Lynyrd Skynyrd
In the summer of 1964, teenagers Ronnie Van Zant, Bob Burns, and Gary Rossington met while playing on rival baseball teams in Jacksonville, Florida. An impromptu afternoon jam session in the carport of Burns' parents' house inspired the trio to form a band. Before long, guitarist Allen Collins and bassist Larry Junstrom were added to the mix, and the band began entertaining Jacksonville audiences – first as My Backyard, then as The Noble Five, then as The One Percent, before finally arriving on the name Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1969.
The name was partially inspired by a P.E. instructor at the boys' high school who was known for his strict policy forbidding long hair on boys.)
By 1970, the band was well on their way to developing the hard-driving mix of blues, country, and rock that would become their signature. Having become one of the top bands in the Jacksonville area, they had an opportunity to record their first demos at the now iconic Muscle Shoals Sounds Studio in Alabama. Originally intended to form the basis of their debut album, these tracks were ultimately shelved, which made their follow-up effort, "Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd," their actual debut in 1973. The album, featuring the hit song "Free Bird," sold over a million copies and reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The band's fan base continued to grow throughout 1973, fueled in part by their performances as the opening act for The Who's U.S. "Quadrophenia" tour.
Over the next few years, personal issues began to take their toll on the group. The band's next album, "Nuthin' Fancy," was recorded in a rushed 17 days to accommodate an aggressive touring schedule. Disagreements and pressure led to fissures among the group and prompted additional lineup changes.
One of those new additions was Steve Gaines, whose multiple talents were on full display in the band's fifth album, "Street Survivors." In addition to multiple songwriting credits and rousing guitar riffs, Gaines also served as co-vocalist – the only time to that point anyone other than Ronnie Van Zant had sung lead vocals for the group.
The album was an instant success, going gold in just 10 days. (It would eventually go double platinum.) It marked the last Skynyrd album featuring original members Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins. It was also Steve Gaines' only Skynyrd studio recording.
On October 20, 1977, just three days after the release of "Street Survivors," the band was flying from a show in Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, when their chartered plane ran out of fuel. The plane crashed in the woods five miles outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi, killing band members Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, as well as backup singer Cassie Gaines (Steve's sister) and road manager Dean Kilpatrick. Both pilots also lost their lives. The other band members suffered serious injuries but survived.
Skynyrd disbanded following the crash. It would be ten years before they reunited.
In 1987, the band returned for what was intended as a one-time tribute tour and album – "Southern by the Grace of God: Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour 1987." Ronnie's younger brother Johnny Van Zant took on lead vocals, backed by members of the pre-crash band, the return of Ed King, and new guitarist Randall Hall. Although intended as a one-off, the tribute tour was so successful it prompted a rebirth of the band. Before long, a second generation Lynyrd Skynyrd was adding new members and recording new music.
The band's sixth studio album, "Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991," was their first collection of new music since 1977's "Street Survivors."
The next few years saw several changes in the lineup, including a major retooling of the band's "guitar army" – with members Hughie Thomasson and Rickey Medlocke now contributing to the band's songwriting along with Van Zant and Rossington.
This new lineup released their first album, "Twenty," in 1997. Several other albums followed, including "Edge of Forever," "Vicious Cycle," "Thyrty," and more, as band members continued to come and go.
The early 2000s saw more recording and touring, including a performance at the 2008 "Bama Jam" in Enterprise, Alabama, which was attended by over 111,000 people – the largest crowd the band had ever entertained.
The band's legacy as pillars of Southern rock has only grown over time. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Lynyrd Skynyrd number 95 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time."
After five decades and more than 60 albums, the musical powerhouse continues to tour – delighting crowds around the world with their iconic sound. 2023 sees them teaming with fellow southern legends ZZ Top for the "Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour," as well as playing several stand-alone concerts for their enthusiastic and generational fan base.
As founding member Gary Rossington says, "We're still standing, Still keeping the music going. We wanted to do the guys who aren't with us any more proud – and keep the name proud, too."
LYNYRD SKYNYRD - FUTPEDIAMUSIC SELECTION
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Futpediamusic Selection
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