Gregg Allman postponing book tour for heart tests

CHRIS TALBOTT
In this book cover image released by William Morrow, "My Cross to Bear," by Gregg Allman with Alan Light, is shown. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Gregg Allman is delaying his upcoming book tour for heart tests. Allman is scheduled to undergo tests Friday at The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., the same facility where he underwent a liver transplant in June 2010. (AP Photo/William Morrow)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Poor health hasn't robbed Gregg Allman of his sense of humor.

Just as it seemed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member was finally over the effects of his liver transplant two years ago, he's been forced to delay his upcoming book tour to promote his new memoir, "My Cross to Bear," for heart tests.

But in a phone interview Thursday afternoon he seemed in good spirits as he described his latest health problem.

"It's just one of those make-sure tests, you know," Allman said. "My heart goes into A Fib (atrial fibrillation) and does those beats — you know, instead of going du-dun, du-dun, du-dun, it goes ta-da-dat-ta-da-doot-doot. There's a little reggae in there somewhere."

Allman is scheduled to undergo tests Friday at The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla. He had a liver transplant due to Hepatitis C at the same clinic in 2010 and has been steadily recovering since, though he's been forced to cancel or postpone performances from time to time because of setbacks.

He recently had hernia surgery related to the transplant and says he feels as well as he has in some time. It's unclear if his heart problems are related to the transplant

The co-founder of The Allman Brothers Band and a key figure in rock 'n' roll joined his band mates at last weekend's Wanee Festival in Florida.

"That's our festival down there," Allman said. "The Allman Brothers started it. I didn't play the whole set, but I played both nights. In all I might've done 10 songs maybe. It was a lot of fun."

Allman will begin his book tour May 8 if doctors turn up no significant problems. He also plans to hit the road this summer with the Allman Brothers, something he feels he owes his fans.

"I know there's been a lot of people that have had their hearts set — God bless 'em — on seeing me and my boys perform and seeing me and the Brothers perform," Allman said. "And because of this virus and all these damned surgeries, I had to cancel. I've always really held that sacred and a no-show I am not. I'd like extend my apology to them. It's just kind of a bigger bump than I expected in the road, and as of this summer I'll be there with bells on in the future."

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Follow Entertainment Writer Chris Talbott at www.twitter.com/Chris_Talbott.