregg Allman promote the book on The Colbert Report. Even though I've seen The Allman Brothers at The Beacon Theater on NYC, I haven't given them, particularly Gregg, any conscious thought. Truthfully I always thought he was a little dim, and was pleasantly surprised to find out I was wrong. I'm not sure what I expected from this book but came away feeling somewhat satisfied. I'm generally not a fan of autobiographies because I think people tend to sugarcoat a lot, but I didn't get that sense here. I detected a lot of raw emotion, loneliness and a very deep sense of loss particularly where Duane is concerned. I wasn't aware of the drug trial and would want to read more about that before rendering an opinion. I was also very interested in the animosity between him and Dickey Betts. Overall, I hope this book was a cathartic experience for him. I think it is a goldmine of information for music historians and gives a brutally honest look into the music business by one of its giants, however understated he may be.

"If I fell over dead right now, I have led some kind of life." That's Gregg Allman near the end of "My Cross to Bear," and after reading his autobiography, "My Cross to Bear," I have to agree with him.Some kind of life indeed. Gregg Allman is best known, of course, as the frontman for The Allman Brothers Band, and his story is inextricably linked to the band's. In the early Allman Brothers days, Gregg's big brother, Duane, was running the show. Duane was the one who kept everyone in line, who was the heart and soul of the music. Being leader was not a role Gregg wanted, nor was he especially well-suited to it. He was so shocked and saddened by his brother's sudden death in a motorcycle crash, that he was on an alcohol and drug-fueled autopilot for years.Well, decades, really. "My Cross to Bear" is full of amazing stories--some hilarious, some sad--and Gregg Allman never hesitates to blame himself where appropriate. He is also unflinchingly honest about his alcohol and drug abuse, which lasted decades and nearly killed him a number of times. Allman was notoriously married to Cher back in the 1970's. He speaks candidly about life with her, as well as with his five other wives. Mostly, though, this is a story about a musical career. I just read Eric Clapton's autobiography, and Clapton focused more on his abuses and--especially--his recovery than he did on his legendary music. Gregg Allman talks about his early days, learning to play along with Duane, about early appearances at school talent shows, and playing high school dances. He describes the hunger he and Duane felt just to play, to get as good as possible. They played in bar bands, then formed their own band, the Allman Joys. From there, it was off to L.A., then back to Florida to form The Allman Brothers Band. It took me a chapter or so to get used to Gregg Allman's narrative voice. Where Clapton's autobiography was eloquent and relatively polite, Allman writes like you'd imagine he'd talk, his writing peppered with Southernisms and frequent profanity. That said, I also laughed a lot reading "My Cross to Bear." Allman is a hell of a storyteller, even when the stories are tough and cast him in a bad light. As an autobiography, "My Cross to Bear" covers everything, from his childhood through being a grandfather. Told from a survivor's viewpoint, it gives the early recollections a bit more poignance: we know going in that the narrator lived through a chemical blur, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In fact, the book starts off with a story from the Hall of Fame induction. Gregg Allman was blotto the whole time, even more so on a subsequent "Late Night with David Letterman" appearance. Shortly after, he was carted off to a rehab in Pennsylvania. Allman talks about his various stints in rehab, and about how he finally was able to kick drugs and alcohol. While Clapton is big on AA and The Twelve Steps, Gregg Allman's lone AA meeting ended up with three girls asking him for autographs. As he put it, "So much for Anonymous!" (Sometime later, Waylon Jennings told him, "All you need for an AA meeting is another drunk and a pot of coffee.") Sober several years now, Allman attributes his success to his growing faith in God.One of the strong points in Allman's storytelling is that the book never bogs down in any one period. The Allman Brothers have been together for more than 40 years (with a couple of short-lived breakups). They've been hugely popular, and they've fallen out of favor. Gregg Allman has had some solo projects as well, to fill the gaps. It seems like he was always recording or touring either with the AllBros, or his own band, and we're along for the ride. One highlight for me was reading about a certain Miami show back in the early 70's. The Allman Brothers Band was tearing it up onstage, when Gregg looked down and saw Eric Clapton sitting on the grass, intently watching the band. Allman talks about going back to Criteria Studios with Duane, and jamming with Clapton and his band. There was definite chemistry, and Gregg had a good time. Duane stayed behind, and became a member of Clapton's band Derek and the Dominoes. In Clapton's book, he describes the meeting from the other point of view. Either way, they agree that they became friends and played well together. Corroboration is always nice, especially since they were both wasted at the time. As rock & roll autobiographies go, "My Cross to Bear" isn't earthshaking in its originality. It's not written in iambic pentameter, or with flowery, Fitzgeraldian prose. It doesn't raise any sort of bar, nor did I really want it to. This is simply a guy whose music I've always loved telling stories about his life and career, and nothing more is required.

A wicked good read! I got the beat in three pages, could hear Gregg on the Hammond after five, then Duane came in with the bottleneck and I liked to pop. He's the only man that can race up and down my spine like that. If you can find Southern Rock on the map, then you'll delight in reading My Cross. Huzzah Sarasota! The Allmans were our local band at the Armory. It was my first taste of tribal. Now I know why. Rich with detail: who knew Gregg was top in his 7th grade class at military academy; raised by a single mother; how he got his V-card punched, etc. Sure, he tape recorded it. Someone else edited it. But so what. You get more than the facts; you get the taste of the times, line by line (joke). Here's the how to for Macon bacon & eating a peach. In fifty years, this will be a history book on why mommy & daddy had a better life than me. Boogie on, Garth, opps, Gregg.

Could not put it down! This Macon, Georgia girl loved every word.....thanks, Gregory!

I tried to be opened minded about "My Cross To Bear", but to be honest I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew he didn't write his book by himself--he had a writer partner--and I wasn't sure how much he actually contributed to the writing of the book; I mean, did he cut a CD with just enough pertinent information about his life to have filled his contract with his publishers?But I must say some of the parts, especially those that involved his brother, Duane, were enjoyable.It is clear form the start that though Duane was just over a year older than Greg, he was the father figure for his younger brother. Greg also claims his brother kicked his butt ever day of his life. Now, I consider that figure a little steep. I mean, couldn't Duane had been doing something a little less violent one day a week, like knitting socks or something? But that said, it's obvious both brothers had great love for each other. There are some funny stories in the book concerning Duane and Greg. According to Greg, he and Duane went horse back riding once. Duane got dumped on his butt along with the horse he rode. Duane hurt his left elbow and left the stables really PO at Greg and told him to stay away from him.Greg stayed away for a few weeks and then he went and bought the LP album by Taj Mahal and a bottle of coricidin cold medicine. According to Greg, he knock on the door, left the goods on the welcome mat, and hauled ass. An hour or two latter, Duane calls his brother and says, babybra, get your ass over here. Boy do I have something to show you.Well Greg goes over to Duane's and he's taken all the cold pills out of the bottle, put the bottle on his third finger of his left hand and was just burning up and cooking on the tune Statesboro Blues. So a legend was born on the slide guitar.As brothers, once they started playing music they pretty much were inseparable and played a lot of gigs on some pretty bad musical tour circuits, but they were playing and getting better all the time. Though when they were kids, Greg did show Duane the ropes on the guitar, and after a short while they started fighting over Greg's guitar, and to keep the peace in the family their mother bought Duane A 1957 Les Paul Jr. And soon after that Duane quit school and quickly surpassed Greg on the guitar.Then there's the year the Draft came a knocking on Duane's door. He was going to be drafted and be sent to Vietnam. Well, he went down to the draft board in a pair of women's frilly underwear. That didn't work, so when all the draftees were lined in a row and told to swear an oath, Duane had his hand in his pockets and kept repeating, "I'm not goin', I'm not goin'!After a while the Sergeant took Duane outside and asked him if he was short a marble or two?Duane explained to the sergeant that his father had been murdered shortly after his return home from World War II. And his mother needed him at home. Duane was set home, and he never heard from the draft again.Greg, being a year younger than Duane, was called in for a physical the following year.So Duane says, "We can't let you get drafted babybra, so were going to have a toe shooting party. They had it, Greg shot his big toe on his right foot, but missed every bone; from all reports, the affair was very bloody and involved a lot of towels and a trip to the ER, and then to the draft board. Well, the shooting party successfully kept Greg out of the draft.The band started to make a name for its self, and the heavy drugs kicked in.We find out that Greg had a propensity for heavy drugs as did Duane and the rest of the Brothers, except for Butchie, he stayed away from the heron. (In 1970 they played 300 gigs on the road; I guess they needed something to chill out with. Just before his death in October of 1971, Duane and Barry Oakley went to a drug rehab program and got clean. Not a week later, Duane was Dead from wrecking his Harley. Then a year latter Barry died just about the same way Duane did.Greg talks of his marriage with Cher, and five other women; and of course the drugs and drinking. He wasn't alone in doing drugs, but Dickey and Greg got pretty much out of control with the booze. Greg wasn't violent though, but Dicky, as Butch puts it, was a real redneck that would punch people upside the head in a heart beat.I thought Greg would come off as more of a whiner than he did. He came off as an Alcoholic, a womanizer, and a man who'd loved music more than anything else in his life. I wished I could give this book 3.5 stars, but since you can't, I gave the book four stars.IT's amazing to me that the band was together for forty four years. They asked Dicky Betts to dry up in 2000 and not come on the tour they were getting ready to start. Instead, Dicky sued the band and never played with them again for the last 14 years of the band's existence. Out of the four books I read about the Allman Brothers this year, this was the weakest one, yet it's not a bad read and can be entertaining for the most part.So . . . in good conscience I can recommend this book to those fans that love to hear and read anything that has to do with the Brothers, especially Greg.

Interesting read. An honest memoir of a life in music. Loved his music for a long time. RIP brother Gregory!

I am a big fan of the Allman Brothers and have been since 1970. I still listen to them. I did not know much about Gregg Allman except he was married to Cher and had a son by her Elijah Blue. I was so glad he came out with this autobiography. I really liked it and learned so much about him. He is still mourning the death of his brother Duane. You can tell it weighs heavy on him. Gregg was a herion addict and did other drugs as well. Then he started drinking really bad. He is now clean and sober and loves his band. There were many difficulties with the Allman Brothers after Duane died. Dicky Betts was not a good person and had a huge ego. He did not get along with the band. At this time Gregg has no contact with him. Dickie was a drunk as well but when the whole band quit drugs and alcohol, Dickie's playing became subpar plus his behavior was erratic. That was when he left the band. The Allman Brothers still have a couple of the original players and Gregg seems happy now. He is single after being married 6 times. In his younger years he was a sex addict but he did not mention that in current times. I think his feeling now is that he will probably never get married because once he marries the woman the relationship goes to hell fast. He also has like 4 kids from 4 different mothers. He is very close to Duane's daughter as well. Greg has been through alot. He has chronic hepatitis C and ended up having a liver transplant. That was pretty recent. He blames his hep c on dirty needles in a tattoo parlor when he was in his early 20's. I would of thought it had to do with all the women he was with. Anyway, I liked this book very much and highly recommend it if you are an Allman Brothers fan. If you are not into Gregg and the band, it won't mean much to you.

Continue reading for a completely biased review of this book. It's biased for two reasons: 1) The Allman Brothers might be one of my Dad's top 5 favorite bands so I grew up on their music. It reminds me of my childhood and makes me happy. 2) I had the pleasure of meeting Gregg Allman at the signing for this very book. He was the sweetest, nicest man ever. I fully expected him to suggest we chat more over coffee afterwards. I soon realized he made every person in line that day feel the same way. He also made the reader feel that way, like you're not actually reading this story, but hearing him tell it to you on some sunny southern porch over a pitcher of sweet tea. Very insightful particularly about his lackings as a parent and his fear of being alone. I was very moved by the way he wrote about his brother with reverence but also acknowledging his shortcomings that often doesn't happen when someone dies young. I also really liked how he acknowledged, with what seemed like genuine gratitude, the people who helped him along the way (friends, band mates, roadies, Louise at H&H restaurant, etc.)It's not the most literary of books, but it's really great. I'm also not sure anyone would be interested if they're not a fan of the Allmans or that style of southern rock jammy music, but if you are I recommend it.

I have always been a big fan of Gregg Allman's music, so this new autobiography was a must-read for me. He writes very frankly (& explicitly!) about his life- his triumphs & his screw-ups- you get a good insight into the music business & also his personal life. It's amazing he has survived this long- he has now had a liver transplant & is required to live a quieter life, but it's giving him time to spend with his elderly mother & 5 children ( all with different mothers, including Cher). I did like how he described how he wrote & played his music & how it has always been what he turns to for comfort & solace. Did not disappoint!