Matt Abts
Encyclopedia
Matt Abts is a Grammy Award
-nominated American
drummer
best known as a member of the band Gov't Mule
.
before relocating to Virginia
where he spent the next eight years playing music regionally in vast number of local bands. He then moved to Florida
, taking on the role of drummer with Dickey Betts
and Chuck Leavell
in 1984. During the early 1980s Abts played with and recorded an album with Chuck & John and the News, a local bar band from Bradenton, Florida. This band played in the Sarasota/ Bradenton area for a few years drawing a huge following of loyal fans. Abts recorded Pattern Disruptive with the Dickey Betts Band in 1988 which also included guitarist/vocalist, Warren Haynes
.
Abts joined The Allman Brothers Band
's musicians Warren Haynes and Allen Woody
to form Gov't Mule
in 1994. Abts also played in the Pink Floyd tribute band Blue Floyd which is known for its high energy bluesy versions of Pink Floyd
songs.
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-nominated American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
best known as a member of the band Gov't Mule
Gov't Mule
Gov't Mule is a Southern rock jam band formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band side project by Warren Haynes and Allen Woody.The band released their debut album Gov't Mule in 1995...
.
Biography
Abts started playing music while attending high school in PanamaPanama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
before relocating to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
where he spent the next eight years playing music regionally in vast number of local bands. He then moved to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, taking on the role of drummer with Dickey Betts
Dickey Betts
Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and also won with the band a best rock performance Grammy Award for his...
and Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell
Chuck Leavell is an American pianist and keyboardist, who was a member of The Allman Brothers Band throughout the height of their popularity, a founding member of the jazz-rock combo Sea Level, a frequently-employed session musician, and later, the keyboardist for Eric Clapton and The Rolling...
in 1984. During the early 1980s Abts played with and recorded an album with Chuck & John and the News, a local bar band from Bradenton, Florida. This band played in the Sarasota/ Bradenton area for a few years drawing a huge following of loyal fans. Abts recorded Pattern Disruptive with the Dickey Betts Band in 1988 which also included guitarist/vocalist, Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes is an American rock and blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. Haynes is best known for his work as long time guitarist with The Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule. Early in his career he was a guitarist for David Allan Coe and The Dickey...
.
Abts joined The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
's musicians Warren Haynes and Allen Woody
Allen Woody
Douglas Allen Woody was bass guitarist best known for his tenure in the rock groups The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule, The Artimus Pyle Band, The Peter Criss Band, Blue Floyd, and Montage.-Biography:...
to form Gov't Mule
Gov't Mule
Gov't Mule is a Southern rock jam band formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band side project by Warren Haynes and Allen Woody.The band released their debut album Gov't Mule in 1995...
in 1994. Abts also played in the Pink Floyd tribute band Blue Floyd which is known for its high energy bluesy versions of Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
songs.