(October 1, 2024) Those of us who grew up in the 1970s were blessed to be children of the era when funk music came of age, and there were few acts that captured the fun and the funk like the Average White Band. The group broke out in 1974 with the iconic “White Album” and the #1 hit “Pick Up The Pieces,” and for the next half century they have continued to bring it for their fans around the world, recording frequently and touring incessantly. Now, as we finish out 2024, AWB has decided to call it quits, and they are coming to the home stretch on a Farewell Tour that is giving fans one last chance to see these legendary funksters live.
Now consisting of group leader Alan Gorrie (vocals, bass, guitar) along with original member Onnie McIntyre (guitar), Fred Vigdor (tenor sax, keyboards), Rob Aries (keyboard, bass), Cliff Lyons (alto sax, keyboards), Brent Carter (lead vocals), and Rocky Bryant (drums), AWB is currently planning another 15 stops on the tour, ending on December 13 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Alan Gorrie explained to us, “Being on stage is wonderful and still exciting for all of us, but since COVID, touring has become really difficult. It’s extremely expensive and hard to manage and not getting any easier. I use an analogy of a boxer — you don’t want to go out when you are on the slippery slope down. You want to hang up your gloves when you are still at the top of your game. You don’t wait until you get knocked on the canvas. With our age and experience, you know that’s what’s coming if you don’t call it quits. It’s wise to let people see you one more time at the top of your game. Expectations are high for this band. We’ve been hugely respected by musicians, the musical community and audiences alike over the years, so you don’t want to diminish that respect by dwindling out.”
Those who’ve seen AWB perform over the last few years have certainly seen a band still at the top of its game.
Looking back 50 years, there were few more unlikely acts to break out in the funk world than this unusual group from Scotland. With a self-deprecating name, great guitar work and the tightest horn section this side of Tower of Power, the Average White Band stormed onto the U.S. charts in 1974 with “Pick Up the Pieces” and never looked back. They released 5 now classic albums in the next three years and won over the world.
Over the next four decades, AWB earned a reputation as one of the consistently great live bands around, regularly performing over 200 shows per year well into the 2010s. And songs like “Cut The Cake”, “School Boy Crush,” “If I Ever Lose This Heaven,” “Cloudy,” “A Love Of Your Own,” and “Work To Do” filled those shows with seemingly endless hits.
Now as we near the end of the touring era of AWB, I can look back fondly at the great shows I’ve seen them perform over the years, and the generosity of spirit they have shown toward their audiences…and toward music writers. It’s been an absolute pleasure covering them and knowing them. And if you haven’t seen them perform yet, find a way to get to their remaining tour stops. You won’t regret it. Salute!
By Chris Rizik
