Warren Haynes penned an op-ed for Newsweek, titled “A Chance Is Gonna Come–Oh, Yes It Will.” The op-ed addresses the immense influence Black artists have on popular music, particularly the music Haynes himself grew up listening to and playing. In addition, the guitarist shared a playlist to go along with the article.
“Music, along with many other creative art forms, has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to dealing with racism and racial inequality,” Haynes began. “We’ve always depended on music to be not just a sign of the times, but a representation, in some ways, of what’s important at the moment. Throughout history, during times of hardship, an abundance of great music seems to emerge that is somehow timely and timeless.”
“Eventually, rock and roll would come to be known as white man’s music—but like jazz, blues, R&B and soul music, it was born in the South from African-American culture,” Haynes later wrote.
Regarding the playlist, Haynes elaborated: “Below is a playlist I put together, presented chronologically, of many of my favorite songs by some of my favorite artists. It purposefully stops at 2002 as, although there are numerous releases since then that would fit well into this list, I am less familiar with those. Maybe more playlists will follow. Although it just scratches the surface, this list represents a group of people who helped pave the way for those who, in turn, paved the way for the next ones, risked their livelihoods and, in some cases, their lives, to make a difference. They should be an inspiration to us all.”
To read the full article in Newsweek, click here. Listen to the playlist below.
40 Comments comments associated with this post
KP
June 26, 2020 at 7:03 pmJust ignore the troll on this site. Its the same person posing as different names. Get a life keyboard tough guy.
Alan Paul
June 26, 2020 at 2:46 pmWow. Some of the comments on here are very disturbing. I’ll stand proudly on eam Warren any day.
Rockstar
June 25, 2020 at 9:44 pmThe vitriolic response about what is, essentially, Mr. Haynes personal journey through the American musical landscape and how it helped shape him, is truly unbelievable. He gave a history lesson about how music can change the world and could do so again. African-Americans, at the bottom of the ladder, pushed back up much of the music that helped inspired the music we enjoy to this day. That some can’t or won’t acknowledge that fact or are – somehow- offended by it, that is unbelievable as well.
Sean
June 25, 2020 at 7:07 pmWow, never thought I’d say that the comments in Jambands was gonna be worse than fox “news”, but what the hell are you weirdos smoking. Y’all need Jesus.
White, Rich & Proud I Earned It the Hard Way
June 25, 2020 at 6:47 pmHe should rename his band. Gov’t Mule sounds racist, like a government handout only to minorities. I am offended. Please pander to me and change it. Thank you.
me
June 26, 2020 at 11:30 amYou don’t know the meaning of the hard way… clearly, you are an ignorant moron who can’t think past the tip of your nose… hopefully, you one day get a taste of the hard way, so maybe then you will have some type of idea of what you are mocking…
James Brown's Wife
June 26, 2020 at 6:23 pmNot sure if you are joking or not, but bone up on the history of how they came up with Gov’t Mule. It’s actually a funny story and hardly racist.
Breezy Candy
June 25, 2020 at 5:39 pmWarren is simply honoring those who’ve shaped him. Why does that disturb some of you so much?
How have you honored those who’ve shaped you?
Andrew
June 25, 2020 at 3:52 pm@BV Pirlo: Apartheid will crumble and fall all around the globe. Watch it and weep you Nazi scum.
BV Pirlo
June 25, 2020 at 3:04 pmVery sad how Whites will immediately Bend The Knee & CUCK themselves to BLM if there is any chance of being labeled racist. Care to see what Warren’s new task masters are capable of accomplishing without the White Man…Zimbabwe🥳
me
June 25, 2020 at 4:15 pmVery sad that you (likely) have a brain tucked between your ears yet you choose to stick your fingers in your ears and not allow your brain to be used as it should. Perhaps a knee on the back of your neck for 8 minutes would help… be a part of the solution, not the racist problem
Vincent
June 25, 2020 at 3:00 pmLeftist virtue signalling….nothing more,
nothing less
me
June 25, 2020 at 4:13 pmSpoken like a true right herded sheep… this isn’t about left or right, it’s about treating your fellow human being as you would like to be treated. Step away from your Rush Limbaugh listening and try thinking on your own… fuck the extremes, whether left or right… they are basically the same people who have simply been brainwashed differently
The Merchant
June 25, 2020 at 1:26 pm“ Does he bank at black owned banks?”
Are you utterly insane? He is not banking at his local bank he has real money and he is working with one of the major us banks for sure. Which as you know are publicly traded thus owned by millions of people, some of whom much to your surprise are indeed black.
GOD
June 25, 2020 at 11:25 amUNTIL U SAY U R NOT RACIST, AND PANDER TO THE NEW NEW NAZIS, YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED RACIST. THIS IS A SOUTHERN WHITE ARTIST DOING DAMAGE CONTROL SO HE CAN STILL HAVE A CAREER TOMORROW. YOU WILL ALL HAVE TO DO THIS SOON. PANDER TO THE MAJORITY AND SAY U R NOT RACIST NOW OR ELSE YOU WILL BE CONSIDERED RACIST BY YOUNG RETARDS HIGH ON COW CUM ENEMAS.
me
June 25, 2020 at 4:10 pmWow… you are a complete idiot… have you stopped taking your medication? Maybe you’d be a bit more understanding of the situation if it was you being murdered by those hired to protect you. And, I noticed you didn’t deny being a racist… be a part of the solution, not the problem… and start by improving your 5th grade education
craig fields
June 25, 2020 at 11:24 amLove the set list but surprised it has no delta blues . I dig all of those songs
Arnold Olshan
June 25, 2020 at 10:49 amWhy does this clown feel it is necessary write long opinion pieces about everything and anyone? Some loser offs himself and Warren feels its necessary to be the rock & roll spokesman for the industry. Great, you got a college education. But you played your private VIP “concert” while the great Furthur was on stage at Locken 2013 so you could bail out early that night…
James Madison
June 25, 2020 at 11:23 amanother ass. What are you talking about? Warren is probably the hardest working man in the business. There was a time he was playing with Phil, Mule and the Brothers while doing tons of other guest appearances . I saw a show, one for Woody where he played for like 8 hours with everyone on stage if not mistaken. I could barely stand and he was ripping tunes all night. The fact that you think Furthur was great tells me what you know. My second least favorite post Jerry band next to Fare The Well.
thor
June 28, 2020 at 4:02 amNo doubt. Sad that LOCKN was cancelled this year where he was again going to do double duty with both the Mule and the epic reunion of the southern fried version of P&F with Jimmy Herring. i had the pleasure of seeing Warren at the Grammy Museum in 2015 where he spoke about his career and influences before playing songs from his current release “Ashes & Dust” Mentioned that he “borrowed” his brother’s James Brown & Otis Redding records as a kid and that inspired him to become the performer he is. So if he was saying this five years ago, he is clearly not pandering to anybody in today’s jacked up world to sound fashionably PC all of a sudden.
me
June 25, 2020 at 4:06 pmClown? Based on your comment, I’d guess you’re wearing a mighty big bow-tie… be a part of the solution, not whining about nonsense!
Just say no to trolls
June 25, 2020 at 9:59 amWarren has an African-American son, Hudson. Fairly certain that’s not why he wrote this article, but to say Warren has issues with color is just trolling.
Bob p
June 24, 2020 at 9:10 pmSaying he has black people play with him is like saying you have a black friend. I’m talking about the money makers in the industry, the promoters, owners of venues, not the performers. Does he bank at black owned banks? Only use black owned caterers? Security?
Jim
June 25, 2020 at 9:21 amHe does business with the owners that own the places he plays at. Why wouldn’t he? Black owned banks? Think he might have a management company that does his finances for him? Caterers and security work for the venues, not the musicians that play there. Though bands may have some small number of security along with a road crew of their own as to back stage, usually friends with long ties to them. Like The Grateful Dead did with the Hell’s Angles for a time.
bob p's sitting down
June 25, 2020 at 9:49 amSo no blacks? Just want to confirm.
me
June 25, 2020 at 10:27 amSo, though you have had answer after answer, what’s your point? Instead of making an effort to make things better, you choose to continue to drag things down to your level? Why don’t you STFU with your self-serving bullshit and instead focus your energy on making this world a better place for everyone. Quit being an ass…
James Madison
June 25, 2020 at 11:19 amBob P really are an Ass. I cant tell you how many people of color ive seen on the stage with Warren in so many forms. Not to mention Jaimo and Oteil . On your other point he has played at the Apollo , so invite him and he will play your “black venues” What an ass. Can you name a black bank i am curious as who the hell looks at who owns bank when they do banking. I bank with the folks that give me the best return have the lowest fees period.
bob p's sitting down
June 25, 2020 at 1:12 pmBlacks have always been cast as performers, even back in the minstrel days. That’s not the issue! The issue is the controlling interests are usually WHITE and that’s not a good thing anymore. We must as a society go out of our way to give blacks a hand up, not a handout.
me
June 25, 2020 at 4:03 pmOkay, that is a fair statement but as James pointed out, how do we know this and how does the lack of that knowledge make Warren less supportive? As I said previously, be a part of the solution, not the problem. Do you have info to share, then put it out there… if not, then maybe take it on as something for you to do to be a part of the solution. Warren made an honest attempt… no need to judge on a scale of perfection, we all have room to grow.
Sweet Loretta Martin
July 1, 2020 at 3:04 amBob P’s Sitting Down: I accept that your heart’s in the right place but I think you’re missing the point. Warren is praising and highlighting black artists, full stop. That’s a good thing all by itself (and it’s a great playlist he made).
In this context, do you see why it’s bizarre to suggest that honoring black performers somehow misses the mark because blacks have been stereotyped as performers? Who brings up the “black athletic superiority” stereotype when honoring actual black athletes? It’s irrelevant — at best.
Warren’s gesture is inherently positive and should be taken at face value.
Tim
June 24, 2020 at 8:50 pmYou mean besides The Warren Haynes Band and countless black artists he’s played with?
bob p's sitting down
June 24, 2020 at 5:54 pmBig Warren fan, but I’m curious how many black promoters he’s hired in the past? Stage hands? Outside of Ron H on horns occasionally , not a whole lot of color in the stable.
JD
June 24, 2020 at 8:49 pmUm, he has played with Oteil, Jaimoe, George Porter Jr. in his bands among others. As well as countless others as regular guests such as Karl Denson and Bernie Worell, not sure what you mean about not a whole lot of color in the stable. Warren is a stand up guy.
Dinahmoehumm
June 25, 2020 at 3:50 amThis whole thing has gotten dumb all over. And maybe even a little ugly on the side.
Richard Galuppo
June 25, 2020 at 4:20 pmPefect assessment!
Jim
June 25, 2020 at 9:14 amPromoters don’t get hired by bands or individuals to begin with. Promoters hire bands and musicians. Has Warren turned down working for black promoters? Promoters hold the rights to many concert venues. How many black promoters are involved in places that Warren and The Mule play? Haynes has a long history of playing with black musicians which has already been pointed out to you. Musicians hire managers, those that have connections to the places they play, want to0 play and the music they play. I am sure there are black promoters as to black musicians and the venues they play. The real big name black musicians probably use the same promoters with connections that play where Warren plays say Lock’n, Jazz Fest, The Beacon, etc.
Me
June 24, 2020 at 4:49 pmpoor bitter Abe
Abe
June 24, 2020 at 4:30 pmSome black guy called me a cracker… I’m going on Don Lemon’s show (you know, the sexual assaulter) to demand change and accountability.
me
June 25, 2020 at 10:37 amInstead, why don’t you act like a decent human being… is that too hard for you, or is it you are such a loser that talking BS makes you feel better about yourself?
Jim
June 27, 2020 at 4:37 amGo find another community. Though I’ve certainly met racist Deadheads over the years, it is antithetical to everything the boys have ever stood for.