Modern day southern rockers Gov't Mule started as merely a side-project for latter-day Allman Brothers Band members Warren Haynes and Douglas Allen Woody, but soon took on a life all its own.

Haynes and Woody had been part of the Allman Brothers circle for several years by 1994, when the duo jammed with drummer Matt Abts at a Los Angeles club after a local Allman Brothers Band gig in May of that year. The trio remained in contact and continued to play when their busy schedules allowed it, as its members began to take the new project more seriously with each successive jam session. At first, Haynes and Woody attempted to keep Gov't Mule going along with their Allman Brothers Band duties, resulting in albums such as 1995's self-titled debut and 1996's "Live At Roseland Ballroom." By April 1997, Haynes and Woody had both handed in their resignation to the Allmans and were now free to focus on Gov't Mule full-time.

In early 2000, just a few months after the release of "Life Before Insanity," Woody was found dead in a New York City hotel room. Gov't Mule was as much a brotherhood as it was a rock band. Haynes and Abts were left contemplating how to continue. They opted to carry on.

"When Woody passed away we were kind of in the middle of preparing for what would be the next Gov't Mule record anyway," says Haynes. "After Allen passed, we didn't know how to continue that process. We didn't want to start auditioning bass players to try to find a permanent replacement. So the idea came about that all of our favorite bass players might be too busy to join the band, or even do a whole tour, but maybe they wouldn't be too busy to do one song."

So Gov't Mule brainstormed a lengthy list of bassists whom they most respected and who had most influenced Woody musically, and invited them all to collaborate with the band on its next album. They were unaware of what the response would be, considering of the logistical challenges involved - and were overwhelmed when the vast majority of these musicians replied that they were eager to take part in the project.

Gov't Mule wound up recording more than two full albums' worth of material.

Gov't Mule members are --

• Warren Haynes - vocals, lead guitar
• Matt Abts - drums
• Dave Schools - bass
• Oteil Burbridge - bass

Notable songs include --

• Soulshine
• Mule
• Wandering Child
• Slow Happy Boys
• Dolphineus
• Blind Man in the Dark
• Banks of the Deep End
• 30 Days in the Hole
• Catfish Blues
• Trying Not to Fall

Gov't Mule may be available for your next special event!

For booking information, click HERE!