Warren Haynes Biography

Warren Haynes was born in 1960 and grew up in Asheville, North Carolina. Warren began studying the guitar before he was a teenager, and by the time he was twenty he’d already joined David Allan Coe’s band and begun touring with them. At the same time, Haynes pursued opportunities for session work, both on guitar and vocals, and began writing his own material. In 1987, Warren teamed up with Dickey Betts, who’d just embarked on a solo career. Betts had previously been a member of the Allman Brothers Band, and after teaming up with Haynes, drummer Matt Abts, and keyboardist Johnny Nell, he rounded out the lineup for Dickey Betts Band.

Warren Haynes remained with the band until the Allman Brothers Band reunited, at which time he joined Betts in becoming part of the band’s new lineup. At the same time, Warren began work on a side project, the jam band Gov’t Mule, alongside Matt Abts and fellow Allman Brothers guitarist Allen Woody. Eventually, in 1997, Gov’t Mule became a full-time focus for Haynes, Abts, and Woody. Gov’t Mule released the albums Gov’t Mule (1995), Live at Roseland Ballroom (1996), Dose (1998), Live… With A Little Help From Our Friends (1998), and Life Before Insanity (2000.)

Tragedy struck Gov’t Mule at the turn of the new millennium, however, with the untimely death of Allen Woody. Although devastated by the loss of his friend and fellow musician, Warren Haynes moved forward with Gov’t Mule, releasing the studio albums: The Deep End, Volume 1; The Deep End, Volume 2; and The Deepest End, Live In Concert, which featured some of music’s most notable bass guitarists performing temporarily in Woody’s place. Warren and Abts regrouped Gov’t Mule in 2003, with the addition of Danny Louis and keyboards and Andy Hess on bass guitar. Since that time, Gov’t Mule has released the albums Deja Voodoo (2004), High & Mighty (2006), Might High (2007), By a Thread (2009), Mulennium (2010), and most recently, Shout! (2013.) The band’s lineup remains intact, with the exception of the addition of Jorgen Carlsson, who replaced Andy Hess after he left the band in 2008.

In addition to his work with Gov’t Mule, Warren Haynes participates in a number of side projects and other collaborations. Since the passing of Jerry Garcia, Haynes has filled his role for the Grateful Dead during many live performances and tours. He has also performed as a member of Phil Lesh & Friends, and he released his own acoustic albums, The Lone EP and Live From

Bonnaroo in 2003 and 2004. Haynes frequently collaborates with Dave Matthews Band and in recent years he has also developed an additional side project, The Warren Haynes Band. The Warren Haynes Band released a debut album, Man in Motion, in 2011 following the band’s first performance at Haynes’ own Christmas Jam, an annual benefit concert to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity in his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina.

Warren Haynes continues to perform, tour, and record, with Gov’t Mule, The Warren Haynes Band, and with innumerous other projects and in collaboration with many other musicians. Haynes ranks at the top of Rolling Stones list of Greatest Guitarists of All Time.