UPDATED 4:45 p.m.: Gregg Allman vs. Dickey Betts: Ticket sale showdown on Friday (Aug. 12)

Undated photo of Betts (left) and Allman.

UPDATED 4:45 p.m.: "REVISED - GREGG ALLMAN In Concert At Ruth Eckerd Hall Saturday, January 14. Tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 9."

Promoters weren't up for a ticket sale day showdown?
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Few rock 'n' roll feuds are more famous than Gregg Allman vs. Dickey Betts.

On Friday at noon (Aug. 12), tickets go on sale to see the Gregg Allman Band perform with original Allman Brothers Band drummer Jaimoe's Jasssz Band at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on Jan. 14.

That same minute, tickets go on sale to see Dickey Betts and Great Southern with Gregg's son, Devon Allman's Honeytribe, on Dec. 7 at Ferguson Hall, part of the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, in Tampa.

Incidentally, the next day is Gregg's birthday.

Yeah, the previous night's show should make for interesting father/son conversation.

Back when I interviewed Gregg and Devon in 2006, they were touring together and all seemed good in the family. Hope this doesn't mean they've had a falling out. One of the highlights of the Sarasota Blues Fest that year was witnessing Gregg invite Devon on stage for a duet of "Midnight Rider," which ended with the two men embracing.

Although I would love to see it, the chances of Gregg and Dickey hugging anytime soon, or even sharing stage space, seems about as likely as an encore performance by Elvis.

Dickey Betts/current publicity photo

The ABB founding members have not, to the best of my knowledge, spoken since 2000.

Betts was reportedly suspended via fax that spring, leading to a lawsuit and the singer/guitarist's permanent firing, or separation, depending on who you ask.

In recent years, singer/keyboardist Allman, who resides in Savanah, Ga., has brought the Allman Brothers Band and the Gregg Allman Band back to their highest standing since the mid-1970s.

Meanwhile, Sarasota resident Betts' Great Southern Group, which consists of mostly local residents who regularly can be seen performing across Manatee and Sarasota counties in their respective solo groups, also continues to elate audiences with fiery live performances.

Gregg Allman/current publicity photo

The Gregg Allman Band will be performing songs from his new, commercially and critically successful solo album "Low Country Blues." Gregg's solo performance also usually include ABB and solo hits he penned such as "Midnight Rider," "Whipping Post," "Dreams," "Melissa," "Please Call Home," "Ain't Wastin' Time No More," "Wasted Words," "Come and Go Blues," "Queen of Hearts" and "Multi-Colored Lady."

Those songs will not be performed by Betts. He hasn't released a studio album in a decade and sticks to mostly choosing from the classic songs he wrote: "Ramblin' Man," "Blue Sky," "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed," "Jessica," "Revival," "Les Bre in A Minor," "Southbound," "Crazy Love," "Seven Turns," "No One to Run With" and "Highway Call."

I plan to attend both shows.

Just wish Allman and Betts would share the stage again.

Also wish I would've seen a performance by Elvis.

Gregg Allman with Jaimoe's Jasssz Band, Jan. 14, Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater. Tickets: $35-$69.50. Information: 727.791.7400 or www.rutheckerdhall.com.

Dickey Betts and Great Southern with Devon Allman’s Honeytribe, Dec. 7, Ferguson Hall at David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N W.C. MacInnes Place, Tampa. Tickets: $29.50-$69.50.


Allman and Betts seated side-by-side performing acoustic version of "Melissa" in 1990.