Gregg Allman is candid about his past indulgences in his new memoir, My Cross to Bear. While these mainly involved drugs, alcohol and women, in one case, the musician refers to a plane used by the Allman Brothers.
The Boeing 720 had been owned by Elton, who had ''little clouds and cartoon things'' painted all over, and his name placed on the tail. Gregg was impressed by the craft's layout, which included two bedrooms in the back and a TV monitor every 8 feet in the cabin.
The first time the group walked onto the plane, ''Welcome Allman Bros'' was spelled out in cocaine on the bar, and further along, there was an organ, set of drums drums and amps, ''so we could jam if we wanted to.''
Besides an airplane, Elton and Gregg had a producer in common.
Although he appreciated T Bone Burnett's musical ideas, Allman's interest was initially piqued for a different reason: He had learned that the producer was planning to re-create Sun Records on a piece of land by his home.
It was ''the coolest thing'' he'd ever heard, declares the Tennesseean, whose other subjects include Cher, Bill Graham, Doug Weston, Eric Clapton, Buffalo Springfield, and Ike and Tina Turner.
