Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Southern Rock

1964 - Formed as My Backyard in Jacksonville, FL - also know as other names including The Noble Five - The One Percent - began using Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1969

The bands hey-day was 1973-1977 - known for their relentless touring and signature tunes - Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird

A plane crash near Gillsburg, MS on October 20th 1977 en-route to Baton Rouge, LA from Greenville, SC - claimed the life of lead singer Ronnie Van Zant - guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines - backup singer Cassie Gaines - assistant road manager Steve Kilpatrick - co-pilot William Gray. Other band members and passengers survived - some suffering serious injuries.

Though the group disbanded following the tragedy, the did re-unite once in January 1979 to perform an instrumental version of Freebird at Charlie Daniels' Volunteer Jam V with Charlie Daniels and members of his band. Bassist Leon Wilkeson attended but was unable to play due to ongoing physical therapy for a badly broken left arm.

Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Leon Wilkeson and Billy Powell would form the Rossington-Collins Band - featuring Dale Krantz on lead vocals. Two albums were released between 1980 and 1983

Drummer Artimus Pyle formed The Artmus Pyle Band in 1982

A split over Dale Krantz would spurn individual efforts as The Rossington Band - The Allen Collins Band

Surviving members re-formed the group in 1987 and began touring with Johnny Van Zant as the lead singer and continue to tour.

Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - March 13, 2006

Current touring members include:

• Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals
• Gary Rossington – guitars
• Rickey Medlocke – vocals-drums – mandolin – back-up vocal
• Mark Matejka – guitars – backing vocals
• Michael Cartellone – drums
• Johnny Colt – bass
• Peter Keys – keyboards
• Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals
• Carol Chase – backing vocals

Past members:

• Ronnie Van Zant – deceased (1/15/1948-10/20/1977)
• Allen Collins – deceased (7/19/1952-1/23/1990)
• Bob Burns – deceased (11/24/1950-4/3/2015)
• Leon Wilkeson – deceased (4/2/1952-7/27-2001)
• Billy Powell – deceased (6/3/1952-1/28/2009)
• Steve Gaines – deceased (9/14/1949-10/20/1977)
• Hughie Thomasson – deceased (8/13/1952-9/9/2007)
• Ean Evans – “Mississippi Kid” – deceased (9/16/1960-5/6/2009)
• Ed King
• Artimus Pyle
• Kenny Aronoff
• Jeff McAllister
• Larry Junstrom
• Greg T. Walker
• Randall Hall
• Kurt Custer
• Mike Estes
• Owen Hale
• Robert Kearns

Read More…

Links Of Interest

http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/byyear/2006/ http://www.lynyrdskynyrdhistory.com/ [soliloquy id=”436″]  

Albums

Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nĕrd ‘Skin-nĕrd) / Released August 13, 1973

---

---

 

Second Helping / Released April 15, 1974

     

Nuthin’ Fancy / Released March 24, 1975

---

 

Gimme Back My Bullets / Released February 2, 1976

     

Street Survivors / Released October 17, 1977

     

Lynyrd Skynyrd – 1991 / Released June 11, 1991

     

The Last Rebel / February 16, 1993

     

Endangered Species – Released August 9, 1994

 

               

   

Twenty / Released April 29, 1997

               

   

Edge Of  Forever / Released August 10, 1999

               

     

Christmas Time Again / Released September 12, 2000

               

     

Vicious Cycle / Released May 20, 2003

 

   

Gods & Guns / Released September 29, 2009

 

     

Last Of A Dyin’ Breed / Released August 21, 2012