\n<\/p>\n
Alabama<\/a>\u2019s original drummer, Mark Herndon, returned to the stage to play \u201cMountain Music\u201d with the band for the first time in over 20 years, and it sounds like he \u2014 pardon the pun<\/em> \u2014 didn\u2019t miss a beat.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt like a kid all day,\u201d he\u2019d later say. \u201cIt was so cathartic for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n It’s actually not clear if Herndon quit Alabama or if he was just not invited back. The reasons for the band and drummer separating are equally ambiguous.<\/p>\n In 2014, Owen would make the case that\u00a0Herndon was never a part of the band to begin with, characterizing him as more of a hired hand.<\/p>\n He explained that it was the record label’s idea to include him on all of the album covers because they wanted comparisons to be made to the Beatles.<\/p>\n “I never thought anything about it because everybody knew Mark had nothing to do with the structure with Alabama,” he told\u00a0The<\/em>\u00a0Tennessean<\/em> (quote via Al.com<\/a>)<\/p>\n “He didn\u2019t play on the albums. He was just on the stage with us, as were several other people. Had we been smart enough, there never would have been four people in the pictures.\u201d<\/p>\n Additionally, he tried to argue there was no animosity, but the quote came off as cool. “I don\u2019t have one thing against him in any way in the world. I hope he has a good life.”<\/p>\n Alabama\u2019s reunion with Herndon came at the Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville, Ala. on Saturday (Aug. 23). For the last song of the night, Owen brought out their old friend who tore through \u201cMountain Music\u201d like he used to do.<\/p>\n He even got his old solo back.<\/p>\n \u201cIt just fell together,” Gentry explains. “The good Lord blesses us sometimes to do things that we can’t do. All we can do is kind of be in the wings and kind of hope for things. Like I said, we make plans, and he laughs. But there’s nothing he can’t do.”<\/p>\n No further dates with Herndon\u00a0have been announced. Alabama continue to tour on the Live\u00a0in Concert 25 Tour, with more than a dozen shows scheduled through the end of the year.<\/p>\n Of course this wasn\u2019t a complete reunion, as Cook died in 2022<\/a> after a battle with Parkinson\u2019s.<\/p>\n These country singers had so much more to give. See 40 country singers who died much too soon: Keith Whitley, Mindy McCready, Troy Gentry and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Why Did Mark Herndon\u00a0Leave\u00a0Alabama?<\/h3>\n
Alabama Reunite With Mark Herndon<\/h3>\n
R.I.P.: 40 Country Singers and Songwriters Who Died Too Soon<\/h2>\n