Dan Auerbach said that the music of Gregg Allman serves as the foundation of his own artistic work.
The reflections come as Auerbach connects his professional influences to the personal grief that shaped the latest Black Keys album, "Peaches!". By linking his musical roots to family struggle, Auerbach provides a window into the emotional drivers behind the band's new creative direction.
Speaking from his Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville, Tennessee, Auerbach discussed these themes on the Rolling Stone Nashville Now podcast. The conversation coincided with the ninth anniversary [1] of Allman's death, which occurred on March 27, 2017.
Auerbach described Allman's impact as "the foundation of what I do," he said. The singer-guitarist highlighted how the legacy of the Allman Brothers Band member continues to inform his approach to songwriting and performance.
Beyond his external influences, Auerbach addressed the role of family in his work. He explained how grief over his father's illness served as a catalyst for the songs on "Peaches!". This personal connection to loss influenced the mood and composition of the record.
"Everything about what I do is related to my dad," Auerbach said. He noted that the intersection of familial bond and loss is a recurring theme in his creative process.
The discussion took place at his Nashville studio, where Auerbach manages the production of his music. He used the setting to reflect on how both his mentors and his parents have defined his trajectory in the music industry.
“"the foundation of what I do."”
Auerbach's public connection between his father's illness and the album "Peaches!" signals a shift toward more vulnerable, grief-driven songwriting for The Black Keys. By anchoring his current work in the legacy of Gregg Allman, Auerbach is positioning the band's new era as a bridge between classic Southern rock influences and contemporary personal trauma.
