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Gregg Allman Suffered Liver Cancer, Dies At 69 [UPDATE]

By Amy Feinstein
Published on: 07:14 PST, Aug 6, 2016

UPDATE 5/28/2017: Gregg Allman has died at the at of 69 of liver cancer. Allman overcame drug addiction and became an “elder statesman” of rock, touring until the end.

[UPDATE] Fans were still hopeful that Gregg All would at least make an appearance at the 2016 Peach Music Festival in Scranton, Pennsylvania, but it has now been confirmed that Allman’s illness will keep him away, according to JamBase. The band The String Cheese Incident will be headlining the festival, and the band’s keyboardist sent Allman a message.

“We’re thinking of you Gregg. Hope you’re doing better, and we hope to see you out there soon. Meanwhile, I’m totally enjoying all the songs you’ve written over the years and the process of learning them has been great for me. Thank-you.”

Gregg Allman, the musician perhaps best known as part of the Allman Brothers, has canceled several shows on his tour due to “serious health issues.” Allman has been on tour with ZZ Top when he was admitted to the Mayo Clinic with hopes of getting well. Allman has had other life-threatening health problems in the past, but there is no mention as to whether those problems have once again reared their head. Allman has promised fans that he needs a bit of time off to get healthy, and he will return to the Allman/ZZ Top tour in October.

Last week, the Inquisitr reported that singer Kenny Rogers also stepped down from a tour with “unspecified health issues.” Rogers has had recent health issues, including knee replacements, cancer, and like Gregg Allman, Hepatitis C complications. Kenny Rogers has also had complications from plastic surgery, which left him looking unlike the Kenny Rogers most people recognized.

Mercury News says that Gregg Allman has canceled two months worth of concerts to address serious health concerns. Gregg Allman, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame over ten years ago, did not go into detail about his current health problems, but confirmed that he was admitted to the Mayo Clinic for treatment.

In the past, Gregg Allman has suffered with liver ailments stemming from his battle with Hepatitis C, and as a result, has a liver transplant in 2010. Allman, 68 was forced to postpone concerts again in 2011 after suffering with a severe respiratory infection. But Allman is promising to return, and thanks his fans for their understanding.

“I want to thank my fans and friends for supporting me while I rest up and focus on getting better and back on the road as soon as I can. I’ve been working hard with my band, my pride and joy, to play our music for everyone. We’ll see y’all in October.”

Allman says that he hopes to return in October for the Laid Back Festival in Atlanta, which he runs. Gregg Allman came to prominence in the late 1960s, and cemented his place in the annals of Southern rock with his bluesy sound and work on the Hammond organ.

The Los Angeles Times says that this has been a rough few years for Gregg Allman, as touring has been complicated with illness and accidents. Also, at the age of 68, touring is even more grueling that when he was younger, despite his love of being on the road. Earlier this year, one of Gregg Allman’s tour buses was involved in a crash, injuring a few members of the band. Luckily, Allman was traveling on another bus.

But since his liver transplant in 2010, Allman has battled several respiratory infections, which must be taken seriously due to the medical regimen he is on to avoid organ rejection. Allman was forced to cancel shows three different times in 2014 due to Bronchitis.

The last few years have also seen tragedy, as a crew member was killed on the set of the Gregg Allman biopic, Midnight Rider, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Sarah Jones, a camera assistant was killed when the Allman film was shooting on location on train tracks in Doctortown, Georgia. Joyce Gilliard a hairdresser on the Allman film was also injured, and says that her life flashed in front of her eyes.

“I saw my life, my kids, my family, all of it before me,” says the hairstylist. “I was sure I was going to die.”

Midnight Rider, which stars actor William Hurt was shooting on a 100 year old bridge trestle over the Altamaha River when a train suddenly appeared. The train was as wide as the trestle, and Jones was unable to get out of the way of the train in time, and was killed instantly. Allman, as well as the production company of Midnight Rider were sued, and the director was criminally charged.

Do you think that Gregg Allman will be well enough to go back on tour in October?

[Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images]

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