Jimmy Herring Joins Widespread Panic

“After the shocking mid-tour departure of guitarist George McConnell, Widespread Panic confirmed rumors that longtime friend Jimmy Herring will be joining the band as lead guitarist.” [JamBase]

I’m not that schooled on Widespread Panic nor Jimmy Herring so I can’t really find too much to say on this. It’s so crazy to me that a band can pull this off at all — let alone bringing in a true professional already established on his own — so this will be interesting to watch from the sidelines.

August 7, 2006 |  by  |  News
About the author

Justin Ward is the Editor at Live Music Blog and has been with the site from the very beginning. He currently lives in San Francisco and regularly tweets other stuff over @justinpward.

He also plays in NVO and sometimes calls himself dudha.us ("dude house"). Follow his projects over at JustinWard.org.

Recent Posts

  • cr

    WSP leaned on McConnell when their original guitarist was dying of cancer. Its a bummer to see him leave, but his personality was never added into their mix, he was just a hired gun in my opinion. Herring had some great projects in has past including Aquarium Rescue Unit, Jazz is dead and the Allman Brothers. He also has been a touring guitarist for more mainstream acts like Mellancamp. He can really shred, and hope the new WSP takes him in as a member and thier future can be very bright. The jam scene needs WSP to be the grandaddies to future bands, encourage our scene to continue to thrive and grow, where others have dropped the ball (im calling you out TA!)

  • cr

    WSP leaned on McConnell when their original guitarist was dying of cancer. Its a bummer to see him leave, but his personality was never added into their mix, he was just a hired gun in my opinion. Herring had some great projects in has past including Aquarium Rescue Unit, Jazz is dead and the Allman Brothers. He also has been a touring guitarist for more mainstream acts like Mellancamp. He can really shred, and hope the new WSP takes him in as a member and thier future can be very bright. The jam scene needs WSP to be the grandaddies to future bands, encourage our scene to continue to thrive and grow, where others have dropped the ball (im calling you out TA!)

  • http://halfwaytoeverywhere.blogspot.com/ B Ray

    Herring’s a great guitar player, he’ll bring another whole dimension to Panic. Schooled in jazz and fusion but can just straight wail, and a super nice guy.
    Herring came in and subbed in for Dickey Betts, Jerry Garcia’s position, and now Mike Houser…He does it well.

    The person that left a comment states that Herring played with Mellencamp, I don’t think that’s true…I know Cougar’s had David Grissom as one of his players, whose a great guitarist in his own right.
    Everything else sounds good.

  • http://halfwaytoeverywhere.blogspot.com/ B Ray

    Herring’s a great guitar player, he’ll bring another whole dimension to Panic. Schooled in jazz and fusion but can just straight wail, and a super nice guy.
    Herring came in and subbed in for Dickey Betts, Jerry Garcia’s position, and now Mike Houser…He does it well.

    The person that left a comment states that Herring played with Mellencamp, I don’t think that’s true…I know Cougar’s had David Grissom as one of his players, whose a great guitarist in his own right.
    Everything else sounds good.

  • sarah

    jimmy will be an excellent counterpart to WSP. his guitarwork is like the imagery of a good fairytale. almost romantic. he’s also toured with the codetalkers and is on the road as part of “Herring/Rodgers/Sipe”

  • sarah

    jimmy will be an excellent counterpart to WSP. his guitarwork is like the imagery of a good fairytale. almost romantic. he’s also toured with the codetalkers and is on the road as part of “Herring/Rodgers/Sipe”

  • http://halfwaytoeverywhere.blogspot.com/ B Ray

    http://dgold.info/radio/webcast2006/music213

    SET ONE: Starts about 8PM Central Time
    SET TWO: Starts about 9PM Central Time
    SET THREE: Starts about 10PM Central Time
    ENCORE: What will they play???

    8-8-2006 at 8PM Central Time – Tonight on Honest Tunes Radio Show – 3+ Hour feature webcast with all Jimmy Herring jams from bands like Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh Quintet, The Dead, Little Feat, Frogwings, Gov’t Mule, Widespread Panic, ARU>WSP jam, Jazz Is Dead, Jazz Is Spread, Justice League Of America, Endangered Species, New Earth Mud, Black Crowes, Blues Traveler, Day By The River, Project Z, Derek Trucks [LINK] Band, The Codetalkers, Herring Rogers Sipe, Phish [LINK].

    Yep, Jimmy has jammed with all-of-the-above, as a member / fill-in / or special guest. I’ll spin selections of my favorites on my radio show tonite.

    Widespread Panic [LINK] in-transition in 2006, announced last week that Jimmy Herring is joining WSP on lead guitar starting at Radio City Music Hall in NYC in September for Fall Tour.

  • http://halfwaytoeverywhere.blogspot.com/ B Ray

    http://dgold.info/radio/webcast2006/music213

    SET ONE: Starts about 8PM Central Time
    SET TWO: Starts about 9PM Central Time
    SET THREE: Starts about 10PM Central Time
    ENCORE: What will they play???

    8-8-2006 at 8PM Central Time – Tonight on Honest Tunes Radio Show – 3+ Hour feature webcast with all Jimmy Herring jams from bands like Col. Bruce Hampton & the Aquarium Rescue Unit, Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh Quintet, The Dead, Little Feat, Frogwings, Gov’t Mule, Widespread Panic, ARU>WSP jam, Jazz Is Dead, Jazz Is Spread, Justice League Of America, Endangered Species, New Earth Mud, Black Crowes, Blues Traveler, Day By The River, Project Z, Derek Trucks [LINK] Band, The Codetalkers, Herring Rogers Sipe, Phish [LINK].

    Yep, Jimmy has jammed with all-of-the-above, as a member / fill-in / or special guest. I’ll spin selections of my favorites on my radio show tonite.

    Widespread Panic [LINK] in-transition in 2006, announced last week that Jimmy Herring is joining WSP on lead guitar starting at Radio City Music Hall in NYC in September for Fall Tour.

  • nick fischer

    i’ve seen jimmy herring many times with other ones, the dead, and phil and friends. i’m totally excited to see what new dimension he brings to the panic. jimmy can totally carry the load. look forward to some incrediable panic shows

  • nick fischer

    i’ve seen jimmy herring many times with other ones, the dead, and phil and friends. i’m totally excited to see what new dimension he brings to the panic. jimmy can totally carry the load. look forward to some incrediable panic shows

  • Jason Todd Willy

    I havent realy heard much of jimmy. If anyone has some more info or has any live shows PLEASE EMAIL BACK.

  • Jason Todd Willy

    I havent realy heard much of jimmy. If anyone has some more info or has any live shows PLEASE EMAIL BACK.

  • jimbear

    I have had the priviledge to see Jimmy with Phil, The Code Talkers, “Herring, Rodgers, and Sipe” (just this past weekend!), ARU, as a guest with Mule, and Jazz is Dead…at least 20 times…He is a Phenom! I am Jerry freak and looked wide and high for sometime for something to fill the void. Herring is fresh and inovative, fearless and intense…and he is obviously in love with his craft. I never thought the day would come that I would see a PAnic show…no desire…until now. I just might have to break the seal. Please spread heads…no, “I’ve seen 250 shows man and you just gotta see ‘em.” I ain’t a fool and genuinely have had no desire…again, until now. A guitar playa’ like Jimmy can change a man’s tune.

  • jimbear

    I have had the priviledge to see Jimmy with Phil, The Code Talkers, “Herring, Rodgers, and Sipe” (just this past weekend!), ARU, as a guest with Mule, and Jazz is Dead…at least 20 times…He is a Phenom! I am Jerry freak and looked wide and high for sometime for something to fill the void. Herring is fresh and inovative, fearless and intense…and he is obviously in love with his craft. I never thought the day would come that I would see a PAnic show…no desire…until now. I just might have to break the seal. Please spread heads…no, “I’ve seen 250 shows man and you just gotta see ‘em.” I ain’t a fool and genuinely have had no desire…again, until now. A guitar playa’ like Jimmy can change a man’s tune.

  • threepin

    Well, the final product is a definate thumbs up!! Radio City was incredible, and it was clear that ALL fans approved!!! It was like they just picked up where they left off w/ Mikey. Jimmy hit all the signature licks that George simply could not. I was a huge Mikey fan, so George was quite the adjustment. But, thanks to him, the train kept rollin’! Thanks George! Face it though, there is no easy way to lose your job, and it just wasn’t in the stars. Since radio city, they have simply been raging!! My next three nights are at the end of the tour in Austin, so it will be a nice way to observe the evolution. Thanks Jimmy!!

  • threepin

    Well, the final product is a definate thumbs up!! Radio City was incredible, and it was clear that ALL fans approved!!! It was like they just picked up where they left off w/ Mikey. Jimmy hit all the signature licks that George simply could not. I was a huge Mikey fan, so George was quite the adjustment. But, thanks to him, the train kept rollin’! Thanks George! Face it though, there is no easy way to lose your job, and it just wasn’t in the stars. Since radio city, they have simply been raging!! My next three nights are at the end of the tour in Austin, so it will be a nice way to observe the evolution. Thanks Jimmy!!