When I was a kid of about 17, if I recall 40 years ago now there was this beach bar called the Oar House out on the Island from Bradenton, Fla. My buddy and I would get in and drink there because it was easy to get served or someone would vouch for you even though they didn't know you. Greg was a frequent visitor and frequently got drunk. Now I wasn't there but the story goes that he got arrested for drunk and disorderly behavior at the bar, and shortly afterwards it burned to the ground (which wasn't too particularly surprising because it was basically a 50 year old screened shack) but the story kinda assumed he had something to do with it. Dickie Betts lived in east Manatee County and we always figured the good old boys did it. That and I once saw him taking a piss by his White T/A at the then new Blake Hospital one afternoon right in front of the main entrance, there were always some minor run-ins for him and the Betts boys back then. Haven't thought about that in years, funny. I lost a friend and a fine musician a couple weeks ago to a heart attack so I'm feeling somewhat sentimental. Greg Allman like many musicians bore out much of his pain in his music and I think
Melissa even though written long before ABB was his outlet for the loss of his brother. I posted a link here that explains it best.
RIP Greg
https://americansongwriter.com/2014/05/behind-song-melissa-allman-brothers/Crossroads, seem to come and go, yeah
The gypsy flies from coast to coast
Knowing many, loving none
Bearing sorrow, having fun
But, back home he'll always run
To sweet Melissa
Mmm, hmm
Freight train, each car looks the same, all the same
And no one knows the gypsy's name
And no one hears his lonely sighs
There are no blankets where he lies
Lord, in his deepest dreams the gypsy flies
With sweet Melissa
Mm, hmm
Again, the mornin's come
Again, he's on the run
A sunbeam's shinin' through his hair
Fear not to have a care
Well, pick up your gear and gypsy roll on
Roll on
Crossroads, will you ever let him go?
Lord, Lord
Or will you hide the dead man's ghost?
Or will he lie, beneath the clay?
Or will his spirit float away?
But, I know that he won't stay
Without Melissa
Yes, I know that he won't stay, yeah
Without Melissa
Lord, Lord, it's all the same
PS. it appears my memories are pretty fuzzy, I found a story from the local paper that puts things into proper perspective time-wise, I completely forgot about the band playing there before the bar burned down but I do remember the arrest..
http://www.islander.org/10-25-06/bluesfest_allman.php