RIP:
David Allan Coe, the outlaw country music singer known for his unrepentant, confrontational image and songs such as “You Never Even Called Me by My Name” and “The Ride,” has died. He was 86.
Coe’s wife, Kimberly Hastings Coe, confirmed the singer’s death to Rolling Stone. “One of the best singers, songwriters, and performers of our time [and] never to be forgotten,” Kimberly wrote to Rolling Stone. “My husband, my friend, my confidant and my life for many years. I’ll never forget him and I don’t want anyone else to ever forget him either.” A cause of death was not immediately available.
Saw him a time or two at the Georgia Theater in his less than best self, but he made some legendary songs.
Saw him at the GA Theatre, too. Most interesting crowd I ever saw a show with. Straight out of his song, almost:
“Where bikers stare at cowboys* who are laughing at the hippies
Who are praying they’ll get outta here alive”
*Just substitute frat boys for cowboys, lol
Legend. How he made it to 86 makes me re-think my choices as I navigate the “Certain Age” stage of life, lol.
Yeah, he got the full use out of his life. Surprised he made it past 50.
I saw him at the Georgia Theatre in the late 70’s. It was quite a show. Probably the most Harley’s I’ve ever seen in one place. Even a dealership doesn’t have that many bikes.
I kinda thought of him like Keith Richards. Someone who thrives on unhealthy living.
And how many dozens of times in the last 50 years have I had a bellyful of beer and started singing that verse??
He’ll finally hear “David Allan Coe”.
A steak house in Fayetteville GA would play “You never even call me by my name” every night with all the waiters singing and waving rags and the dinners would join in.
Little bit like Willie. Shows what clean living can do!!!
I saw him maybe a dozen times in his prime he was great. A few shows at Coley’s Ball Room when it was across from the Fox and N. Decatur Rd. were some of those great shows. Opening for acts like George Jones and Willie Nelson usually brought out his best. Duet with George of Tennessee Whiskey was a classic until George snuck of the building to end the show. That was about 40 yeas ago. Hard to believe it’s been that long…..
Surprised he made it to 86. He certainly lived the life he sung about. Truly one of a kind. Hopefully he’s heard his name called one last time
RIP DAC
If that ain’t country…..
I wasn’t a huge fan past my early twenties to tell you the truth.
I mean I always got a laugh out of how profane and almost needlessly offensive he was willing to be. We have less and less of that anymore with so many people being so damn afraid of what other people are going to think and say about them. But his music was mostly just alright to me. I’ll always love Long Haired Redneck, If That Ain’t Country, and Dakota The Dancing Bear.
The X rated stuff was kind of funny to me when I was a teenager but got old pretty quick. And I never could unsee the fact that he loved name dropping Willie and Waylon but they never talked about him other than Waylon taking about a page in his autobiography to make fun of him.
I saw him twice. Both among the worst shows I’ve ever seen but I guess that was kind of the show. He was interesting if nothing else.
RIP