In a revelation that’s igniting passionate debate among longtime fans, Mark Herndon, the longtime drummer of Alabama, has publicly accused Randy Owen of deliberately erasing his role in the band’s legacy.
Herndon, who joined Alabama in the late 1970s and played on many of the band’s biggest hits during their meteoric rise, says he’s been “left out of the story” in recent tributes, interviews, and official band materials. “It’s like I was never there,” he said. “But I was — every night, every mile, every record.”
While Herndon was never a founding member, his powerful drumming became a signature part of Alabama’s live energy. But according to him, the years since his departure have been filled with quiet tension and unspoken wounds, particularly around how his contributions have been remembered — or forgotten.
Fans have long sensed that something behind the scenes was never fully healed, and this statement confirms the fracture many suspected.
As for Randy Owen, he has yet to respond directly — though previous comments have hinted at “creative differences” and “personal friction” during the band’s peak years.
Now, with this latest accusation, questions are rising once again: What really happened behind the curtain of one of country music’s most successful bands? And is there still time to set the record straight?
