Rolling Stone Magazine No 179 January 30 1975

IN THIS ISSUE

Nothing Matters but the Fever + by Tim Cahill 20
The winter cycle of the Allman Brothers Band goes something like
this: Divide and conquer. It is both economically feasible and artis-
tically pleasing. Bands led by Gregg Allman and Richard Betts
each playing their own kind of musicstorm the country appearing
in houses the complete Allman Brothers Band has outgrown. Betts
leans toward bluegrass and acoustics and is accompanied by that non-
pareil fiddler, Vassar Clements. Allman has an 11-piece band, includ-
ing three female backup singers, but his sets have been marked by
increasingly capable and moving solos.

Our writer, no stranger to traveling bands, found that chasing
two tours at once was a bit much; in fact, he spent much of the time
battling a powerful case of road fever, that malady that drives touring
musicians to destroying Holiday Inns. The Fever of the title, how-
ever, is something else: Its what has made Gregg Allman write, play
and sing music since he was 13.

BTO: You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet + by Cameron Crowe 5
For his article on Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Cameron Crowe spent
three days and nights in three cities: Fargo, North Dakota, Sioux
City, Iowa, and Denver, Colorado. All likable enough cities, of
course, but, with the exception of Denver, rather unlikely towns for
a hot-hit outfit like BTO to be playing. But therein lies a clue, perhaps
the central nerve of this Canadian band. As manager Bruce Allen
told Crowe: As long as theres a market, BTO will play there. They
play the areas that are starved. We want to hit every fucking market.
Later, band leader Randy Bachman would brag how they'd made
$70,000 in the three cities: 15 G in Fargo, 25 in Sioux City and
30 in Denver. He would tell how a member of Deep Purple, on his
way to a gig in Seattle, ran into a member of BTO and sniffed at the
news that the Overdrive were heading toward Fargo. Hell, Randy
said smartly, we probably made more money in Fargo than Deep
Purple did in three shows around Seattle. Bachman has a way with
wordsoften the wrong waybut he is unarguably the leader of a
band making good in the heart of the recession. And he relishes the
success. Or, as Crowe said, trying to encapsulate Bachman: Hes a
businessman. Only he carries a guitar instead of a briefcase.
The White House Five Defense Lawyers + by Timothy Crouse 16
While covering the White House Five conspiracy trial for the last two
months, our correspondent Timothy Crouse has been doing some
research into the dynamics of criminal trials. One survey he discovered
reveals the unhappy statistic that the majority of Americans do not
accept even the basic tenet of Anglo-Saxon lawthat the defendant
is innocent until proven guilty. In fact, the main thing that stands
between our national lust for justice and a 100% conviction rate is
that suspicious character, the sharp defense lawyer. In the Politics
section this issue, Crouse analyzes the personalities and techniques
of the defense attorneys who stand between the White House Five
and the clink.
Rolling Stone Music Awards for 1974:
Its Too Late to Stop Now 12
Down the Tombs of Taurus by Ken Kesey 20
Norman Mailer: The Final Round + by Richard Stratton 30
DEPARTMENTS
Letters. 4 Politics   16
Music 5 Random Notes 14
Performance  39 Record reviews 36
Perspectives 15 Review  9
Singles   10

Founded in California, by Jann Wenner back in 1967 Rolling Stone Magazine delved deep into the music world and frequently tackled political issues. In the first edition 11/9/1967 Wenner wrote that Rolling Stone "is not just about music, but about things & attitudes that the music scene embraces. However it quickly distanced itself from the underground newspapers of the time embracing traditional journalism & avoiding the radical politics championed by the underground press.