5/4/1979 Allman Brothers Band, Freedom Hall, Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center, Louisville, KY

 42 years ago today...

May 4, 1979 - Louisville, KY

Following a three-year breakup, the Allman Brothers Band reunited to headline the Derby Eve Jam at Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center.

As its name suggests, the Derby Eve Jam is an annual concert held on the Friday night before the running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Firefall opened the show, but everyone was there to see Gregg Allman and Dickey Betts after mending fences and releasing a new studio album titled "Enlightened Rogues."

My pal and I returned to Louisville and the Run For The Roses for a second-straight year, upgrading our lodging from sleeping bags in the back of my El Camino to a youth hostel tent campus. We arrived at the concert in a significantly altered state. Although we sat high in the rafters of Freedom Hall, we were laser-focused on the stage and these kings of Southern Rock. When the show ended, my friend and I looked at each other clearly ready for more. Checking the clock, the Brothers had jammed for well over three hours following Firefall's hour-long set. At the time, it seemed liked 30 minutes.

Gregg was married to Cher at the time, and both he and Betts had significant drug-related issues. It was surprising that the band got back together to record and tour, but we were happy to be there to witness it.

Spectacular Bid, perhaps the greatest thoroughbred of his generation, won the Derby and followed it up by winning the Preakness Stakes. His bid for the Triple Crown was thwarted by a foot injury as he limped to a third-place finish in the Belmont. We watched the races from the general admission infield area at Churchill Downs, allowing us to press up against the fence to see a sliver of racetrack and catch about 30 seconds worth of the "most exciting two minutes in sports."