Glad you got the note,Ted.Danny will be missed by many.Truth is I don't know wether to just cry or get sick.All week long I have been harking back to those Inwood days at Shiley Acres where we would see Molly Hatchet every summer.I actually saw Danny in one of his last performances there.
One evning as the last Shiley show they did was wrapping up an ambulance cam creeping through the crowd.After the show they took Danny to Martinsburg hospital where he was told that he needed to stop touring and partying and just about everything else.Anyone who was there that day can tell you that he didn't look good at all.It was about a hundred and five out and he was as red as a beet.I hate to be negative but I'm suprised he lived this long because he has been on the edge for a while.
Two quick additions.Danny rejoined Hatchet again right after leaving and stayed until `97 when he found Pat McCormak of the Roaducks to replace him.Plus,he died in Miami Hospital,not at home.
Also,I have just learned withing the hour of the deaths today of both Frank Stanford lead singer of the Roustabouts as well as Blackfoot Drummer Jackson Spires.This is not to mention the death a week ago of Eddie Wells of the NY band seed who worked with DJB's son Jake on several projects.
This has been an aweful week for Southern Rock.Here is the weblink address' of some DJB Memorial pages:
http://www.silknsteelband.com/djb-memorial.htm
http://www.mollyhatchet.com/

Also,here is the official statement from the band:
DANNY JOE BROWN 1951 - 2005

From the Entire Molly Hatchet Organization we send our deepest condolences
to Danny's family and children. We are all shocked by the news of his passing
and tonight we will dedicate the show in Daytona (Bike Week) to Danny his Family
and Legacy. He gave to the fans of Molly Hatchet for many years great music and
emotion in his songs and a sense of brotherhood that brought all of us together not
only in the joy of music but friends from around the world. God Bless you Danny and
Rest in Peace ... you will never be forgotten. We love you Danny.

Bobby Ingram / Molly Hatchet

I have to make a minor correction of myself.It seems that Danny was at home when he died.He had told his family that he wanted to go home and so they took him.He died less than a half hour after arriving there.

Southern rock is the only rock, as far as I'm concerned.
We lost a giant from that kind of music when we lost Danny. His raw, powerful vocals were great on vinyl, but nothing like seeing Molly Hatchet perform. If you loved "guitar music", you loved Duane, and Danny and the band.
I've had the privledge of seeing the band 4 times, once with Jamie Farr out front. Nothing against him, but he couldn't bring the fans into the music the way Danny did.
Danny, I hope you now get to see those dreams you never got to see here. Your music will live on and on and on. It's hell getting old and seeing one of your heros gone.....when they put ME in the ground, "Dreams I'll Never See", by Molly Hatchet is on the play list.
Long live southern rock......long live the one and only sound of MOLLY HATCHET.

Molly Hatchet died in 1985. They did a reunion album in 1989, "Lightning Strikes Twice" - which brought back many of the original members from the late 70's. Danny Joe actually invited Bobby Ingram to play on this 1989 album. After the 1989-90 tour. It was over, again.
Bobby Ingram then "ripped off" the name. Three members of the original doors, even have the class to bill themselves as: "The Doors of the 21st Century. Mr Ingram; take note.

I got to see Molly Hatchet in their "prime", Spring of 1979 at the Univ. of Miami. They played at the U of M courtyard. I had the best seat in the house- on top of the 10 meter board at the U of M pool which overlooked the courtyard. Danny Joe Brown was a great front man, perfect for the Molly Hatchet sound. Fall of the Peacemaker is one of the greatest songs ever recorded.

RIP Danny Joe