It’s comprehensible for those who detect a sure Southern-rock flare within the music of singer/guitarist Duane Betts. In spite of everything, his father is longtime Allman Brothers guitarist Dickey Betts and he shares a reputation with the legendary Duane Allman.

On his first solo album, Wild & Valuable Life, the 45-year-old pays tribute to his musical roots whereas additionally placing a really private contact on the music. Betts (who can be a member of the Allman Betts Band with Devon Allman and Berry Oakley, Jr.) spoke with Classic Guitar about his solo debut, gear, and guitarists he admires.

What made you determine to launch your first-ever solo album now?
I feel lots of it needed to do with the truth that I grew to become a singer later. I used to be all the time a guitar participant and wrote songs in bands, however I by no means actually took on lots of the lead-singing duty. As I began singing extra and writing extra, it was a pure development to get it out.

How does Wild & Valuable Life differ from a Allman Betts Band launch?
With Allman Betts Band, you continue to have my stamp on it, however it is a more-pure model of me, my persona, my story, and the place I’m at in life. The instrumentation is just about the identical and the model isn’t drastically totally different. However my persona is stamped onerous on this.

What was your guitar setup for the recording?
I primarily used my Les Paul – the Dickey Betts signature prototype #1, and I performed by means of a ’65 Deluxe Reverb I bought from Derek Vehicles. There’s a ’61 335 on a couple of songs, and that was just about it.

For results, I used a Dan Drive Secret Engine fuzz that J.D. Simo gave me, on “Chilly Darkish World.”

The acoustic I used was a late-’40s Martin D-28. It’s my dad’s guitar and it’s one among my favorites.

Johnny Stachela joined you on the album, enjoying a couple of classic devices alongside along with his Customized Store ’61 SG by means of a mid-’60s Vibrolux Reverb…
Johnny was a big half – the opposite half of the guitar work is him.

Which songs are you most happy with, guitar-wise?
I actually just like the solo in “Beneath the Bali Moon.” There’s lots of ache and angst in it. I’m additionally actually happy with a few of the acoustic tracks, like “Ready on a Track”; I actually loved the dwell jam – simply us enjoying within the room, with no overdubs.

I additionally like “Circles within the Stars,” which doesn’t have any guitar solo in any respect. There’s a bit melody that leads out earlier than it breaks down for the ultimate acoustic verse. It’s only a easy “lullaby melody” I play on guitar. Generally these actually easy, stunning melodies are the issues I’m most happy with, moderately than a ripping guitar solo. Virtually like a baby might hum them. That’s actually rewarding.

Did your father ever provide you with pointers about enjoying guitar?
That you may be taught lot simply from listening and watching individuals play. I’ve been onstage watching him play, enjoying in bands with him, and watching Warren [Haynes] play – and listening to Warren. They rubbed off on me fairly a bit.

My dad, I’d say, is my favourite participant. However after I was studying, it was simply hear, hear, hearken to data consistently, coaching my ear. I didn’t wish to have an excessive amount of interference with individuals coming in and telling me what to do. I appreciated to isolate and hearken to music and be taught stuff on my own. However then my dad would are available and provides me actually beneficial perception – like, how one can play Chuck Berry and displaying the appropriate approach to play 12-bar blues. A whole lot of that you just decide up by watching and listening. However the elementary building-block stuff, he confirmed me.

Who’re your favourite trendy guitarists?
Derek Vehicles is on the prime of the checklist. Eric Krasno is an efficient pal and any individual I like. Luther Dickinson – I like his enjoying. I like lots of people who’re in “the rock”– I like what Jack White does, I like Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

I additionally like more-experimental individuals who aren’t essentially “bluesy” – Johnny Marr from the Smiths; J.D. Simo and Blake Mills are two of my favourite youthful guitarists. Additionally, I like Jonny Greenwood from Radiohead. There’s lots of totally different stuff to tug from.

This text initially appeared in VG’s September 2023 situation. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.