NEW: Gregg Allman, founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, dies at the age of 69, his website says.
Gregg Allman, the rock icon best known as the lead singer of The Allman Brothers Band, has died.
An official statement was released on his Facebook page that read: “It is with deep sadness that we announce that Gregg Allman, a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, passed away peacefully at his home in Savannah, Georgia.” Allman was 69. Read the full post below.
But what was Allman’s cause of death? How did he die?
According to CNN, Allman died due to liver cancer complications, which stemmed from a 2010 liver transplant. He will be buried at Rose Cemetery in Macon, Georgia, through a funeral date has yet to be set.
Allman has had a long history with addiction, both with alcohol and with various drugs throughout his career. Sadly, this rock & roll lifestyle seemed to have caught up to him in recent years, as he was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2007. Allman said that the condition “was laying dormant for awhile and just kind of crept up on me. I was worn out. I had to sleep 10 or 11 hours a day to two or three [hours].” Three years later, Allman was forced to undergo an emergency liver transplant.
Earlier this year, Allman was forced to address rumors that he had been admitted to hospice care. According to Variety, a representative for the famous rocker denied this, before Allman himself posted a message on his Facebook page:
“A message from Gregg: Hey everyone. I just wanted ya’ll to know that I’m currently home in Savannah resting on my doctor’s orders. I want to thank you for all the love that you are sending. Looking forward to seeing everyone again. Keep Rockin’.”
Under Allman, The Allman Brothers Band released classic songs like “Trouble No More” (1969), “Midnight Rider” (1970), “Blue Sky” (1972), and “Ramblin’ Man” (1973), which became a top ten single on the Billboard charts. The band, and Gregg in particular, was the inspiration for the group Stillwater in Cameron Crowe’s 2000 film Almost Famous. Watch them perform “Ramblin’ Man” below.
Allman is survived by his wife Shannon Allman, his five children: Devon, Elijah Blue, Michael Sean, Delilah Island, and Layla Brookyn. He is also survived by three grandchildren, his niece Galadrielle Allman, and his lifelong friend Chank Middleton. To learn more about his children and his seven marriages, click below.
