More About Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd have been tearing up the rock and roll scene since the early 1970's and still today are making records and doing concerts. With their new album 'God and Guns' being released in 2009, Lynyrd Skynyrd will soon be playing at a stop near you. Jacksonville, Florida's Lynyrd Skynyrd came to the ears of music lovers in 1973 when their multi platinum debut 'Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd' hit the air waves. It was also on this record that the band recorded the hit that has defined the band in 'Free Bird'. The original lineup of lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, lead guitarist Gary Rossington, drummer Artimus Pyle, guitarist Allen Collins, guitarist Steve Gaines, bassist Leon Wilkerson, and keyboardist Billy Powell are the group that led Skynyrd through those 4 glory years that came to an end very tragically. On October 20, 1977, while leaving a show at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium in South Carolina en route to Baton Rouge, Louisiana during Skynyrd's 'Street Survivors' tour, the Convair 240 plane that the band was in ran out of fuel and the plane crashed somewhere near Gillsburg, Mississippi. It would become one of the worst tragedies to ever strike the music world. Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines were both killed. Steve's wife, Cassie, who was a backup singer for the band also perished. All the other people on board were also severely injured. The band took a ten year break after the accident and in 1987 reunited for a tour with Ronnie's younger brother Johnny taking over as lead vocalist and songwriter and he has been doing that ever since. Today, Lynyrd Skynyrd has been making their name in the country music world where they have been embraced just like they were back in the mid 1970's. Gary Rossington is the only original member in the group but the core of today's lineup have been around for the last two decades.