1966 to 1971

LYNYRD SKYNYRD are without a shadow of doubt the band that single handedly carved out the distinctive of hard boogie rock now known world wide as Southern Rock. Although it was the earlier ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND who defined the genre, it was LYNYRD SKYNYRD that broke the of music into the international arena. The band have established themselves as a legend and generated and inspired many other major acts in their wake, many with direct links to the parent band.

The roots of LYNYRD SKYNYRD can be traced back to the 1966 formation of vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, bassist Larry Jungstrom and drummer Bob Burns. Van Zant was the driving force that held the band together and whose ambition to succeed generated the initial line up. Whilst a teenager the singer had a fearsome reputation for fighting, so much so that when he heard a local school band named US was holding auditions Van Zant informed them in no uncertain terms he was their new frontman the band were too afraid to decline his offer.

Van Zant's other passion besides music was baseball and it was in this arena of activity the 16 year old met his future LYNYRD SKYNYRD compatriots guitarist Gary Rossington and drummer Rob Burns. The pair, Rossington was 12 at the time, had gone along to a local match in which Van Zant was playing. One of the singer's swings hit the ball into Burn's head knocking him out cold. This fateful meeting sowed the seeds for Van Zant's next act.

Rossington, Burns and bassist Larry Jungstrom already had a band YOU, ME & HIM although they had no vocalist. The band later pulled in second guitarist Allen Collins and rounded off the union with Van Zant. Initial gigs found the fledgling unit performing gigs under a variety of names including MY BACKYARD and THE NOBLE FIVE. A more permanent name arrived with ONE PERCENT, a title either taken from the fact that 1% of musicians succeed professionally or from the 1% tattoo adopted by Hells Angels, indicating that 1% of the American population are bikers.

ONE PERCENT set about gigging local clubs with a covers set including songs by artists such as CREAM, FREE, CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL and ILLINOIS SPEED PRESS. Individually the band members were beginning to earn themselves enviable reputations as accomplished players. Their first major gig was as the opening act at a local 'Battle Of The Bands' contest in 1967. The band, also deeply musically in debt to the ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND (then still known as the ALLMAN JOYS) played one gig made up of a collection of songs taken from the debut ALLMAN JOYS album. When they came off stage they discovered the headline act was in fact the ALLMAN JOYS. Van Zant's mob had unwittingly played half of the top bill band's material.

The following year the band dug into their pockets to finance a single 'Need All My Friends' / 'Michelle' on the Jacksonville Shade Tree label. Needless to say the record did little outside of Florida and is now a much sought after rarity. The young musicians had for a while been enduring much taunting and castigation for their long hair, a rarity in 60's Jacksonville. Their school gym teacher Leonard Skinner was one of the prime antagonists insisting the boys cut their hair short. Although they greased their hair down with Vaseline it was not good enough for Skinner. Van Zant and Rossington solved the problem by quitting school. Attending a different school Collins was having the same problem.

At a venue in 1970 named The Forest Inn Van Zant introduced the band as 'Leonard Skinner' as a joke. The audience, who knew of the hair battles, laughed out loud. The reaction was such that a few letters were changed and bastardized into LYNYRD SKYNYRD. The name, which harboured the band's seeds of rebellion, stuck.

The hair problem remained though witnessed when Collins got married in 1970. Both Kathy Johns husband to be and the band had to wear wigs throughout the ceremony. On a more telling note SKYNRYD debuted a new song at the wedding reception, the first airing of the Collins / Van Zant composition titled 'Freebird'.

Events throughout the year accelerated when Alan Walden , brother of Capricorn Records mentor Phil Walden, took on the band as manager. LYNYRD SKYNYRD cut a demo at Muscle Shoals studio in Alabama which included 'Freebird'. So impressed was studio boss Jimmy Johnson he invited the band back to cut an album's worth of material. Jacksonville native Ricky Medlocke filled in on drums.

Walden touted the demo around the industry. The only positive response was from Capricorn but Van Zant felt that the band would be forever in the shade of THE ALLMAN BROTHERS and passed. LYNYRD SKYNYRD cut a single 'I've Been Your Fool' for Shade Tree but this sank without trace.

1972 to 1973

In 1973 LYNYRD SKYNYRD were spotted at the Atlanta Funnochios club by major label MCA Records scout AL KOOPER, who had set up his own label Sounds Of The South in direct competition to Capricorn. Kooper had been a musician himself in BLUES PROJECT and was so impressed he went out of his way to catch the band's next five gigs. The band were offered a deal and enticed by the national distribution muscle of MCA duly signed.

Previous to recording the debut album Jungstrom was replaced by Leon Wilkeson, previously a member of Ronnie's brother Donnie Van Zant's act THE COLLEGIATES and the THE KING JAMES VERSION. The band also pulled in third guitarist Ed King although at first he was intended to fill the then vacant bass spot. King had played previously with STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK, a band that had scored a national radio hit with 'Incense And Peppermint'. He was coached on his bass parts for the album by Wilkeson.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD also promoted one of their roadies Billy Powell to full time keyboard player. Powell, when not working for LYNYRD SKYNYRD as a roadie, had been performing with a ALICE MARR, a band comprising of Donnie Van Zant, Don Barnes (later of .38 SPECIAL), Bill Pelkey and Larry Steele. Powell's talents were completely unknown to LYNYRD SKYNYRD until he jammed along to 'Freebird' one day, instantly creating the signature piano for the future classic. Medlocke had departed in August of 1972 to create his successful outfit BLACKFOOT (although he would later guest on 1977's 'Street Survivors' and rejoin the band in the late nineties).

LYNYRD SKYNYRD's debut 'Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd' produced by Kooper, scored massively on the American radio networks boosted by intense airplay for the epic track 'Free Bird', LYNYRD SKYNYRD's salute to the late DUANE ALLMAN.

With 'Freebird' breaking out all over national radio the band scored a major coup by being announced as support act the THE WHO's 'Quadrophenia' American tour. The band were now being managed by Peter Rudge and the band itself had a reshuffle pulling Wilkeson back in on bass and moving King over to his first instrument of guitar. SKYNYRD's unique approach with it's three lead guitarists and barefoot singer with his gambling hat certainly made an impression.

1974 to 1975

1973 had blown down the music industry doors for LYNYRD SKYNYRD. Second album 'Second Helpin' pushed the band further up the American charts peaking at number 12 soon reaching gold status and the accompanying single 'Sweet Home Alabama' broke the top ten. The song set a precedent for the band when Merry Clayton and Clydie King added female backing vocals. Lyrically it was light hearted yet did contain a reference to NEIL YOUNG's 'Southern Man', a track that had offended many southerners. When LYNYRD SKYNYRD played the song live, touring as support to THE MARSHALL TUCKER BAND, they made a point by unfurling a huge Confederate flag backdrop.

Headline gigs across America and Canada led to the band's first European shows opening for HUMBLE PIE and QUEEN. Back to America LYNYRD SKYNRYD toured America on a relentless campaign over 9 months dubbed 'The Torture Tour'. The grinding work schedule began to tell. Rossington broke a finger but carried on regardless while the band had to pull a homecoming concert in Jacksonville midway through the show when Van Zant's throat started bleeding. The crowd were unsympathetic and rioted.

The resulting attrition within the band forced the exit of both Burns and King up front of recording for the 'Nuthin' Fancy' album. The band had been recording in between shows and in July LYNYRD SKYNRD drafted drummer Artimus Pyle (real name Thomas Delmar Pyle), previously working as a session man for CHARLIE DANIELS. Pyle, whose young facial features had gained him the Artimus nickname (after Artemus the virgin God) during a spell in the Marines, debuted live with the band in October 1974.

'Nuthin' Fancy' continued the trend set by 'Sweet Home Alabama' by involving three girl vocalists dubbed THE HONKETTES: Leslie Hawkins, Cassie Gaines and Jo Jo Billingsey. The album was preceded by another hit 'Saturday Night Special', written for the Burt Reynolds movie 'The Longest Yard'. LYNYRD SKYNYRD set about life on the road again opening proceedings with a headline tour of England.

1976

The 1976 album, 'Gimme Back My Bullets' named after the Billboard hot chart entry 'bullets', also saw a change in producers with Tom Dowd now at the helm. LYNYRD SKYNYRD put in another high profile British showing when they were included on the bill for the Knebworth festival headlined by THE ROLLING STONES. This outing was filmed for the now famous 'Freebird: The Movie'. Further shows brought the band back into mainland Europe.

Uncomfortable with just two guitarists LYNYRD SKYNYRD had been on the lookout for another player, especially after Rossington had damaged his hand in a car accident. Cassie Gaines suggested her brother and after a jam session at a gig in Kansas Steve Gaines was invited to join.

Gaines first showing came on the double live album 'One More For The Road'. It soon climbed to number 9 in the American charts giving the band their first platinum record. A live version of 'Freebird' also charted.

Band members, minus Ronnie who was under orders to rest his throat, performed at a benefit gig for presidential candidate Jimmy Carter alongside WET WILLIE and the MARSHALL TUCKER BAND.

1977 to 1978

A 1977 plane crash virtually destroyed LYNYRD SKYNYRD at the very height of their popularity. The year started off as usual on the road with tours of Japan and England before the band took a well deserved break.

Back in the studio LYNYRD SKYNYRD began to change their working formula relinquishing Dowd's services mid way through recording for the 'Street Survivors' album. The status of the band meant that the album scored a gold status award even before it was delivered to the stores. Within weeks of the release of 'Street Survivors' the band were back on tour. For the first time Van Zant was now sharing lead vocals with Gaines, the guitarist having really stamped on his mark on the album.

En route to a gig in a chartered aircraft on October 20th the plane, due to a pilot error compensating for a malfunctioning engine, ran out of fuel over swampland in McComb, Mississippi. The aircraft had actually had an engine fire just days before with the band on board. Killed in the accident were the two pilots, Van Zant, Gaines, backing singer Cassie Gaines and road manager Dean Kilpatrick, all within the front part of the aircraft that had broken away on impact. All the other occupants were seriously injured. Powell's nose had been extensively damaged, Rossington suffered numerous broken bones and Collins had a large piece of metal embedded in his arm. Road crew members also sustained serious injuries.

Pyle, the only survivor who could walk went to get assistance. Quite unbelievably the first person he came upon wounded the drummer further with a blast from a shotgun believing he was an intruder.

Another roadie, Chuck Flowers, who had actually been fired from the band's entourage just previous to the accident, was filled with such remorse he committed suicide with a gun given to him in happier times by Van Zant. Uncannily, AEROSMITH had chartered the same plane a matter of weeks previous but band members refused to get into the plane citing it as unsafe.

The record company were quick to withdraw copies of 'Street Survivors' whose cover depicted band members with a background of flames. At Van Zant's funeral CHARLIE DANIELS performed a touching 'Amazing Grace'. The Southern Rock family rallied with ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION cutting 'Large Time' in honour of LYNYRD SKYNYRD. It seemed LYNYRD SKYNYRD's tenure at the top of the Southern Rock hierarchy was over. MCA Records released the early Muscle Shoals sessions as 'Skynryd's First... And Last' the following year.

1979 to 1987

It took a long time for LYNYRD SKYNRYD members to emerge from the horror of the air crash. The band members, known as a hard drinking act since their inception, retired into the shadows fuelling their desperation with drugs and alcohol.

Pyle and Powell guested on .38 SPECIAL's 'Special Delivery' album. LYNYRD SKYNYRD's first bassist Larry Jungstrom joined the ranks of .38 SPECIAL for their next record 'Rockin' Into The Night'. Leslie Hawkins joined WET WILLIE as backing vocalist the undertook the same role for MOLLY HATCHET. Pyle, Powell and Wilkeson also joined in on the recording of the ALIAS album 'Contraband' in 1979. ALIAS included Powell's brother Ricky, ex RUNNING EASY men drummer Derek Hess and guitarist Billy Lee Harwood, both later to figure in the LYNYRD SKYNYRD story. A 'best of' album, titled 'Gold And Platinum', sold over a million copies proving the public demand for LYNYRD SKYNYRD was still strong.

Eventually regrouping Rossington and Collins founded the ROSSINGTON COLLINS BAND renewing their relationship with MCA Records for 1980's 'Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere' album. It had been a long road of recovery for Rossington who had in the crash broken both arms, both legs, feet and wrists along with a fractured hip and several broken ribs. Collins had to undergo numerous operations to renew his damaged arm.

Joining the LYNYRD SKYNYRD duo were .38 SPECIAL backing singer Dale Krantz on lead vocals, ALIAS guitarist Barry Lee Harwood alongside Wilkeson, Powell and Pyle. The latter dropped out prior to recording due to damage sustained to his leg in a motorbike accident and was supplanted by another erstwhile ALIAS member Derek Hess. The album proved successful breaking the American top 20. A further record 'This Is The Way' emerged the following year.

Tragedy was to strike the LYNYRD SKYNYRD family yet again when Collin's pregnant wife Kathy died suddenly. The guitarist's alcohol problems began to overwhelm him. The ROSSINGTON-COLLINS tour was put on hold then a further jinx of Rossington breaking his foot put a stop to live work altogether.

Collins summoned up his strength to found a fresh act titled HORSEPOWER although the name was changed and he issued a solo album under the ALLEN COLLINS BAND banner 'Here, There And Back' in 1983. Joining the guitarist were Harewood, Powell, Wilkeson and Hess. Other members included two former ALIAS personnel vocalist Jimmy Dougherty and ex RUNNING EASY guitarist Randall Hall.

Pyle, now taking lead vocals, created the ARTIMUS PYLE BAND (A.P.B.) to issue two albums 'A.P.B.' in 1982 and 1983's 'Nightcaller'. Meantime, Rossington returned to the scene in partnership with his now wife Dale Krantz in a band now simply billed ROSSINGTON. Hess was on drums with Jay Johnson on guitar and ex FAMILY PORTRAIT and RUNNING EASY man Tim Lindsey on bass.

Collins then entered into a further descent into bleak times. A car crash in 1984 paralysed the guitarist's legs and killed his girlfriend. Collins pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol and served a prison term.

VISION toured America along with former GRAND FUNK RAILROAD singer turned solo artist MARK FARNER. Such was the reaction to the few LYNYRD SKYNRD songs performed by VISION Collins ventured to sufggest a full reunion. SKYNYRD tested the waters with a one off performance at CHARLIE DANIELS 'Volunteer Jam' festival in September of 1987 before undertaking a full blown tour.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD's 1987 32 date American tour was billed as a tenth anniversary tribute to the band members that died in the plane crash of 1977. Support act was the ROSSINGTON BAND.

Line up for this tour was fronted by vocalist Johnny Van Zant, younger brother of Ronnie who also had recorded three albums with his own outfit JOHNNY VAN ZANT BAND. Guitars were handled by Rossington, King and Randall Hall with Wilkeson on bass, keyboard player Powell and Pyle on drums. Backing vocals were supplied by THE NEW HONKETTES Dale Krantz-Rossington and Carol Bristow. Collins acted as musical director and gave a speech before each performance graphically outlining the dangers of driving while drunk.

The tour was a tremendous success and re-lit the fire within the individual band members. Ronnie's younger sibling was widely accepted by fans although poignantly for 'Freebird' Johnny left the stage as the band performed the track instrumentally, a lone spotlight shining on the centre stage. MCA Records celebrated the reformation with a collection of rare tracks titled 'Legend'.

1988 to 1996

Tapes from the reunion tour shows were issued as the 'Southern By The Grace Of God' album which featured guest spots from CHARLIE DANIELS, DIXIE DREGS guitarist STEVE MORSE, .38 SPECIAL's Donnie Van Zant and Jeff Carlisi and MARSHALL TUCKER BAND guitarist Toy Caldwell. A further ROSSINGTON BAND album 'Love Your Man' was also issued in 1988.

Sad news emerged as 1990 dawned that the ill fated Collins had succumbed to pneumonia. In December 1990 Johnny Van Zant finally deigned to sing 'Freebird' onstage.

The band reunited once more in 1991 with a Johnny Van Zant, Rossington, King, Hall, Powell, Wilkeson, line up with new drummer Custer from LITTLE AMERICA for the Tom Dowd produced 'Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991' outing. The follow up, 1993's 'The Last Rebel' saw the inclusion of Dale Krantz-Rossington and bassist Jerry Jones. For the following tour dates, a mammoth trek of over 100 shows, ROSSINGTON's Tim Lindsey filled in on bass.

Rossington and Powell guested on the 1994 OUTLAWS album 'Diablo Canyon'. LYNYRD SKYNYRD themselves renewed old ties further by signing to the regenerated Capircorn Records for the acoustic album 'Endangered Species'. LYNYRD SKYNYRD's line-up altered once more when Mike Estes took Hall's place. Hall promptly founded his own RANDALL HALL BAND pulling in Lindsey and former ALIAS and ALLEN COLLINS BAND singer Jimmy Dougherty.

1996 saw the withdrawal of Ed King, the guitarist suffering from conjestive heart failure. He exited the ranks in order to attend to his health problems by way of a transplant, apparently on the understanding that once recovered he would be able to return. In his stead though LYNYRD SKYNYRD drafted guitarist Hughie Thomasson of the OUTLAWS. King duly filed a law suit against the band for a breech of contract, the case finally being settled out of court in 1999. King would forge a short lived outfit in 1998 dubbed THE BONNIE BLUE BAND, a union with Charlie Hargrett of BLACKFOOT, Jeff Carlisi from 38 SPECIAL, Roy Yeager of ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION and MOLLY HATCHET man Banner Thomas.

1997 to 2007

Following the live album 'Southern Knights' the band invited back another veteran as Ricky Medlocke was brought back into the band following the resignation of BLACKFOOT. King had been forced to retire due to heart problems. Hall also departed the fold although in ugly circumstances, the guitarist filing a legal action against the band. To add to their troubled Medlocke was sued for assault on a former band member.

Pyle resurrected A.P.B. for touring pulling in ex-LYNYRD SKYNYRD men Estes and Lindsey. Estes later created DRIVIN' SIDEWAYS for an eponymous 1997 album that saw a guesting Ed King.

Loyalties were sharply divided amongst LYNYRD SKYNYRD fans in 1997 when the band released a single 'Travelin' Man'. The vocals were cut by Ronnie Van Zandt in 1976 and married to music and vocals from Johnny recorded in 1997. 1998's 'Live From Steel Town' was recorded with the line-up of Johnny Van Zant, Rossington, Medlocke, OUTLAWS guitarist Hughie Thomasson, Billy Wilkeson, Powell, drummer Owen Hale and Ricky Medlocke. Hale was subsequently replaced in May 1998 by Bill McAllister. The 1999 Ron Nevison produced album 'Edge Of Forever had DAMN YANKEES drummer Michael Cartellone sessioning.

In side activities, Johnny, along with younger brother Donnie, contributed vocals to JIM PETERIK's 2000 album 'World Stage'.

2000 found LYNYRD SKYNYRD still a going concern with over 30 million album sales to their credit. 'Freebird', forever the band's legacy, had been played on American radio over two million times. The band's 2000 Christmas album featured guests .38 SPECIAL and the CHARLIE DANIELS BAND. The summer of 2001 had the band out on the road again on the arena circuit sharing headline status with British veterans DEEP PURPLE with TED NUGENT along for the ride as special guest.

On July 27th 2001 original band member Leon Wilkeson died in his sleep aged 49. The bassist was buried in a private ceremony on July 31st as LYNYRD SKYNYRD cancelled touring until August 10th. Resolving to carry on in respect of Wilkeson's honour the group resumed their summer tour dates on the 11th with a Las Vegas, Nevada show. Euan Evans, who had deputized for Wilkeson previously, took the bass role.

In September of 2002 it was learned that the band had united with Rap Rocker KID ROCK to record a brand new version of the 1976 hit 'Gimme Back My Bullets'. This track duly appeared as a hidden song on the end of the band's 2003 studio album 'Vicious Cycle'. Tour dates throughout the summer of 2003 had the band allied with DEEP PURPLE. However, in February guitarist Gary Rossington underwent major surgery after it was discovered he was suffering from severe coronary artery disease. The band did unite with SAMMY HAGAR for a lengthy run of US shows but, with Rossington taking doctors orders to back out, cancelled the last batch of these shows.

During early 2004 LYNYRD SKYNYRD veteran guitarist Ed King formed up with the SOUTHERN ROCK RENEGADES, an all-star celebration of Southern Rock founded by an elite cast of players. Fronted up by Henry Paul of the OUTLAWS, BLACKHAWK and the HENRY PAUL BAND and WET WILLIE vocalist Jimmy Hall, additional guitars were supplied by 38. SPECIAL's Jeff Carlisi and the MARSHALL TUCKER BAND's George McCorkle. Guest vocals came courtesy of Alison Heafner whilst ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION's Robert Nix delivered the drums.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD's 'Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve' DVD and CD package, recorded at the Amsouth Amphitheatre in Nashville on 11th July 2003, soon racked up gold sales status. Uniting with fellow veterans the ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND the group set out on a series of October 2004 US shows. As the year closed it would be revealed that a whole swathe of major names had signed up for a LYNYRD SKYNYRD tribute album through Sanctuary Records entitled 'Heavy Helping'. Amongst the contributors would be METALLICA, KID ROCK, SEBASTIAN BACH, DEE SNIDER, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, SALIVA and ZAKK WYLDE.

In 2005 it was announced that Johnny Van Zant had formed an alliance with 38 SPECIAL's Donnie Van Zant. Naturally billed VAN ZANT, the duo duly signed to Columbia Records Nashville for a Country flavoured album. Meantime, LYNYRD SKYNYRD was given some welcome national exposure when 'American Idol' sontestant Bo Rice performed 'Freebird' during his heats. The programme controllers subsequently hatched a surprise for Rice, when Ricky Medlocke and Ean Evans joined him onstage for a surprise appearance in Birmingham, Alabama.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD was forced to cancel Summer dates when Johnny Van Zant underwent surgery. The singer was suffering from "acute and chronic inflammation of his vocal cord and development of a large vocal cord polyp".

New album tracks were laid down in early 2007. During these sessions the group collaborated on songwriting with JOHN 5 (a.k.a. John Lowery), guitarist for DAVID LEE ROTH, TWO and MARILYN MANSON.

Keyboard player Billy Powell died on 27th January 2009 at his home near Jacksonville, Florida. The musician had called emergency services complaining of difficulty in breathing but by the time paramedics arrived he had passed away. He was 56 years old.The band lost another band member in May when bassist Ean Evans succumbed to cancer. He was 48 years old.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD premiered a new album with the single 'Still Unbroken' in August 2009.