Widespread Panic

Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic performing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 2010
Background information
Origin	Athens, Georgia, USA
Genres	Southern rock, blues rock, jazz fusion, jam rock, neo-psychedelia
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Widespread Records, ATO Records, Capricorn Records, Sanctuary, Landslide Records, Vanguard Records
Website	Widespreadpanic.com
Members	John Bell Dave Schools Domingo S. Ortiz John "JoJo" Hermann Jimmy Herring Duane Trucks
Past members	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, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Duane Trucks, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring. Michael Houser and George McConnell have also played lead guitar for the band, Todd Nance retired in 2016 as their original drummer.

Since their inception in Athens, Georgia, in 1986, Widespread Panic has risen to elite status among American jam bands. Following in the steps of other Southern rock jam bands such as The Allman Brothers Band, they draw influences from the Southern rock, blues-rock, progressive rock, funk and hard rock genres. They are frequently compared to other jam band "road warriors" such as the Grateful Dead and Phish. Widely renowned for their live performances, as of 2015, they hold the record for number of sold-out performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (Morrison, Colorado) at 51 and Philips Arena (Atlanta, Georgia) at 20.

John Bell and Michael Houser met in 1981 in their dorm at the University of Georgia. Bell had been playing guitar as a solo act, and invited his new friend Houser, also a guitarist, to join him. They began living together and collaborating on music in that year, writing still-popular songs such as "Driving Song" and "Chilly Water" together. Bassist Dave Schools met Bell and Houser in 1984 and first played with them on February 24, 1985, at the A-Frame house on Weymanda Court in Athens. On February 6, 1986, Houser called childhood friend and drummer Todd Nance to sit in with Houser, Bell, and Schools for a charity event in Athens; it was their first show as "Widespread Panic." The band was named for Houser's once-frequent panic attacks. Texan percussionist Domingo S. Ortiz ("Sunny") began sitting in with the band regularly later that year.