Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, known for their blend of southern rock, blues rock, progressive rock, funk, and hard rock. Formed in 1986, the band features guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Duane Trucks, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring. Influenced by jam bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish, Widespread Panic is celebrated for their dynamic live shows, having set records for sold-out performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre and State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The band's original guitarist and songwriter, Michael Houser, passed away in 2002, and the original drummer, Todd Nance, left in 2016 and died in 2020, yet Widespread Panic continues to thrive with their current lineup.
