Widespread Panic

Widespread Panic is a hard rocking psychedelic-southern-space-boogie-dance band from Athens, Georgia. Widespread is commonly referred to as a jam band, though their music tends to be a bit heavier than other popular jambands such as The Grateful Dead and Phish. What began as a weekly jam session at the Uptown Lounge in 1985 (see 1985 in music) grew into a six-man musical force that draws large crowds across the United States, especially in the southeast.

Related Topics:
Athens, Georgia - Jam band - The Grateful Dead - Phish - 1985 - 1985 in music

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Their debut LP, Space Wrangler, established a small fanbase and inagurated several years of constant touring before the band signed to Capricorn Records and released their major label debut, Widespread Panic in 1991 (see 1991 in music). After appearing with the H.O.R.D.E. tours for a few years, the band became one of the most popular new jam bands that arose in the mid-1990s.

Related Topics:
Space Wrangler - Capricorn Records - Widespread Panic - 1991 - 1991 in music - H.O.R.D.E.

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Playing as many as 250 shows a year, Panic built a large fanbase without MTV or Top 40 Radio. To celebrate the release of their first live album, Light Fuse, Get Away, Widespread Panic offered a free "CD release party" concert in the streets of hometown Athens. An estimated 100,000 fans descended on the town, transforming it into the largest CD release party in history. The event is documented in the DVD Panic In The Streets.

Related Topics:
MTV - Top 40 Radio - Light Fuse, Get Away - Panic In The Streets

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In August 2002, founding guitarist Michael Houser lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. George McConnell, a long time friend of the band and Beanland alumnus, joined in Houser's wake. At the end of the summer tour, Panic went back to the studio to record Ball.

Related Topics:
2002 - Michael Houser - Pancreatic cancer - George McConnell - Beanland - Ball

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After 18 years of non-stop touring, only pausing for studio recording and Christmas vacation, the band announced in late 2003 that they would be taking a hiatus in 2004 to spend time with their friends and families.

Related Topics:
2003 - 2004

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In 2005, on March 24th, Widespread Panic started touring again, beginning with three shows at the Fox in Atlanta, Georgia. Widespread Panic continues to be one of the top touring bands in the nation, and their fans remain among the more dedicated in all of music.

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The current band members are John Bell (guitar), Dave Schools (bass), Todd Nance (drums), Sunny Ortiz (percussion), JoJo Hermann (keyboards), and George McConnell (guitar).

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