For Blackberry Smoke, home is Atlanta.
But onstage at Chastain, it was about circling back to where it all began tofounding member Brit Turner.
I think about him every day, every show, every set list, Starr tellsRolling Stonebackstage beforehand.
Blackberry Smoke’s Charlie Starr. The Southern rock band paid tribute to their fallen drummer, Brit Turner, onstage in Atlanta on Friday.TORBEN CHRISTENSEN/AFP/Getty
He was just ingrained so deeply in all things that we do.
Every aspect of it.
This is his seat, Starr grins.
And I dont let anybody else sit here cause I dont want anybodys strange butt sitting here.
He was my favorite drummer and my best friend, he says.
[Tonight], its not closure.
Hes a part of us forever.
Periodically, the screen would also broadcast tributes from an array of musical legends.
They were doing exactly what I wanted to do, Johnson said in his remarks.
Just rocking their ass off.
Butch was at our first rehearsal.
Hes seen everything from the beginning.
When Duane died, they played his funeral.
I used to think, How could they do that?
And now I know its all they knew how to do.
