Lynyrd Skynyrd (Official Thread)

dsotm

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Lynyrd Skynyrd July 1975

The day before this show, after I got off work some friends and I went out for some drinks. Well I got plastered and went to work the next day with a huge hangover. The thing that kept me going was knowing that the Slynyrd show was tonight. On the way to the show, which was at the Capitol Centre in Landover Maryland, we were drinking and smoking dope, so by show time I was feeling fine. The show was a triple bill. Opening act was Elvin Bishop. Now I don't remember all the songs played this night but I remember some. I know Bishop played Juke Joint Jump and a extended version of Travelin Shoes. Next up was The Marshall Tucker Band. Take the Highway, Heard it in a love song, Ramblin, Can't you see. They were great. Most people don't remember how great a guitar player the late Toy Caldwell was. He removed our faces. On comes Skynyrd. Workin for MCA, I Ain't the One, I'm a County Boy, Whiskey Rock and Roller, Sweet Home Alabama, Tuesdays Gone, Freebird. Billy Powell was playing a white grand piano. It was beyond cool. For the encore Elvin Bishop and Toy Caldwell joined Skynyrd for a blasting version of T is for Texas. My hair was on fire. Just a super show.
 

Johnny-Too-Good

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Must have been awesome to see that band in all their glory in the early '70s dsotm. I'm looking forward to more info.
 

Jonny Come Lately

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My Dad was luckily to see Lynyrd Skynyrd in their 1970s heyday at least once (I think he went twice - can't remember for certain, will have to ask him again), hearing their guitars live must have been terrific.

I have the first two albums, both are excellent although I think Pronounced... has an edge with Free Bird and Simple Man - if I didn't know better I wouldn't have suspected that it was their debut album. Most debut albums, even those by excellent bands, tend to have a couple of weaker or filler tracks, but I don't think there are any on Pronounced (the only debut I've heard so far that I would put on the same level is Led Zeppelin I).
 

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Must have been awesome to see that band in all their glory in the early '70s dsotm. I'm looking forward to more info.

I'll second that


Most debut albums, even those by excellent bands, tend to have a couple of weaker or filler tracks, but I don't think there are any on Pronounced).

Agree with that. "(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)" and "Second Helping" are pretty equal in my book. I can't choose one over the other.
Oh and if you only own those two, you have some catching up to do, my friend :D
 

dsotm

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My Dad was luckily to see Lynyrd Skynyrd in their 1970s heyday at least once (I think he went twice - can't remember for certain, will have to ask him again), hearing their guitars live must have been terrific.

I have the first two albums, both are excellent although I think Pronounced... has an edge with Free Bird and Simple Man - if I didn't know better I wouldn't have suspected that it was their debut album. Most debut albums, even those by excellent bands, tend to have a couple of weaker or filler tracks, but I don't think there are any on Pronounced (the only debut I've heard so far that I would put on the same level is Led Zeppelin I).

My favorite lp is Second Helping. I do love all pre-crash Skynyrd and I can't seem to find any filler on any of these albums'
 

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37 Years Ago: Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Plane Crashes, Killing Three Band Members


Lynyrd Skynyrd had established themselves as one of the most successful rock bands of the ’70s by the time they released ‘Street Survivors‘ in October 1977. The group’s career would come to a tragic halt just three days later, on Oct. 20, 1977, when their twin engine plane went down in a swamp in Gillsburg, Miss., killing three of the band members, a tour manager and both pilots on impact.

The group had put together a string of iconic hits including ‘Free Bird,’ ‘Gimme Three Steps,’ ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ and ‘Gimme Back My Bullets’ prior to the release of ‘Street Survivors.’ Anticipation for the new album was so high that it went gold within days, and Lynyrd Skynyrd embarked on the most ambitious headlining tour of their career, traveling between concert dates in their own Convair CV-300. Rock legend has it that Aerosmith had looked into renting the same plane earlier in the year, but passed on it due to concerns over both the safety of the plane, and the readiness of its crew.

Lynyrd Skynyrd were traveling from Greenville, S.C. to Baton Rouge, La. when their plane apparently ran out of fuel toward the end of the flight. The pilots attempted to land on a small air strip, but the bottom of the plane clipped some trees, and the aircraft went down in a remote stand of forest. Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray were killed instantly, while the other band members and road crew suffered terrible injuries. Drummer Artimus Pyle and two crew members crawled from the wreckage and hiked through swampy woods until they finally flagged down a local farmer, who sent for help.

Following the crash and the press attention that came along with it, ‘Street Survivors’ became Lynyrd Skynyrd’s second platinum album. Out of respect for the band and their family members, MCA recalled the album’s original cover, which depicted the band members engulfed in flames. Devastated by the loss of their singer and the injuries sustained by the survivors, Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded after the accident, leaving the survivors to try to make their own way with varying degrees of success and failure.

The next decade would see the musicians pursuing a number of projects, including the Rossington-Collins Band, Vision, and the Allen Collins Band — none of which came anywhere close to the success of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Perhaps inevitably, the band reunited in 1987, with Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson, Artimus Pyle and guitarist Ed King — who had left the band two years before the crash — joined by Ronnie Van Zant’s younger brother Johnny as their new lead singer.

But despite a successful reunion, tragedy and drama continued to plague the group; guitarist Allen Collins had become paralyzed after a drunk driving accident in 1986 that killed his girlfriend, and he died in 1990. Judy Van Zant Jenness and Teresa Gaines Rapp — the widows of Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines — sued Skynyrd for violating an agreement they struck after the plane accident not to exploit the band’s name for profit, and as the years went on, most of the original members either left or were forced out for various reasons. Bassist Leon Wilkeson died in 2001, and keyboardist Billy Powell died in 2009. Ean Evans — who replaced Wilkeson on bass — also died in 2009, leaving Gary Rossington as the sole survivor from the original band. The group continues to tour heavily every year.
 

Sharp Dressed Man

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37 Years Ago: Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Plane Crashes, Killing Three Band Members


Lynyrd Skynyrd had established themselves as one of the most successful rock bands of the ’70s by the time they released ‘Street Survivors‘ in October 1977. The group’s career would come to a tragic halt just three days later, on Oct. 20, 1977, when their twin engine plane went down in a swamp in Gillsburg, Miss., killing three of the band members, a tour manager and both pilots on impact.

The group had put together a string of iconic hits including ‘Free Bird,’ ‘Gimme Three Steps,’ ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ and ‘Gimme Back My Bullets’ prior to the release of ‘Street Survivors.’ Anticipation for the new album was so high that it went gold within days, and Lynyrd Skynyrd embarked on the most ambitious headlining tour of their career, traveling between concert dates in their own Convair CV-300. Rock legend has it that Aerosmith had looked into renting the same plane earlier in the year, but passed on it due to concerns over both the safety of the plane, and the readiness of its crew.

Lynyrd Skynyrd were traveling from Greenville, S.C. to Baton Rouge, La. when their plane apparently ran out of fuel toward the end of the flight. The pilots attempted to land on a small air strip, but the bottom of the plane clipped some trees, and the aircraft went down in a remote stand of forest. Skynyrd singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray were killed instantly, while the other band members and road crew suffered terrible injuries. Drummer Artimus Pyle and two crew members crawled from the wreckage and hiked through swampy woods until they finally flagged down a local farmer, who sent for help.

Following the crash and the press attention that came along with it, ‘Street Survivors’ became Lynyrd Skynyrd’s second platinum album. Out of respect for the band and their family members, MCA recalled the album’s original cover, which depicted the band members engulfed in flames. Devastated by the loss of their singer and the injuries sustained by the survivors, Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded after the accident, leaving the survivors to try to make their own way with varying degrees of success and failure.

The next decade would see the musicians pursuing a number of projects, including the Rossington-Collins Band, Vision, and the Allen Collins Band — none of which came anywhere close to the success of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Perhaps inevitably, the band reunited in 1987, with Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson, Artimus Pyle and guitarist Ed King — who had left the band two years before the crash — joined by Ronnie Van Zant’s younger brother Johnny as their new lead singer.

But despite a successful reunion, tragedy and drama continued to plague the group; guitarist Allen Collins had become paralyzed after a drunk driving accident in 1986 that killed his girlfriend, and he died in 1990. Judy Van Zant Jenness and Teresa Gaines Rapp — the widows of Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines — sued Skynyrd for violating an agreement they struck after the plane accident not to exploit the band’s name for profit, and as the years went on, most of the original members either left or were forced out for various reasons. Bassist Leon Wilkeson died in 2001, and keyboardist Billy Powell died in 2009. Ean Evans — who replaced Wilkeson on bass — also died in 2009, leaving Gary Rossington as the sole survivor from the original band. The group continues to tour heavily every year.

I listened to a lot of Skynyrd yesterday, in memory of those three, but then again, I listen to a lot of Skynyrd most days. Thankfully, the memories and the great music lives on.
 

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Just watched the Rob Zombie movie 'The Devil's Rejects'. Many of you will have seen it, but that was my first watch. Just thought that it was a great vehicle for 'Free Bird' (Note - for anyone who hasn't seen it this is the end :D)

 

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When Gary Rossington heard that a concert was being assembled to celebrate the music and legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd, he was a bit dumbfounded.

“I couldn’t believe all of these guys want to come and play a song of ours,” he said. “I’m really kind of not believing it!”

Despite Rossington’s humble reaction, there is indeed a parade of classic rock and country luminaries poised to pay tribute to the Southern rock band that has made “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Gimme Three Steps,” “That Smell” and, of course, “Free Bird” a regular feature on jukeboxes and at sporting events, possibly forever.

The tribute show — One More for the Fans! Celebrating the Songs & Music of Lynyrd Skynyrd — will commandeer the Fox Theatre Nov. 12 with a hefty lineup of Alabama, Gregg Allman, Charlie Daniels, Peter Frampton, Cheap Trick, John Hiatt, Jason Isbell, Robert Randolph, Donnie Van Zandt, Blackberry Smoke, Trace Adkins, Warren Haynes, Jamey Johnson, moe., Gov’t Mule, Randy Houser, O.A.R., Al Kooper and Aaron Lewis.

Lynyrd Skynyrd — currently comprised of original guitarist Rossington (an Alpharetta resident for 18 years), singer Johnny Van Zant, guitarist Rickey Medlocke, drummer Michael Cartellone, guitarist Mark Matejka, keyboardist Peter Keys and bassist Johnny Colt — will take the stage as well.

“I think Ronnie (Van Zant) and Steve (Gaines) and the guys who aren’t here anymore really deserve this,” Rossington said during the band’s summer tour. “And the guys who are here … I’m just so honored.”

A large part of Skynyrd lore is the devastating 1977 plane crash following a concert in Greenville, S.C., in which lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Gaines, backing vocalist (and Steve’s older sister) Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick and the plane’s pilot and co-pilot were killed. The other band members, including Rossington, suffered serious injuries.
Peter Frampton and Lynyrd Skynyrd go back decades.
Peter Frampton and Lynyrd Skynyrd go back decades.

The tragedy has permanently linked Lynyrd Skynyrd with Frampton, who has been friends with the band for 40 years.

“We are virtually joined at the hip in many ways,” the British guitar icon said in a recent phone call. “We used to play stadiums together. But I think what many people don’t know is that we shared road crews as well. I was in L.A. when I turned on the TV and saw that the plane had gone down and that half of my crew was on it. Luckily, they survived. But when you go through that, it’s like you’re blood brothers.”

Frampton said he knows which of Skynyrd’s songs he will perform at the concert, which is being recorded for multi-platform distribution, but wants it to be a surprise.

“It’s one of my favorites and it’s one that they’re known for … and it is written about another artist,” was his hint.

The format of the show will be similar to the Gregg Allman tribute that took place at the Fox in January.

As with the Allman production, Keith Wortman — also known for his work on We Walk the Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash and Love for Levon: A Benefit to Save the Barn — is the creator and executive producer of the concert.

Also similar to the Allman show, legendary producer-musician Don Was will serve as music director. He will lead a band that includes guitar maestro and Toto mainstay Steve Lukather.

Along with his overall incredulity at the number of artists who enlisted to play the concert, Rossington is also happily surprised to see so many of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s longtime musical friends.

He reminisced about playing major concerts spearheaded by promotion titan Bill Graham, especially with Frampton.

“He’s just as good now as he was then,” Rossington said.

One of the more interesting inclusions in the lineup in Cheap Trick, but Rossington said the bands share a history.

“We kind of came up in the same era and age group. (Guitarist) Rick (Nielsen) comes to some shows and is just a great guy.”

And as for fellow Southern rock behemoth Allman, Rossington said he will just be happy to spend some time with him.
The concert will be similar in format to the Gregg Allman tribute earlier this year.
The concert will be similar in format to the Gregg Allman tribute earlier this year.

“We’ve known Gregg since the early ’70s, before the Allmans made it in Jacksonville. They’d play all of these weekend concerts on the lawn and we used to see them. We’ve played with the Allmans all our career, but I never get to hang out long enough with Gregg. But we feel like we know each other really great because of the history,” Rossington said.

In addition to sharing recollections and handshakes with many of Skynyrd’s musical peers, Rossington is grateful that the concert will provide a platform to broadcast the legacy of the band.

“I thank God every day and night that I can keep playing and spreading the name of Skynyrd and our brand. Being able to talk about Ronnie and Allen (Collins, the band’s other original guitarist, who died in 1990) and share their music with the audience,” Rossington said.

“We had a dream back in the day to be in a big band and make it and then it was taken away from (some of) them real quick. It’s 37 years this year since the plane crash, and they didn’t get a chance to see how Skynyrd developed, how ‘Freebird’ became an anthem. So I get to tell their story.”

One More for the Fans! Celebrating the Songs & Music of Lynyrd Skynyrd. With Alabama, Gregg Allman, Charlie Daniels, Peter Frampton, Cheap Trick, John Hiatt, Jason Isbell, Robert Randolph, Donnie Van Zandt, Blackberry Smoke, Trace Adkins, Warren Haynes, Lynyrd Skynyrd and more. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12. $91.25-$248.50. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 1-855-285-8499, foxtheatre.org.
 

Sharp Dressed Man

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When Gary Rossington heard that a concert was being assembled to celebrate the music and legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd, he was a bit dumbfounded.

“I couldn’t believe all of these guys want to come and play a song of ours,” he said. “I’m really kind of not believing it!”

Despite Rossington’s humble reaction, there is indeed a parade of classic rock and country luminaries poised to pay tribute to the Southern rock band that has made “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Gimme Three Steps,” “That Smell” and, of course, “Free Bird” a regular feature on jukeboxes and at sporting events, possibly forever.

The tribute show — One More for the Fans! Celebrating the Songs & Music of Lynyrd Skynyrd — will commandeer the Fox Theatre Nov. 12 with a hefty lineup of Alabama, Gregg Allman, Charlie Daniels, Peter Frampton, Cheap Trick, John Hiatt, Jason Isbell, Robert Randolph, Donnie Van Zandt, Blackberry Smoke, Trace Adkins, Warren Haynes, Jamey Johnson, moe., Gov’t Mule, Randy Houser, O.A.R., Al Kooper and Aaron Lewis.

Lynyrd Skynyrd — currently comprised of original guitarist Rossington (an Alpharetta resident for 18 years), singer Johnny Van Zant, guitarist Rickey Medlocke, drummer Michael Cartellone, guitarist Mark Matejka, keyboardist Peter Keys and bassist Johnny Colt — will take the stage as well.

“I think Ronnie (Van Zant) and Steve (Gaines) and the guys who aren’t here anymore really deserve this,” Rossington said during the band’s summer tour. “And the guys who are here … I’m just so honored.”

A large part of Skynyrd lore is the devastating 1977 plane crash following a concert in Greenville, S.C., in which lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Gaines, backing vocalist (and Steve’s older sister) Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick and the plane’s pilot and co-pilot were killed. The other band members, including Rossington, suffered serious injuries.
Peter Frampton and Lynyrd Skynyrd go back decades.
Peter Frampton and Lynyrd Skynyrd go back decades.

The tragedy has permanently linked Lynyrd Skynyrd with Frampton, who has been friends with the band for 40 years.

“We are virtually joined at the hip in many ways,” the British guitar icon said in a recent phone call. “We used to play stadiums together. But I think what many people don’t know is that we shared road crews as well. I was in L.A. when I turned on the TV and saw that the plane had gone down and that half of my crew was on it. Luckily, they survived. But when you go through that, it’s like you’re blood brothers.”

Frampton said he knows which of Skynyrd’s songs he will perform at the concert, which is being recorded for multi-platform distribution, but wants it to be a surprise.

“It’s one of my favorites and it’s one that they’re known for … and it is written about another artist,” was his hint.

The format of the show will be similar to the Gregg Allman tribute that took place at the Fox in January.

As with the Allman production, Keith Wortman — also known for his work on We Walk the Line: A Celebration of the Music of Johnny Cash and Love for Levon: A Benefit to Save the Barn — is the creator and executive producer of the concert.

Also similar to the Allman show, legendary producer-musician Don Was will serve as music director. He will lead a band that includes guitar maestro and Toto mainstay Steve Lukather.

Along with his overall incredulity at the number of artists who enlisted to play the concert, Rossington is also happily surprised to see so many of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s longtime musical friends.

He reminisced about playing major concerts spearheaded by promotion titan Bill Graham, especially with Frampton.

“He’s just as good now as he was then,” Rossington said.

One of the more interesting inclusions in the lineup in Cheap Trick, but Rossington said the bands share a history.

“We kind of came up in the same era and age group. (Guitarist) Rick (Nielsen) comes to some shows and is just a great guy.”

And as for fellow Southern rock behemoth Allman, Rossington said he will just be happy to spend some time with him.
The concert will be similar in format to the Gregg Allman tribute earlier this year.
The concert will be similar in format to the Gregg Allman tribute earlier this year.

“We’ve known Gregg since the early ’70s, before the Allmans made it in Jacksonville. They’d play all of these weekend concerts on the lawn and we used to see them. We’ve played with the Allmans all our career, but I never get to hang out long enough with Gregg. But we feel like we know each other really great because of the history,” Rossington said.

In addition to sharing recollections and handshakes with many of Skynyrd’s musical peers, Rossington is grateful that the concert will provide a platform to broadcast the legacy of the band.

“I thank God every day and night that I can keep playing and spreading the name of Skynyrd and our brand. Being able to talk about Ronnie and Allen (Collins, the band’s other original guitarist, who died in 1990) and share their music with the audience,” Rossington said.

“We had a dream back in the day to be in a big band and make it and then it was taken away from (some of) them real quick. It’s 37 years this year since the plane crash, and they didn’t get a chance to see how Skynyrd developed, how ‘Freebird’ became an anthem. So I get to tell their story.”

One More for the Fans! Celebrating the Songs & Music of Lynyrd Skynyrd. With Alabama, Gregg Allman, Charlie Daniels, Peter Frampton, Cheap Trick, John Hiatt, Jason Isbell, Robert Randolph, Donnie Van Zandt, Blackberry Smoke, Trace Adkins, Warren Haynes, Lynyrd Skynyrd and more. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12. $91.25-$248.50. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta. 1-855-285-8499, foxtheatre.org.

I'm really looking forward to seeing this.... when it hits Blu-Ray at some point. At least my dream of seeing Skynyrd live is coming true next year, as I'll attend the show in Vienna, Austria. I know it's not the same band, but I still love them and it'll be a very emotional night for me. There's no other band I've wanted to see more.

An ironic side note is that I lived in Vienna for 10 years and Skynyrd didn’t visit while I was there, but now, just a few months after moving, they announced the gig there. :heheh: At least I’ll be able to travel there for almost nothing (my sister-in-law works for a bus company that travels from Athens to Bratislava, which is 45 min from Vienna - I'll just have tp pay the 8 euro for the Bratislava - Vienna busride) and I have friends I can stay with in Vienna.
 

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