Audley Freed
Encyclopedia
Audley Freed is a guitarist. He started his professional career on the Southeastern club and fraternity circuit. He then formed the band Cry of Love
, which was signed to Columbia Records
and released the debut album Brother. The album spawned two No. 1 and two Top Ten AOR
hits, including “Peace Pipe”, named by Billboard as one of the “top 50 AOR songs of all time”. Following a second Columbia release, Diamonds and Debris, and another Freed-penned AOR hit, the band called it quits.
Soon after, Freed joined The Black Crowes
on lead guitar. His tenure in the Crowes included tours in the U.S., Asia, and Europe, recording the album Lions
, and sharing the stage with Led Zeppelin
guitarist Jimmy Page
in a collaboration that led to the gold-record-certified Page–Crowes Live at the Greek
album.
Recent years have found Freed collaborating with some of today's most accomplished musicians. A frequent on-stage guest at Gov't Mule
shows, he co-wrote and recorded ”Life on the Outside”, a song on their album The Deep End, Volume 1
, which featured Sly & the Family Stone
bassist Larry Graham
. Freed also appears in the companion documentary, Rising Low
. Freed also plays guitar on the 2008 Gov't Mule release, Holy Haunted House, where they collaborate on a complete live rendition of Led Zeppelin's fifth album, Houses of the Holy.
In early 2003, Freed joined guitarist-singer Alvin Youngblood Hart
and his Cry Of Love bandmate Robert Kearns in the rock quartet Job Cain; both played on Hart's 2005 Motivational Speaker album.
In 2004, Freed joined Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson's solo project, New Earth Mud
, co-writing and recording on the album This Magnificent Distance and playing lead guitar on the subsequent tour. Aerosmith
lead guitarist Joe Perry
tapped Freed as guitarist for his band following the release of his self-titled solo album in 2005.
In 2006, Freed joined the Dixie Chicks
for their Accidents and Accusations tour, which took them to the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia and culminated in a performance at the 2007 Grammys.
Freed has written songs recorded by rock band Train
and country singer Gary Allan
, among others. He is an active session player in Nashville
. Recent recordings include songs by The Wreckers
, the Dixie Chicks, and Gavin DeGraw
. He also toured with Peter Frampton
.
Starting in May 2008, Freed toured with Jakob Dylan
as part of the Gold Mountain Rebels trio, which also featured Wallflowers drummer Fred Eltringham, and former New Earth Mud
bandmate George Reif on bass and background vocals. This tour supported the release of Dylan's solo album Seeing Things. On May 8, 2008, Dylan and the Gold Mountain Rebels appeared on Nissan Live Sets http://music.yahoo.com/promo-31904706.
Freed toured with Court Yard Hounds and the Dixie Chicks in January of 2010.
He is currently a member of Trigger Hippy
along with Joan Osborne
, Steve Gorman
, Jackie Greene
, and Nick Govrik.
Cry of Love (band)
Cry Of Love was an American rock band, formed in 1989 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The group released their debut album in 1992 , produced by John Custer before playing the Monsters of Rock festival the following year. After this show, their frontman Kelly Holland left the group...
, which was signed to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
and released the debut album Brother. The album spawned two No. 1 and two Top Ten AOR
Album-oriented rock
Album-oriented rock is an American FM radio format focusing on album tracks by rock artists.-Music played:Most radio formats are based on a select, tight rotation of hit singles...
hits, including “Peace Pipe”, named by Billboard as one of the “top 50 AOR songs of all time”. Following a second Columbia release, Diamonds and Debris, and another Freed-penned AOR hit, the band called it quits.
Soon after, Freed joined The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
on lead guitar. His tenure in the Crowes included tours in the U.S., Asia, and Europe, recording the album Lions
Lions (album)
Lions is the sixth studio album by American rock band The Black Crowes. It was released in 2001 as their first album on V2 Records following their departure from Columbia, and is their only studio album to feature guitarist Audley Freed. Lions was recorded in New York City in January and February...
, and sharing the stage with Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
guitarist Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
in a collaboration that led to the gold-record-certified Page–Crowes Live at the Greek
Live at the Greek
Live at the Greek: Excess All Areas is a double live album by Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes, released by musicmaker.com on 29 February 2000 and later by TVT Records on 4 July 2000. In October 1999, Page teamed up with The Black Crowes for a two-night performance of material from the Led Zeppelin...
album.
Recent years have found Freed collaborating with some of today's most accomplished musicians. A frequent on-stage guest at Gov't Mule
Gov't Mule
Gov't Mule is a Southern rock jam band formed in 1994 as an Allman Brothers Band side project by Warren Haynes and Allen Woody.The band released their debut album Gov't Mule in 1995...
shows, he co-wrote and recorded ”Life on the Outside”, a song on their album The Deep End, Volume 1
The Deep End, Volume 1
After the death of founding member and bassist Allen Woody, Gov't Mule considered breaking up. Instead, remaining members Warren Haynes and Matt Abts recorded several songs with bass players admired by Woody. The Deep End, Volume 1, issued in 2001, was the first CD of material released from these...
, which featured Sly & the Family Stone
Sly & the Family Stone
Sly and the Family Stone were an American rock, funk, and soul band from San Francisco, California. Active from 1966 to 1983, the band was pivotal in the development of soul, funk, and psychedelic music...
bassist Larry Graham
Larry Graham
Larry Graham, Jr. is an African American bass guitar player, both with the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone, and as the founder and frontman of Graham Central Station...
. Freed also appears in the companion documentary, Rising Low
Rising Low
Rising Low is Mike Gordon's second feature film - a documentary based on the life and death of Gov't Mule bassist Allen Woody and the making of a double-disc tribute album featuring a host of legendary bass players...
. Freed also plays guitar on the 2008 Gov't Mule release, Holy Haunted House, where they collaborate on a complete live rendition of Led Zeppelin's fifth album, Houses of the Holy.
In early 2003, Freed joined guitarist-singer Alvin Youngblood Hart
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Alvin Youngblood Hart is a Grammy Award-winning American musician.-Career:Born in Oakland California, Hart had family connections with Carroll County, Mississippi, and spent time there in his childhood, hearing his relatives stories of Charlie Patton, "being around these people who were there when...
and his Cry Of Love bandmate Robert Kearns in the rock quartet Job Cain; both played on Hart's 2005 Motivational Speaker album.
In 2004, Freed joined Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson's solo project, New Earth Mud
New Earth Mud
New Earth Mud is the solo debut album of Chris Robinson. It was released on 22 October 2002. Initial pressings came with a bonus DVD, including a documentary on the making of the disc plus several acoustic live performances.-Track listing:...
, co-writing and recording on the album This Magnificent Distance and playing lead guitar on the subsequent tour. Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
lead guitarist Joe Perry
Joe Perry (musician)
Anthony Joseph "Joe" Perry is the lead guitarist, backing and occasional lead vocalist, and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith. He is influenced by many rock artists especially The Rolling Stones and The Beatles...
tapped Freed as guitarist for his band following the release of his self-titled solo album in 2005.
In 2006, Freed joined the Dixie Chicks
Dixie Chicks
The Dixie Chicks are an American country band which has also successfully crossed over into other genres. The band is composed of founding members Martie Erwin Maguire and Emily Erwin Robison, and lead singer Natalie Maines...
for their Accidents and Accusations tour, which took them to the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia and culminated in a performance at the 2007 Grammys.
Freed has written songs recorded by rock band Train
Train (band)
Train is an American pop rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1994. The band currently comprises a core trio of Patrick Monahan , Jimmy Stafford and Scott Underwood ....
and country singer Gary Allan
Gary Allan
Gary Allan Herzberg is an American country music artist, known professionally as Gary Allan.Signed to Decca Records in 1996, Allan made his debut on the United States country music scene with the release of his single "Her Man", the lead-off to his gold-certified debut album Used Heart for Sale,...
, among others. He is an active session player in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Recent recordings include songs by The Wreckers
The Wreckers
-Studio albums:-Live albums:-Singles:-Featured singles:^ Song was credited as Santana with Michelle Branch and The Wreckers.-Music videos:-Awards and nominations:-External links:***...
, the Dixie Chicks, and Gavin DeGraw
Gavin DeGraw
Gavin Shane DeGraw is an American musician and singer-songwriter. He is known for his songs "Chariot", "Follow Through", "I Don't Want to Be" , "In Love with a Girl", and "Not Over You".-Early life:DeGraw grew up in the Catskills in South Fallsburg,...
. He also toured with Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
.
Starting in May 2008, Freed toured with Jakob Dylan
Jakob Dylan
Jakob Luke Dylan is the lead singer and songwriter of the rock band The Wallflowers and is a son of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and Sara Dylan. He has also recorded two solo albums.-Personal life:...
as part of the Gold Mountain Rebels trio, which also featured Wallflowers drummer Fred Eltringham, and former New Earth Mud
New Earth Mud
New Earth Mud is the solo debut album of Chris Robinson. It was released on 22 October 2002. Initial pressings came with a bonus DVD, including a documentary on the making of the disc plus several acoustic live performances.-Track listing:...
bandmate George Reif on bass and background vocals. This tour supported the release of Dylan's solo album Seeing Things. On May 8, 2008, Dylan and the Gold Mountain Rebels appeared on Nissan Live Sets http://music.yahoo.com/promo-31904706.
Freed toured with Court Yard Hounds and the Dixie Chicks in January of 2010.
He is currently a member of Trigger Hippy
Trigger Hippy
Trigger Hippy is an American Rock and Roll supergroup composed of Black Crowes drummer Steve Gorman, ex-Black Crowes guitarist Audley Freed, singer Joan Osborne, singer/songwriter Jackie Greene and bassist Nick Govrik. Formerly of the group is Widespread Panic guitarist Jimmy Herring.-History:The...
along with Joan Osborne
Joan Osborne
Joan Elizabeth Osborne is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her song "One of Us". She has toured with Motown sidemen the Funk Brothers and was featured in the documentary film about them, Standing in the Shadows of Motown.-Biography:Originally from Anchorage, Kentucky, a suburb...
, Steve Gorman
Steve Gorman
Steve Gorman is a musician best known as the drummer of the American hard rock band The Black Crowes. He also spent some time as the drummer for British rock band Stereophonics.- Early career :...
, Jackie Greene
Jackie Greene
Jackie Greene is an American singer-songwriter and musician.-Career:Greene was born Chris Nelson in Salinas, California, and developed an interest in music at an early age, starting with the piano. At 14, he began to play guitar and within a short time, was able to sit in with local bar bands. As...
, and Nick Govrik.
Discography
- BrotherCry of Love (band)Cry Of Love was an American rock band, formed in 1989 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The group released their debut album in 1992 , produced by John Custer before playing the Monsters of Rock festival the following year. After this show, their frontman Kelly Holland left the group...
- 1992 - Diamonds and DebrisCry of Love (band)Cry Of Love was an American rock band, formed in 1989 in Raleigh, North Carolina. The group released their debut album in 1992 , produced by John Custer before playing the Monsters of Rock festival the following year. After this show, their frontman Kelly Holland left the group...
- 1997