https://threehundredsongs.com/25-danko-manuel-jason-isbell-the-400-unit Music saves, music wins. One song at a time. Fri, 21 Aug 2026 17:08:11 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://threehundredsongs.com/25-danko-manuel-jason-isbell-the-400-unit#comment-7392 Fri, 21 Aug 2026 17:08:11 +0000 https://threehundredsongs.com/?p=965#comment-7392 Isbell was kicked out of DBT in 2007. He was a bad enough drunk that the other Truckers (no strangers to hard living on tours back then) felt compelled to send him on his way, knowing he was the band’s shiniest most gifted talent, both as a songwriter and guitar player.
Jason cleaned up his act about 4 years after his firing, with at least two solid solo records in the can. Then his career-altering, now classic “Southwestern” record happened. And the Grammys started coming. Amanda Shires, who married him during that time — they are divorced now — probably saved his life. Isbell has maintained his sobriety for nearly 15 years. And good or great songs continue to tumble out of him.

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