Allman Brothers superfan rambles far to augment personal museum of memorabilia
he has to leave his “All-Man Cave”.
Photo by Karin Strickland
As Doug McKee stands near a door in his garage, eyeing the large drum cases with the stamped words “The Allman Brothers Band” and the car plastered in bumperstickers touting the Southern-rock legends, he proclaims, “I’ve got a pretty big collection.”
Maybe it’s a warning. Maybe it’s just a pronouncement of what’s to come. Either way, it’s the simplest attempt to explain the amount of Allman Brothers Band memorabilia on display in the basement of McKee’s North Asheville home.
is equally dear to him.
Photo by Karin Strickland
An assortment of guitars, concert bills, tour jackets, guitar picks, old ticket stubs, photos, and larger items are everywhere — in cases on tables, hanging from the ceiling, and framed on the walls. More than 1,000 pieces are in the collection, McKee says, though the number has shrunk in recent years as he’s sold off items.
McKee, a psychologist at Pisgah Institute, has collected the band’s memorabilia for more than four decades. He’s met band members, developed friendships with a few, and spent time on the road following the group on its tours.
Four of the six original members have passed — leader Duane in a 1971 motorcycle crash, followed by original bassist Berry Oakley, who died the same way a year later. Keyboardist/singer Gregg Allman and drummer Butch Trucks both passed away in 2017. But it hasn’t halted McKee’s affection for the group or its myriad offshoots: Last year, he saw 15 concerts featuring surviving band members or Allman family members. His collection includes albums, CDs, taped concerts, and videos he enjoys on a regular basis.
Prominently placed in the basement is a set of drums once used by Butch Trucks, where McKee pounds out his frustrations after a stressful work day. The drums sit on the riser used by Gregg Allman during concerts for his organ; behind them is a large painting of the cover of Allman’s 1977 solo effort Playin’ Up A Storm, once secured to the side of Atlanta record shop Peaches Records & Tapes. It was given to McKee as a 21st-birthday present (he is now 57).
Photo by Karin Strickland
He’s also got a special-edition Washburn “Melissa” guitar signed by all of the band members, and near it, photos of the signing in progress. Another guitar played by Gregg Allman hangs in a case, but, unlike Butch Trucks’ drums, it stays behind glass and is never brought out to play. “He gave it to his bus driver after a tour, and I got it from the bus driver,” McKee explains.
“Doug’s All-Man Cave” — McKee’s moniker for his homage — has been visited by fans, but he hasn’t yet gotten Asheville-raised guitar god Warren Haynes, who performed with The Allman Brothers Band for several decades, to drop by. There are, though, several Haynes-signed guitars in the collection.
How did it all start?
I would sneak into my brother’s room and put on [the 1971 live Allman Brothers Band album] At Fillmore East. When [songs] “Ramblin’ Man,” “Jessica,” and “Southbound” came out, I was hooked. I’ve seen them 320 times.
How did the All-Man Cave grow?
Initially, it was just this room. Then it took over the spare bedroom, and then it moved into my office. I probably had twice this amount at one point, and I had more stuff hanging from the ceiling.
How does your collection compare to others?
There’s only three of us who collect like I do. One guy in New York. One guy in Georgia. Then me, and there’s The Big House, the official museum for the band in Macon, Georgia. Between the four of us, we probably have 90 percent of the big stuff. … I have the largest collection next to The Big House — they don’t have Butch Trucks’ timpani drums. This is Gregg Allman’s platform that his organ sat on, and they didn’t want it.
How do you find all these items?
Auctions, online, and I have a connection at The Big House.
Are you still buying?
If I see something that’s really hot that I haven’t had before, I’ll bid on it. I may keep it and I may not.
And you owned Gregg Allman’s ring?
I ended up with Gregg’s ring, but sold it because I got an offer that I couldn’t refuse. His daughter made the ring for him in 2000. He wore it every day from then until the day he died. He willed it back to his daughter, who had it for about a year and traded it in. A dealer found me and asked if I wanted it. I wore it every day for six months and had my fun with it. I really enjoyed it. … He played a lot of guitars, but just had that one ring. I was in heaven. I have his guitar, but I don’t want to play it because it’s too valuable. Gregg Allman’s ring, though? I wore it.
Why not make a replica before selling?
That would have been blasphemy. I didn’t want to wear a replica.
Do you think all collectors share a certain psychology?
No, I think superfans sometimes want to feel close to their bands. Each collector has their own reasons. I just wanted to honor their music. You know, let people know that this band is a legend for a reason.
What is it about the Allman Brothers that resonates emotionally with you?
No other rock band wrote with the same structure [or] the same instrumentation. … They helped get Jimmy Carter elected, they headlined the largest single-day rock concert in 1973. … That makes for good stories… but it was [mainly] the songs. They take you to a place that can’t be described.