Editing Widespread Panic

{{short description|American rock band}}
{{about|the band||Panic}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2012}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Widespread Panic
| image             = Widespread Panic Red Rocks Amphitheatre 6-24-2010.jpg
| landscape         = yes
| caption           = Widespread Panic performing at [[Red Rocks Amphitheatre]] in 2010
| background        = group_or_band
| origin            = [[Athens, Georgia]], U.S.
| genre             = {{hlist|[[Southern rock]]|[[blues rock]]|[[hard rock]]|[[jazz-rock]]|[[jam rock]]}}
| years_active      = 1986–present
| label             = Widespread Records, [[ATO Records|ATO]], [[Capricorn Records|Capricorn]], [[Sanctuary Records|Sanctuary]], Landslide Records, [[Vanguard Records|Vanguard]]
| spinoffs          = [[Brute.]], Slang, [[Hard Working Americans]]
| website           = {{url|widespreadpanic.com}}
| current_members   = {{plainlist|
*[[John Bell (musician)|John Bell]]
*[[Dave Schools]]
*[[Domingo S. Ortiz]]
*[[John Hermann|John "JoJo" Hermann]]
*[[Jimmy Herring]]
*[[Duane Trucks]]
    }}
| past_members      = {{plainlist|
*[[Todd Nance]]
*[[Michael Houser]]
*[[T Lavitz]]
*[[George McConnell]]
    }}
}}

'''Widespread Panic''' is an American rock band from [[Athens, Georgia]]. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer [[John Bell (musician)|John Bell]], bassist [[Dave Schools]], drummer [[Duane Trucks]], percussionist [[Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz]], keyboardist [[John "JoJo" Hermann]], and guitarist [[Jimmy Herring]]. The band's original guitarist and sometime songwriter, [[Michael Houser]], died of pancreatic cancer in 2002, and the original drummer, [[Todd Nance]], left in 2016 and died in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=Todd Nance Leaves Widespread Panic|url=https://www.relix.com/news/detail/todd_nance_leaves_widespread_panic|website=Relix.com|date=February 9, 2016|access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref>

The band was formed in Athens in 1986, and is influenced by [[southern rock]], [[blues rock]], [[progressive rock]], [[funk]] and [[hard rock]] genres. They have been compared to other [[jam band|jam bands]] including the [[Grateful Dead]] and [[Phish]].<ref name="Bledsoe">{{cite news |first=Wayne |last=Bledsoe |title=Gas Prices cause Widespread Panic to rethink touring strategy |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/Jul/11/gas-prices-cause-widespread-panic-to-rethink/ |format=newspaper article |newspaper=[[Knoxville News Sentinel]] |location=Knoxville, Tennessee |date= July 11, 2008 |access-date=January 23, 2009}}</ref> Widely renowned for their live performances, they have held the record for number of sold-out performances at [[Red Rocks Amphitheatre]] and [[State Farm Arena]] in [[Atlanta]].

==Band history==

===1981–1995: early years and rise to national attention===
[[John Bell (musician)|John Bell]] and [[Michael Houser]] met in 1981 in their dorm at the [[University of Georgia]] in Athens. Bell had been playing guitar as a solo act and invited his new friend Houser, also a guitarist, to join him. They later performed as a duet under the name  “Severe Driving Problems.”  <ref name="Hill">{{cite web |url=http://www.widespreadpanic.com/interview_detail.php?id=211&type=2 |title=Choice Cuts With John Bell |access-date=January 29, 2009 |last=Hill |first=Taylor |date=June 27, 2007 |work=interview |publisher=Jambands |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206032315/http://widespreadpanic.com/interview_detail.php?id=211&type=2 |archive-date=February 6, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They roomed together and collaborated on music in 1981, writing still-popular songs such as "Driving Song" and "Chilly Water" together.<ref name="Tennille">{{cite news |first=Andy |last=Tennille |title=Widespread Panic |url=http://www.widespreadpanic.com/cms_files/pdf/american_songwriter_julya_2.pdf |publisher=American Songwriter |date=July–August 2006 |access-date=January 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206032304/http://widespreadpanic.com/cms_files/pdf/american_songwriter_julya_2.pdf |archive-date=February 6, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Bassist [[Dave Schools]] met Bell and Houser in 1984 and first played with them on February 24, 1985, at an A-Frame house on Weymanda Court in Athens.<ref name="Widerhorn">{{cite news |first=Jon |last=Wiederhorn |title=Widespread Panic Co-Founder Dies Of Cancer |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1456974/20020812/widespread_panic.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050109180341/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1456974/20020812/widespread_panic.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 9, 2005 |work=MTV |date=August 12, 2002 |access-date=January 24, 2009 }}</ref> On February 6, 1986, Houser called [[Todd Nance]], a drummer and his childhood friend, to sit in with Houser, Bell, and Schools for a charity event in Athens. It was their first show as "Widespread Panic."<ref name="Tennille"/> The band was named for Houser's once frequent [[panic attacks]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=248968 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121203025829/http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=248968 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 3, 2012 |title=Michael Houser Biography |access-date=January 24, 2009 |year=2007 |website=Biography.com }}</ref> Texan percussionist [[Domingo Ortiz|Domingo S. Ortiz]] ("Sunny") began sitting in with the band regularly later that year.<ref name="Patris">{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Patris |title=Widespread Panic Guitarist Succumbs to Cancer |url=http://hightimes.com/entertainment/cpatras/258 |website=[[High Times]] |date=August 12, 2002 |access-date=January 24, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925193923/http://hightimes.com/entertainment/cpatras/258 |archive-date=September 25, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref name="Everyday Companion">{{cite web|title=A (not-so) Brief History of Widespread Panic|url=http://www.everydaycompanion.com/asp/timeline.asp|website=Everyday Companion|access-date=2016-12-05}}</ref>

The band played in fraternities and bars regularly before Widespread Panic signed a contract with Landslide Records in 1987. In February 1987 the band played the now-legendary series of one dollar Monday night shows at the Uptown Lounge in Athens and the crucial local press began to take notice. Shan Clark, a Flagpole and Athens Observer art columnist emphasized Widespread Panic's musical virtuosity, songwriting, and professionalism. In September 1987, they recorded their first album, ''[[Space Wrangler]]'', at [[John Keane (record producer)|John Keane]]'s studio in Athens. [[Bruce Hampton|Col. Bruce Hampton]] is rumored to have delivered the first pressing to the band.<ref name="Tennille"/> Songs on the album include "Chilly Water", "Travelin' Light", "Space Wrangler", "Coconut Image, originally, which ended up as ‘Coconuts", "The Take Out", "Porch Song", "Stop-Go", and "Driving Song."<ref name="Relix">[https://www.relix.com/Features/Daily_News/Widespread_Panic_Revisits_%27Space_Wrangler%27_200901023581.html] {{Dead link|date=August 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> After ''Space Wrangler'', touring expanded to include additional northeastern dates, along with Texas, Colorado, the west coast, and Vancouver, Canada. About this time (late 1988 or early 1989) Domingo Ortiz joined the band full-time.<ref name="Everyday Companion"/> They played their first show in Colorado in March 1990, opening for [[Jerry Joseph]]'s band Little Women.  Jerry would later introduce them, at an after show at The New Sheridan Opera House in Telluride, Co., and on the heels of a big splash performance at the [Bill Graham] Mid Summer Music Fest that same day, as “The Best Band  In America.”  <ref name="Tennille"/>

Widespread Panic signed with [[Capricorn Records]] in January 1991. Later that year, they released their major label debut, ''[[Widespread Panic (album)|Widespread Panic]]'' (a.k.a. Mom's Kitchen).<ref name="discography">{{cite web |url=http://www.widespreadpanic.com/discography.php |title=Widespread Panic Discography |access-date=February 1, 2009 |website=WidespreadPanic.com}}</ref> In the same year, [[Billy Bob Thornton]] directed the movie ''Widespread Panic: Live from the Georgia Theatre'' which was recorded over two nights in Athens.<ref name="Thornton">{{cite web |url=https://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000671/ |title=Billy Bob Thornton Filmography |access-date=February 13, 2009 |website=IMDb.com |archive-date=January 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103105042/http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0000671/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> As the band began touring more often, John Hermann ("JoJo") joined the band as a keyboardist in March 1992 replacing Dixie Dregs keyboardist T. Lavitz who had been with the band a year.<ref name="Bledsoe" /> The band continued to tour throughout the entire US in 1992 joining the famous [[H.O.R.D.E.]] tour with [[Blues Traveler]], [[Phish]], and the [[Aquarium Rescue Unit]], among others.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Mettler |title=Blues Traveler, Phish, Widespread Panic & Col. Bruce Hampton haven't merely risen from the Dead (excerpt) |url=https://www.questia.com/magazine/1G1-14097498/blues-traveler-phish-widespread-panic-col-bruce |work=[[Guitar Player]] |date=August 13, 1993 |via= |access-date=October 27, 2018 |archive-date=October 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181028033823/https://www.questia.com/magazine/1G1-14097498/blues-traveler-phish-widespread-panic-col-bruce |url-status=dead }}</ref> They released ''[[Everyday (Widespread Panic album)|Everyday]]'' in March 1993 and ''[[Ain't Life Grand (Widespread Panic album)|Ain't Life Grand]]'' in September 1994.<ref name="discography" /> Widespread Panic marked their rise playing on network television for the first time in November 1994.<ref name="Tennille" />

===1996–2002: peak touring years and Houser's death===
[[File:Panic Streets Aerial View.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of crowd at ''Light Fuse, Get Away'' CD release party, April 18, 1998]]

On April 18, 1998, to celebrate the release of their first live album, ''[[Light Fuse, Get Away]]'', Widespread Panic offered a free "CD release party" concert in Athens. An estimated 80,000–100,000 fans descended on the city, transforming it into one of the largest CD release parties in history. In 2002, the band received gold certification for their concert DVD ''[[Live at Oak Mountain]]''. They headlined two nights of the first annual [[Bonnaroo Music Festival]] which drew a crowd upwards of 70,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jambands.com/best-of-2002/2003/01/23/widespread-panic-bonnaroo-music-festival-manchester-tn-6-22-23/|title=Widespread Panic, Bonnaroo Music Festival, Manchester, TN- 6/22&23|date=January 23, 2003|website=Jambands.com|access-date=October 20, 2021}}</ref>

In early 2002, guitarist [[Michael Houser]] was diagnosed with [[pancreatic cancer]]. Houser continued to perform with the band into the middle of that year, but after a performance on July 2, 2002, in [[Cedar Rapids, Iowa]] he left the tour because of declining health. Guitarist [[George McConnell]], a former bandmate of JoJo Hermann's in [[Beanland (band)|Beanland]], took over as lead guitarist for the remainder of the band's scheduled dates. Houser died on August 10, 2002.<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/widespreadpanic/articles/story/5934417/widespreads_houser_dead_at_fort] {{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===2003–2006: George McConnell joins===
In 2003, the band released ''[[Ball (Widespread Panic album)|Ball]]'', the first studio album with McConnell as the guitarist. The album was unique among the band's offerings in that none of the songs included had been performed live by the band prior to the recording. All of the material included was written specifically for the album with the exception of "Time Waits", a song which John Bell had performed in solo appearances, and "Don't Wanna Lose You", a song John Hermann had performed with his side-project Smiling Assassins. Late in 2003, the band announced that they would be taking a hiatus from both recording and performing in 2004. However, they released three live albums in 2004, engineered by Billy Field: ''[[Night of Joy]]'' and ''[[Uber Cobra|Über Cobra]]''—both of which were recorded during a November 2003 three-night run of shows at the [[House of Blues]] in [[Myrtle Beach, South Carolina]]—as well as ''[[Jackassolantern]]'', a compilation of cover songs performed during the band's [[Halloween]] shows over the years.  A third release from the Myrtle Beach shows, ''[[Live at Myrtle Beach]]'' was released in early 2005.

In January 2006, the band recorded their 9th studio album, ''[[Earth to America (album)|Earth to America]], ''in [[Nassau, The Bahamas]] at [[Compass Point Studios]], with [[Terry Manning]] producing. It was released June 13, 2006. Their May 9 show at Atlanta's [[Fox Theatre (Atlanta)|Fox Theatre]] was simulcast in Live HD, via satellite, in select movie theatres nationwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jambase.com/headsup.asp?storyID=8082 |title=Wsp: Earth To America On Jambase |website=Jambase.com |access-date=2015-07-25}}</ref> Over 60,000 fans across the country watched it live in the theatres. The show was also released in DVD format on November 14, 2006, entitled ''[[Earth to Atlanta]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://widespreadpanic.com/recordnews.php?id=240 |title=News |website=Widespreadpanic.com |access-date=2015-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718045526/http://widespreadpanic.com/recordnews.php?id=240 |archive-date=July 18, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On August 2, 2006, near the end of the summer tour, the band announced that George McConnell had left the band, making July 30, 2006 at the [[Fox Theatre (St. Louis)|Fox Theatre]] in [[St. Louis]], his last show.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=235&archive=true |title=George McConnell, lead guitarist with the rock band Widespread Panic, has moved on to further adventures |website=Widespreadpanic.com |access-date=February 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129161448/http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=235&archive=true |archive-date=November 29, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Producer [[John Keane (record producer)|John Keane]] and former guitar technician Sam Holt filled in on guitar for the remaining two weeks of the tour.

===2006–2014: Jimmy Herring joins===
[[File:Widespread Panic 6-29-08 -4262.jpg|thumb|Widespread Panic performs their 32nd consecutive sold-out show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, June 2008]]
[[File:WSP Canandaigua 2009.jpg|thumb|Members of the Allman Brothers join Widespread Panic on stage in [[Canandaigua, New York]] southeast of [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]], August 2009]]
In late 2006, [[Jimmy Herring]] from [[Fayetteville, North Carolina]], joined the band as lead guitarist. His began a fall tour with three nights at [[Radio City Music Hall]] in [[New York City]].<ref name="Widespreadpanic.com">{{cite web |url=http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=236&archive=true |title=Widespread Panic is happy to announce that Jimmy Herring will be joining the band as lead guitarist |publisher=Widespread Panic |access-date=February 25, 2011 |archive-date=November 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129163030/http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=236&archive=true |url-status=dead }}</ref> Widespread Panic's 7th annual New Year's shows on December 30 and 31, 2007, marked their 15th and 16th sellout performance at [[State Farm Arena|Philips Arena]].<ref name="Atlanta New Years Sellouts">{{cite web|url=http://www.widespreadpanic.com/press_story.php?id=223&type=1 |title=Panic's 2007 New Years Shows |publisher=Widespread Panic |access-date=February 25, 2011}}</ref> The band released their 10th album, ''[[Free Somehow]]'', on February 12, 2008. It, too, was recorded with producer Terry Manning at Compass Point Studios.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://widespreadpanic.com/album.php?id=47target= |title=Widespread Records-Discography – Free Somehow |publisher=Widespread Panic |date=February 12, 2008 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-date=November 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129210524/http://widespreadpanic.com/album.php?id=47target= |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After the release of the new studio album, Widespread Panic began to release vintage concert performances from the Widespread Panic Archives. ''Carbondale 2000'' was released on June 10, 2008, followed by ''[[Valdosta 1989]]'' released on February 24, 2009, and ''[[Huntsville 1996]]'' which came out on June 23, 2009. The band plans to continue to dig into their show archives and release songs from the shows as multi-track recordings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://widespreadpanic.com/archive/archive-discography/ |title=Multitrack Discography &#124; Widespread Panic Archives |publisher=Widespread Panic |access-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811042559/http://widespreadpanic.com/archive/archive-discography/ |archive-date=August 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> June 27, 2008, marked the band's 32nd sold-out show at [[Red Rocks Amphitheatre]]. The audience was larger than that for any other band in the venue's history. Mayor [[John Hickenlooper]] proclaimed Friday, June 27 "Widespread Panic Day" in the city and county of Denver.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=401&archive=true |title=NEWS |publisher=Widespread Panic |access-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129163949/http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=401&archive=true |archive-date=November 29, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the same year, the band was inducted into the [[Georgia Music Hall of Fame]] on September 20.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=406&archive=true |title=NEWS |publisher=Widespread Panic |access-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129164337/http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=406&archive=true |archive-date=November 29, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

They toured for the rest of 2008 and the spring of 2009. In the summer of 2009, Widespread Panic teamed with fellow southern rockers, [[The Allman Brothers]] on a summer and fall co-headlining tour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://widespreadpanic.com/ontour.php |title=Tour Dates and Tickets |publisher=Widespread Panic |access-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-date=August 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815004952/http://www.widespreadpanic.com/ontour.php? |url-status=dead}}</ref> In March 2010, it was announced that Widespread Panic would be releasing a new album entitled ''[[Dirty Side Down]]'' on May 25, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idiomag.com/peek/107025/widespread_panic|title=New Music From Widespread Panic|access-date=March 10, 2010|website=[[Idiomag]]}}</ref> ''[[Live in the Classic City II]]'', containing music from its 2000 shows, came out in 2010.<ref name="Flynn">[http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100903/ENT/309030008/1033] {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> On September 29, 2010, Widespread Panic keyboardist Jojo Herman announced that the band would be going on hiatus in 2012. In an interview with ''[[The Vanderbilt Hustler]]'', Herman said, "Next year will be our 25th anniversary. After that, we're probably going to call it (quits) for a while... we're looking forward to next year and going out on a high note."<ref name="InsideVandy">{{cite news|url=http://www.insidevandy.com/drupal/node/14831|title=Q&A with Widespread Panic's Jojo Hermann|last=Kesslering|first=Charlie|work=Insidevandy.com|date=September 29, 2010|access-date=September 29, 2010}}</ref>

The band toured steadily throughout 2011, ending the year with their first show at [[Time Warner Cable Arena]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]. In early 2012, the band played a limited number of shows. From January to February they went on their first completely acoustic tour. Dubbed the Wood Tour, it began in January at the Fillmore in downtown [[Silver Spring, Maryland]] and ended at The Belly Up in [[Aspen, Colorado]]. Two recordings from the tour were released in 2012, a special [[Record Store Day]]-only vinyl record called ''[[Live Wood (Widespread Panic album)|Live Wood]]'' in April and later ''[[Wood (Widespread Panic album)|Wood]]'', on October 16.

For the rest of 2012 the band was on hiatus but band members were active with other projects. Dave Schools toured with the [[Mickey Hart|Mickey Hart Band]], [[Jimmy Herring]] recorded a new album and toured with his own band, and Jojo Hermann played shows with the Missing Cats, occasionally opening and sitting in with the [[North Mississippi Allstars]]. On August 17, the band announced their first scheduled shows after the hiatus, including two nights in Charlotte and a four night run in the [[Dominican Republic]]. Between the two short legs of the 2012 Wood Tour, the band played a four night run in [[Mexico]], their first shows in the country, and beginning what became an annual tradition called Panic en la Playa. The first Panic En La Playa was held on the beach at the Now Sapphire Resort in [[Puerto Morelos|Puerto Morelos, Mexico]] in 2012. For 2013 and 2014, The concert was held at the Hard Rock Hotel in [[Punta Cana|Punta Cana, Dominican Republic]] with the 2014 shows pushed back until March 17–20.

The band returned to touring in the spring of 2013 with a run of Mid-West and Southern shows beginning in April. During the shows, the band introduced new innovations in the audio broadcast of their live performances. Previously, Widespread Panic had allowed fans to use audience recording devices to simulcast live shows to fans via the internet. The first live taper stream was at the Dodge Theatre in [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] in November 2009 and continued through the spring 2013 tour when the band took over streaming duties and started broadcasting live [[soundboard recording]]s of the show via Mixlr.com and the Mixlr smartphone app.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mixlr.com/widespread-panic/me |title=Widespread Panic on Mixlr |publisher=Widespread Panic |access-date=April 29, 2013}}</ref> On December 31, 2013, the band returned to [[State Farm Arena|Philips Arena]] in Atlanta.

The Wood Tour came back in 2014 with the band playing six all acoustic theater shows, as well as a special Wood performance held 333 feet underground in the Volcano Room at [[Cumberland Caverns]] in [[McMinnville, Tennessee]] for a taping of an episode of  ''[[Bluegrass Underground]]'' on [[PBS]] The band played an extensive 2014 tour, with three-night stands at Red Rocks, [[The Joint (music venue)|The Joint]] at the [[Hard Rock Hotel and Casino (Las Vegas)|Hard Rock Hotel and Casino]] in [[Las Vegas]]; The [[Riverside Theater (Milwaukee)|Riverside Theater]] in [[Milwaukee|Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]; and [[1stBank Center]] in [[Broomfield, Colorado]], where they played their well-known Halloween shows.<ref>{{cite web|title=Everyday Companion, 2014 Setlists|url=http://www.everydaycompanion.com/asp/tour14.asp|website=Everyday Companion|access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref> The band closed out 2014 with the annual Tunes for Tots benefit performance at The Fillmore in Charlotte on December 30th, followed by an annual [[New Year's Eve]] show, held at the [[Spectrum Center|TWC Arena]] in the city.

===2014–present:  Todd Nance departure, reduced touring and Nance's death===
On October 2, 2014, the band announced that [[Duane Trucks]] would join the band for the 2014 fall tour. Trucks temporarily filled in for Todd Nance, who was taking personal time off. Nance reunited with the band for four shows in Mexico in early February 2016. However, on February 9, 2016, the band announced that Nance was leaving the band and that "Duane [Trucks] will be the drummer for Widespread Panic moving forward."<ref name="WSP.com Special Tour Announcement">{{cite web|url=http://www.widespreadpanic.com/news/special-tour-announcement |title=Special Tour Announcement :: News |publisher=Widespread Panic |date=2014-10-02 |access-date=2015-07-25}}</ref> Prior to joining Widespread Panic, Trucks was the drummer for [[Hard Working Americans]], whose lineup also included Widespread Panic bassist Dave Schools.

On September 25, 2015, ''[[Street Dogs (Widespread Panic album)|Street Dogs]]'', their 13th studio album, was released through [[Vanguard Records]]. ''Street Dogs'' was recorded by John Keane at Echo Mountain Recording Studio in [[Asheville, North Carolina]].<ref name="discography"/> The album is composed of seven originals and three covers: [[Alan Price]]'s "Sell Sell", [[Murray McLauchlan]]'s "Honky Red" and "Tail Dragger", a [[Willie Dixon]] tune popularized by [[Howlin' Wolf]]. In April 2016, keyboardist John Hermann announced that Widespread Panic would stop touring extensively at the end of the year. However, he said that the band is not breaking up and will continue to make festival appearances and perform shows at select venues such as Red Rocks.<ref>{{cite web|title=Widespread Panic to End Extensive Touring|url=http://www.relix.com/news/detail/widespread_panic_to_end_extensive_touring|website=Relix.com|date=April 15, 2016|access-date=2016-11-20}}</ref>

Nance died on August 19, 2020, in Athens, Georgia.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.al.com/life/2020/08/todd-nance-founding-drummer-of-widespread-panic-dies-at-age-57.html |title=Todd Nance, drummer for Widespread Panic, dead at 57 |date=August 19, 2020 |website=Al.com |access-date=October 20, 2021}}</ref> He was 57; his death was first announced on [[Facebook]] by collaborator Cody Dickinson<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dickinson |first=Cody |date=August 19, 2020 |url=https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fcodytaylordickinson%2Fposts%2F10151524235969978|title=I just can’t believe I am writing these words... |website=Facebook.com |access-date=October 20, 2021}}</ref> and was later confirmed by ''[[Relix]]'', a magazine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://relix.com/news/detail/r-i-p-todd-nance-founding-drummer-of-widespread-panic/|title=R.I.P. Todd Nance, Founding Drummer of Widespread Panic|date=August 19, 2020|website=Relix.com|access-date=October 20, 2021}}</ref> Details on the chronic illness which led to his death were not disclosed.

==Live shows==

===Setlists for concerts===
Known for never playing the same show twice, the band utilizes a show-to-show method of choosing the night's setlist. At the beginning of each tour, a member of the band's road crew makes a master list of all the songs the band performs and laminates it. Each night before the show he marks the last three nights' set lists in different colors. The band is able to see what has been played recently and they decide what songs to play during the first set. They return to the list during a set break to pick songs for the second set, and likewise, return after the second set for any additional sets if they are playing more than two sets or the encore. The late Garrie Vereen talks about the unusual practice in the DVD ''[[The Earth Will Swallow You]]''.

===Tapers===
Widespread Panic has a policy of allowing their fans to tape, trade, and to a limited extent freely distribute their shows. However, anonymous distribution such as [[Peer-to-peer file sharing|P2P]] and commercial distribution is not permitted.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.widespreadpanic.com/qanda.php |title=Contact |publisher=Widespread Panic |access-date=2015-07-25 |archive-date=August 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812193418/http://www.widespreadpanic.com/qanda.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> Fans have been taping and trading shows since before they gained national prominence, allowing them to gain their strong national following.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.widespreadpanic.com/interview_detail.php?id=213&type=2 |title=Widespread Panic plays Bethel Woods |access-date=January 29, 2009 |last=Tomcho |first=Sandy |date=July 20, 2007 |newspaper=Bethel Times Herald-Record |archive-date=February 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206032506/http://widespreadpanic.com/interview_detail.php?id=213&type=2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Incident===
A fan was detained by police while experiencing the effects of [[LSD]] after leaving a concert in [[Southaven, Mississippi]]. He was restrained and taken to a local hospital emergency room where he later died while still in police custody.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/07/troy_goode_of_tennessee_hogtie.html#incart_river |title=Troy Goode of Tennessee 'hogtied' by Mississippi police before death, witness says |website=Gulflive.com |date=2015-07-21 |access-date=2015-07-25 |archive-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722082117/http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/07/troy_goode_of_tennessee_hogtie.html#incart_river |url-status=dead }}</ref> On November 18, 2015, autopsy findings said that '[[Hogtie|hogtying]]' contributed to the death of the fan.<ref>{{cite web|last=Broach |first=Janice |url=http://www.wmcactionnews5.com/story/30551512/attorney-hogtying-contributed-to-widespread-panic-fans-death |title=Attorney: Hogtying contributed to Widespread Panic fan's death|location=Memphis, Tennessee |website=Wmcactionnews5.com |date=2015-11-18 |access-date=2015-12-13}}</ref>

==Members==

===Current members===
*[[John Bell (rock musician)|John Bell]] – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1986–present)
*[[Dave Schools]] – bass, vocals (1986–present)
*[[Domingo S. Ortiz]] – percussion (1986–present)
*[[John Hermann]] – keyboards, vocals (1992–present)
*[[Jimmy Herring]] – lead guitar (2006–present)
*[[Duane Trucks]] – drums (2014–present)

===Former members===
*[[Todd Nance]] – drums, vocals (1986–2014; died 2020)
*[[Michael Houser]] – lead guitar, vocals (1986–2002; died 2002)
*[[T Lavitz]] – keyboards (1991–1992; died 2010)
*[[George McConnell]] – lead guitar, vocals (2002–2006)<ref name="Everyday Companion"/>

====Timeline====
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize   = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18
PlotArea    = left:100 bottom:80 top:0 right:15
Alignbars   = justify
DateFormat  = mm/dd/yyyy
Period      = from:01/01/1986 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}
TimeAxis    = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend      = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4
ScaleMajor  = unit:year increment:3 start:1986
ScaleMinor  = unit:year increment:1 start:1986

Colors =
 id:vocals  value:red         legend:Vocals
 id:guitar  value:teal        legend:Lead_guitar
 id:guitar2 value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar
 id:keys    value:purple      legend:Keyboards
 id:bass    value:blue        legend:Bass
 id:drums   value:orange      legend:Drums
 id:perc    value:claret      legend:Percussion
 id:lines   value:black       legend:Studio_album

LineData =
 at:09/05/1988 color:black layer:back
 at:07/29/1991 color:black layer:back
 at:03/08/1993 color:black layer:back
 at:09/05/1994 color:black layer:back
 at:02/03/1997 color:black layer:back
 at:07/27/1999 color:black layer:back
 at:06/19/2001 color:black layer:back
 at:04/15/2003 color:black layer:back
 at:06/13/2006 color:black layer:back
 at:02/12/2008 color:black layer:back
 at:05/25/2010 color:black layer:back
 at:09/25/2015 color:black layer:back
 at:06/21/2024 color:black layer:back

BarData =
 bar:John    text:"John Bell"
 bar:Michael text:"Michael Houser"
 bar:George  text:"George McConnell"
 bar:Jim     text:"Jimmy Herring"
 bar:T       text:"T Lavitz"
 bar:JohnH   text:"John Hermann"
 bar:Dave    text:"Dave Schools"
 bar:Todd    text:"Todd Nance"
 bar:Duane   text:"Duane Trucks"
 bar:Dom     text:"Domingo S. Ortiz"

PlotData=
 width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:John    from:start till:end             color:vocals
 bar:John    from:start till:end             color:guitar2 width:3
 bar:Michael from:start till:08/10/2002      color:guitar
 bar:Michael from:start till:08/10/2002      color:vocals width:3
 bar:George  from:08/11/2002 till:09/01/2006 color:guitar
 bar:George  from:08/11/2002 till:09/01/2006 color:vocals width:3
 bar:Jim     from:09/01/2006 till:end        color:guitar
 bar:Dave    from:start till:end             color:bass
 bar:Dave    from:start till:end             color:vocals width:3
 bar:Todd    from:start till:10/01/2014      color:drums
 bar:Todd    from:start till:10/01/2014      color:vocals width:3
 bar:Duane   from:10/01/2014 till:end        color:drums
 bar:Dom     from:start till:end             color:perc
 bar:T       from:02/01/1991 till:08/01/1992 color:keys
 bar:JohnH   from:08/01/1992 till:end        color:keys
 bar:JohnH   from:08/01/1992 till:end        color:vocals width:3
}}

==Discography==
{{Main|Widespread Panic discography}}

==Videography==
{{Main|Widespread Panic videography}}

==Side projects==
* In 1996 the band, under the name of [[Brute.]] recorded ''[[Nine High a Pallet]]'' with guitarist [[Vic Chesnutt]]; in 2002, Brute. released a second album, titled ''[[Co-Balt]]''.
* [[Todd Nance]] has recorded and toured as part of the band [[Barbara Cue]], releasing three albums.
* [[Dave Schools]] has recorded and toured as part of the band [[Stockholm Syndrome (American band)|Stockholm Syndrome]] and the [[Mickey Hart Band]] in 2012. Schools and Layng Martine III released two albums under the name Slang: ''The Bellwether Project'' in 2001 and ''More Talk About Tonight'' in 2004. Schools was also a touring member of [[Gov't Mule]] after [[Allen Woody]] died.
* [[John Hermann]] has toured with JoJo's Mardi Gras Band when Widespread Panic took a year break. He has toured with The Smiling Assassins, and performs in a duo called The Missing Cats.
* In 2013 Schools formed [[Hard Working Americans]] with [[Todd Snider]], [[Neal Casal]], Chad Staehly, and Duane Trucks. The [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]]'s self-titled debut album was recorded at [[Bob Weir]]'s [[Tamalpais Research Institute|TRI Studios]] and mixed by John Keane. It was released on January 21, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Hard Working American's _First Waltz_|url=http://www.jambands.com/news/2014/09/03/the-hard-working-american-s-first-waltz/|website=Jambands.com|date=September 3, 2014|access-date=18 December 2017}}</ref>

==Charity and benefit work==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|{{center|'''Year'''}}
|{{center|'''Event'''}}
|-
|1995
|
* Contributed a cover version of [[Van Morrison]]'s "[[And It Stoned Me]]" to the Capricorn compilation album ''[[Hempilation: Freedom Is NORML|Hempilation]]'', a benefit CD for [[National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws|NORML]] (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Various-Hempilation-Freedom-Is-Norml/release/848708 |title=Various – Hempilation – Freedom Is Norml (CD) at Discogs |website=Discogs.com |date=September 26, 1995 |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref>
|-
|1999
|
* Contributed a live performance version of "Blue Indian" to ''[[Live in the X Lounge|Live in the X Lounge II]]'', an album benefiting United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham, a [[Birmingham, Alabama]] charity.
|-
|2003
|
* Contributed a live June 2000 performance version of "Give" to ''Carved in Stone, Vol.1'', an album benefiting the Preserve the Rocks Fund, a donation-driven reserve dedicated to the rehabilitation and preservation of the historic [[Red Rocks Amphitheatre]].
|-
|2004
|
* Recorded a cover of the [[NRBQ]] song "Ain't No Horse" for the CD ''The Q People – A Tribute to NRBQ''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spirithouserecords.com/artists_qpeople.html|title=Spirithouse Records|date=October 29, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029152251/http://www.spirithouserecords.com/artists_qpeople.html|access-date=October 20, 2021|archive-date=October 29, 2007}}</ref>
|-
|2005
|
* Contributed covers of [[The Doors]]' medley "[[Peace Frog]]"/"Blue Sunday" to the album ''Too Many Years'' to benefit Clear Path International's work with [[landmine]] survivors.
* Created the annual "Tunes For Tots" event. This concert event raises money to support public school music programs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.widespreadpanic.com/goodpeople_profile.php?id=2 |title=The Band-Tunes For Tots |publisher=Widespread Panic |access-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719050556/http://www.widespreadpanic.com/goodpeople_profile.php?id=2 |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|-
|2006
|
* Recorded a cover of [[The Band]]'s song "[[Chest Fever]]" for the CD ''Endless Highway – Tribute to The Band''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.429records.com/endlesshighway/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216131214/http://www.429records.com/endlesshighway/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 16, 2006 |title=Endless Highway – Music Of The Band |website=429records.com |access-date=August 13, 2010 }}</ref>
|-
|2007
|
* Recorded a cover of [[John Lennon]]'s "[[Crippled Inside]]" as a bonus track for the compilation album ''[[Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.instantkarma.org/InstantKarma.html |title=InstantKarma |website=InstantKarma.org |access-date=August 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20070710201346/http://www.instantkarma.org/InstantKarma.html |archive-date=July 10, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
* JB, Dave, and Jimmy began to donate several sets of strings to "Wear Your Music" from ''[[Relix]]'' magazine. Both ''Relix'' and Azu Studio have teamed up to produce unique jewelry handcrafted from authentic strings donated by various musicians. Profits from jewellery sales benefit selected charities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=220&archive=true |title=NEWS |publisher=Widespread Panic |access-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-date=November 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129163635/http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=220&archive=true |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|2008
|
* The band participated in the [[Make It Right Foundation New Orleans]] and purchased a house for the rebuilding of the [[9th Ward]] in New Orleans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.makeitrightnola.org/ |title=Home : Make It Right |website=Makeitrightnola.org |date=November 29, 2009 |access-date=August 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427013157/http://www.makeitrightnola.org/ |archive-date=April 27, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Widespread Panic fans joined in and created the "House That Widespread Panic Fans Built" – they continue to raise money to match the band's contribution and have a house funded by Panic fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myspace.com/wsphouse |title=Panic Fans House – 29 – Man – NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana |publisher=MySpace |access-date=August 13, 2010}}</ref>
* Performed a concert on November 19 to benefit the [[Bill Graham (promoter)|Bill Graham]] Memorial Foundation at the [[Irving Plaza|Fillmore at Irving Plaza]] in New York City.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=430&archive=true |title=News |publisher=Widespread Panic |access-date=2015-07-25 |archive-date=February 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206045311/http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=430&archive=true |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* The band began holding food drives at select shows each tour benefiting local food banks. This was an effort to "pick up the torch" the fan-run organization Panic Fans For Food handed over.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=394&archive=true |title=News |publisher=Widespread Panic |access-date=2015-07-25 |archive-date=February 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206054616/http://widespreadpanic.com/news_story.php?id=394&archive=true |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.everydaycompanion.com/asp/default.asp Everyday Companion Online]
* [http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/Jun/26/the-kings-of-red-rocks-widespread-panic/ Rocky Mountain News article]
* [https://www.thesoundpodcast.com/blog/2017/7/05/episode-35-dave-schools Dave Schools sits down with Ira Haberman of The Sound Podcast for a feature interview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004035636/https://www.thesoundpodcast.com/blog/2017/7/05/episode-35-dave-schools |date=October 4, 2017 }}

{{Widespread Panic|state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rock music groups from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Jam bands]]
[[Category:Southern rock musical groups from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Athens, Georgia]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1986]]
[[Category:American musical sextets]]
[[Category:1986 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Capricorn Records artists]]
[[Category:ATO Records artists]]
[[Category:Sanctuary Records artists]]
[[Category:Vanguard Records artists]]