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
His rendition of Please Come to Boston is second to none.
His name was David Allan Coe and he ain’t from Dallas, Texas.
He’s from Akron, OH. And like Johnny Paycheck, also a native Ohioan, he may have done a lot of stupid shit, and some time.
But he also left a couple of pretty damn good songs behind.
“When blood started flowing from her calloused hand, it hurt me.”
“She’s been through hell since Junior went to jail.
When the lights go out she ain’t never failed
To get down on her knees and pray because she loves him
Told all the neighbors he was off in the war, he’s good to the Corps and she’s proud”
Anyone who writes those lyrics is ok in my book.
Yall sayin you saw him @ Ga Theater?? I swear he was common place @ The J&J Center…..
My first introduction to DAC was freshman year Spring ‘82 walking from North campus to Milledge Hall to get ready to play softball in Reed Quad. The boys from South Georgia had set up amps in their dorm windows were and blaring the Outlaw album. Walking down the steps from the J school was a real shocking moment. Welcome to the South I guess. Coe was scheduled to play at that biker bar on the Atlanta Hwy later that Spring but stiffed the crowd that night.
Saw him several times at the Theater, and then saw him years later in Redondo Beach, of all places. He looked half dead already. Literally cannot believe he made it to 86.
I saw him in ‘94 or ‘95. He was playing the Hanau Rod and Gun Club on post in Hanau Germany while they had their going out of business auction. He looked about dead and wasn’t allowed to play prison songs but it was still a great show. And I got a Benelli assault shotgun for like $200! So great time had by all. Definitely amazed he made it another 30 years…not sure what to think of him. A great singer/songwriter. Glad I grew up in a time when there was enough free speech that a DAC could exist, but, holy hell he was offensive…