Ed King was such a complete musician. He took the time to replicate Allen Collin’s solo nearly to the letter. It also shows what an unselfish man he was. He could have made the solo his own, but instead, paid homage to Allen.
Tony Dente ,,,,,NO,NO,NO.ED King was one of the original members in the band... Don't you REMEMBER, after 2yrs he left the band then Alin Collins took over his spot!!!!! my friend with to high school with the Vanzants bothers,Ronny,Donny,AND Jonny....
Jeffery Hirsch Allen Collins is one of the original band members,Ed king came later and spent around two years with the bend I believe he’s then replaced by Steve Gaines (one of the three that died in the plane crash along his sister) I believe Ed king rejoined the band after the accident..
Ed was my best friend at Toll Junior High and Hoover High in Glendale, Ca. I was going to be a concert guitarist and he said I would get famous and not talk to him. I quit the guitar and he became great. R.I.P. my friend. See you in Heaven some day!
That sir is a absolute inspiring story,I met ED via Facebook but have been a Skynyrd fan all my life as ALLEN COLLINS was my guitar hero and I emulated him learning to play Ed told me Allen was really the only member that accepted him as a equal god bless them both hope I see both of them in heaven one day ROCK ON 🤘🤘
@@davemason2840 Recovering from a heart transplant is intensive... months of constant medical care, etc. That prevented him from being on the road with the band.. After a while I think he just didn't feel like doing it anymore.. Touring with a popular band like that takes its toll on you.. He told me that he had, "had enough" and wanted to enjoy the rest of his life... I don't believe it was ever an issue of not being allowed back in the band.
@@bertramhalbruner3296 You need to watch this starting 30 minutes in . Ed clearly wanted to be back in the band. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wFIkQjDtwOw.html
@@davemason2840 this particular video is only 16 minutes... All I know is what he had told me back in 2016.... perhaps he felt differently at the time this was shot... IDK.
Ringing in 2024 watching this video. Reflected on news we lost Gary in March '23😢 Seeing Johnny in the ABC count down to ring in the new year put me on the Free Bird rabbit hole. 3 hours later and I am still watching nearly every video on RU-vid that I can find. Best song from my teenage years.
Not only the most underrated guitarist but also the most underrated songwriter as well. You know that Ed King wrote 85% of the song "Sweet Home Alabama"!
@@MrFrankqu58 Dude, noone can play Sweet Home right cept for Ed, and that is a fact... and he never knew how Ronnie found him.... Incense & Peppermints was another of Ed's hits and quite great... Who knows why Ronnie wanted Ed... we may never know :)
@@steveflam8786 Ronnie's band 1% opened for Strawberry Alarm Clock on a tour; Ed told Ronnie if he ever needed a bassist or guitar player to let him know; I guess Ed knew SAC was pretty much done. When Leon left LS Ronnie contacted Ed. Ed was playing guitar with a band at The Buccaneer in Greenville, NC (home of ECU).
well believe it people dot even know or realize how much Ed contributed to this band. guy was there for all their best songs and when he left synyrd sound left with him. it fucking shows right there who was really pumping out a lot of the good hits theya re known for. dont get me wrong each one of these guitarists is good enoug to be in their own seperate rock band but ed King was just that fucking guy that sat back and quietly made the abnd a hit machine all while getting peanuts of the royaltys
I was at this concert in The Fox Theater, Atlanta. First time seeing Skynyrd, and filled a lifelong dream! Have seen them three times since and hoping to catch them this summer if they continue after loosing Gary.
@@larryn2682 Ed played some of it with Allen. Ed mirrored him on various parts. He knew the whole thing very well. Check out some old vids. You'll see it.
ed was the most talented guitarist in that band. and he get no love from anyone that arent skynyrd fans, even some that are, and a lot of music "historians" dont give Ed his fucking dues,
I saw them in the mid 70s in Memphis not long before the fatal crash 😥😥😥😥😥 but Ed nailed it..I could close my eyes and still Alan play 🎼🥰🎶R I P🎶🎶🎼👍👍😊😊great--perfect💞🎶
@@jerrymelton2868 Allen was every inch of Freebird. It’s really tragic what he went through with his wife dying be the child died inside her basically killing her. Allen was broken from that and I would have been too!
Ed King was the catalyst of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The outsider with knowledge and seasoning of a high caliber musician! He also played Barry Lee Harwood's solo on "Don't misunderstand me" flawlessly! And Barry didn't show him!! He told me so!!
Ed King played one of the biggest parts of this band , in my opinion was the best guitar player in the band hands down !! R.I.P. Ed you and the rest will not be forgotten !!
I dont care how good this version sounds it doesnt compare to the origional version with Allen Collins playing lead. This was his song even more than Ronnies!
This shows clearly, the original band was not the same after Ed King left. It wasn't until Steve Gaines joined that they were the guitar army again. Amazing Ed can play Allen's solo so accurately here. Allen once he had the solo down played it note for note every time. Maybe he had a little input from Ed. Would not surprise me!!!
Gary was a character, I love how he just throws that slide over his head then pulls that wire out of the first fret and kinda says alright hold on here we go. Love that guy, sure do miss him 😢
Gary became a different person on stage after the crash. He seemed much looser, and happier. Ronnie was oppressive and intimidating. That's not to say that Gary was ever anything other than devastated over losing Ronnie, but he seemed freer. There could've been lots of reasons, but he definitely changed.
@@wagliz163Absolute the Plane Crash had a huge impact on all survivors Ronny van Zant was a ass-hole when he was drunk and aggressive but he was also a leader of the band. Gary Rossington was my favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd band member. Others have their Favorite of the band. And off course the impact has change people. And Money and Fame always destroyed things. But people its all about their music not their personal lives. I like their music and thats for me Important. Their personal lives what they write and said in the media is most of the time totall bullshit.
I saw them in '76. I was 16. They were on top of their game that night. I always wished I could've seen them with Ed. Still, it was the most memorable show I've ever attended.
I was 12 in 77 and my parents was country so I didn’t know who they was until then, but they became one of my favorite in front of Eagles and Led Zeppelin,believe it or not I met Ed backstage at a state fair rodeo,very humble fellow RIP sir🎸
@@VBForbes Yes but Leon took it over after and he played it live, not Ed. I'm Aware that Ed did play it but then didn't Ronnie move him to guitar and have Leon take over the reponsabilities of bass?
WOW Truly outstanding. That is what live rock is supposed to be. Ed makes it a guitar show with all the just like the record stuff. Many try, none match the King. RIP
Ed was awesome, and played it 10x better than Medlocke, for sure. The key: he showed some Goddamn Respect for the way Allen played AND structured it. Rickety just prances around the stage and tries to show everyone that “it’s HIS song now.” Well......it ain’t. You cannot replace the Rooster with a Jackass.
Thats funny. I appreciate keeping the Skynyrd music in circulation. I like Rickey Medlock. I love Ed Kings playing and Allen and Gary, Steve, Billy all of em Bob, Leon, Larry, Artimus, and the soul of it all Ronnie.
But it's sad that there all gone but however we have to have replacements to carry on the tradition as like what makes the world keep going???? We do the new born taking over the dead. Let's be thankful that we got to be here and part of the legacy with true blue legends... And let's try extra hard to except the replacements that are out there busting butt to keep it a live. R.I.P founders , replacements keep on rocking it so the new generation will always be able to hear and know what real music is. Men I will stand behind Lynyrd Skynyrd till my own death NO MATTER WHAT. The founders are gone and unfortunately nothing to bring them back ...!!!!!!
I saw this tour, at RiverPort , St.Louis . The local radio station in the morning were critical of how Ed King and Randall Hall played out Free Bird . Both guitarist replicated their quality guitar skills like here in this presentation as in St.Louis . They did not over play (as later interviews with Ed King spoke of) guitar parts . Allen Collins parts where played very well by King and Hall. I believe Larkin Allen Collins was there in spirit doing his leg romping as often as he did during this master piece he contributed to the music world . My the Bird always fly proud and Free for inspiration of many whose fingers touch a fret board of any guitar .
I don't think Randall Hall was a particular asset in much of this performance. There's something off about his playing. But Ed was phenomenal, and Hall obscured some of it.
Listening to this version of freebird i was hearing the words that Ronnie wrote( with help from bandmates no doubt)that he was saying of himself.. he wrote songs that was about the experiences he had .he has always said that he would not make it to 29.....his music that he and his bandmates created well lasted beyond maybe his dreams were...its still played by radio stations and young musicians today...good music never dies
I wish we had more old vids of Ed. He did all the mirroring of Allen that Gaines was later credited with, but Ed had always done it. He just wasn't a showman like Steve, so it wasn't as obvious.
If it ain’t One of the greatest songs in history I don’t what is ... thank you for posting this legendary performance, great to see Gary Rossington , Leon Wilkeson and Ed king , I wish Artimus Pyle was there too ... I love Artimus!
Amen they did Artimus Pyle dirty I don't understand how they could be so cool to keep in mind these people are human they're not perfect they they they they they need to help more of the poor in the homeless people they're just human beings and we don't know where Ronnie Van Zant soul is he was on drugs and and was Living For The Devil I just hope to God he that God redeems him and that he's in heaven and God gave me a second chance God bless you guys seen them in concert last year we feel really sad that there have retired hopefully they'll do it come back to her God bless you all have a blessed Christmas
I met Ronnie’s beautiful grand-niece at the Universal Walk Complex (Orlando), in the early 2000’s. She gave me the full VanZant side of the story, and I’m satisfied with the fact that A. Pyle will not ever be allowed on stage with the band.
@@matthorowitz1861 yes heard that Artimus had his problems, but heard that Judy got a little difficult to work with as well. Wouldn't blame her too much, one can only imagine all the record exec vultures hanging around after the plane crash. One has to remember, Skynyrd's catalog may be one of the richest of all time. Al Kooper, Ronnie, Allen, Gary, Leon, Billy, Ed, and Steve & Cassie's estate all owned a piece of it. What a frickin mess.
@@matthorowitz1861 Fully agree. Artimus is fine at what he does, but the FACT is he was in no way responsible for any of the music he has spent his entire life making a living off of. Bob Burns wrote and played pretty much everything Pyle does. That's a fact.
DAMN DAMN DAMN. WE WILL MISS ALL THE ORIGINALS BUT WE WILL NEVER EVER FORGET THEM. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH JOHNNY FOR CARRYING ON THE LOVE AND LEGACY OF THE LYNARD SKYNARD BAND. YALL ARE TOTALLY AWESOME AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. FROM THE MAN THAT LOVES SIMPLE MAN , I NEED YOU , THE LAST REBEL ,AND RED WHITE AND BLUE. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU AND THANKS AGAIN
I never really listened to Freebird by any newer lineup after the crash, but I have to say this was absolutely spot on "FANTASTIC". Gary and Mr. Ed King totally took control of that solo.
I meet Ed king in the 70s at a guitar shop in Virginia Ed Jam on the guitar there at the shop free bird Dame what a guitar player he was Super talented four sure RIP……… jamming in heaven now
I saw them in 87 at the FOX Theater in St. Louis on the Log Cabin tour, where they did the same thing with no vocals for Free Bird. my seat was center top mezz,where they had a slide projector set up.I was relocated to the front of the stage right in front of Gary Rossington.He actually slapped me five when I reached up. The Rossington -Collins band opened for them. It was a double pleasure and a night I will never forget. P.S. saw them again in mid 90s in Orlando Fla.
It pisses me off how some say Ed King wasn't an original, he absolutely was, he was on the first three albums, imo was there very best material. The argument I've heard is he wasn't one of the so called founders when they formed but by that logic Ricky Medlock is an original because he played some drums in the very early days ,I believe around 71.
He might not have been in the Noble Five or My Backyard but Yep Ed King was there from the get-go album wise he's even got a lightning ⚡bolt going through his head to prove it- pronounced⚡ (front cover) Fly on Skynyrds🤘✌️🎶🎶🐊🎤👣🎸🎸🎸🎩🎹🥃🥢🕉️✌️ out 🐾 JF
Johnny sounds like he was drunk during this concert. Or at least very tired. He was sluggish and groggy. Whether or not he actually was drunk, I don't have proof.
Man ... Gary Rossington looks SO SUPER COOL ! Unreal REAL SOUTHERN REBEL ! Gary you look million bucks man , that confederate hat with that cowboy tassels jacket and that SG man you’re very cool blew my brains out !!
Leandro Machado he’s the on supposedly abused drugs the most , Ronnie even made a song bout Gary and his antics , but here he is still alive and kicking , that smell
In 1993, I was driving around Huntsville AL, ready to board the plane, to Frankfort, Lufthansa, thence to the Iraq war, 2003, I was only 43, but I had Lynyrd Synyrd tapes listening to his songs as I drove over the Alabama hills into Georgia and back to the Airport. Such a beautiful Alabama country. Then I parked the rental car and walked up to the check in desk, had a drink, and flew Lufthansa directly to Cairo, Egypt. TSA had no security checks then!
Possibly best of the 4. As phenomenal as Steve was, he didn't have the refinement and sophistication Ed did. Perhaps he didn't need it. They were all great in their own way.
I saw an interview with original Skynyrd drummer Bob Burns and he was asked about all the other members of Skynyrd. When he was asked about Ed King he said, " Ed King was a musical genius", and he left it at that.
Actually I played with both Ed and Bob (as well as Artumus, Jojo and Leslie ) and they all really got a long great. We played together for about 2 years raising awareness for UNOS (organ donating charity).
Amen to that brother, he played that guitar like he stoled it. Allen would be looking down with a smile on his face. Allen was a great guitar player as well as THIS MAN, ED KING, AWESOME JOB!.
@@thomasborger6548 Ed was an extremely modest guy. He never played off his celebrity like some of the other Skynyrd guys did. He liked being low keyed, loved his wife Sharon, and loved playing guitar. He took a tremendous amount of time getting to know us and showing the other guitar players in the band little nuances in playing that really contributed to the band (Saturday Night Special Band with Ed, Artimus, JoJo and Leslie). ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-APeVMxkguP0.html He was a great guy and a great friend, he even liked playing my Les Paul. I visited him in Nashville and he let me play all of his guitars including Red-Eye. He was a gentle soul and loved by just about everyone. He did say to us one night in a greenroom on Long Island to listen to Billy Craine's second solo in Grey Ghost by The Henry Paul Band. He said hands down, that was the most melodic southern rock lead he ever heard. Coming from Ed King, thats HUGE !
Thomas, something very sad in one of our bands version of Freebird to think about - Ed knew he was having severe heart troubles and asked me if he can play off of the original slide solo in Freebird (starting at 1:17:43) in the slow part of the song, .... of course I said of course, he was Ed King - but I never really realized how sad the playing was and listening it to it now, it was so perfect, so accompanying the piano, and so melodic, yet sad knowing Ed's condition it's become pretty hard to listen to now, for me anyway. Ed was a good friend of mine, a great guitar player and really a great guy all around. Generous with his time, his insights and friendships with many people. I truly hope you can hear the beauty and sadness in his playing in this one off solo. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-APeVMxkguP0.html
Skynyrd has been blessed with some of the best guitar players, Hughie, Rickie, Gary, Alan, Steve and above all Ed. Most groups would be lucky to just have one of these guys.
Greetings from the great state of Texas this song is always been very emotional I remember hearing it for the first time and I was like 12 years old and Powell nobody can replace them however Peter keys does a fantastic job and he's very talented and they're actually born within a few days apart very interesting please try not to compare people with people they're both great and people are different both great but different at the same time and we feel really bad that Lynyrd Skynyrd had retired hopefully they do a comeback Show and Tell we seen them last year in the Hot Springs Arkansas was unbelievable God bless you all have a blessed Christmas and keep in mind these people are just human no better than you and I God sees every Everybody the same God bless
I will agree with you that Billy was the best. But, you've got to get Peter his do respect as it took a great player to even get in there and get remotely close to what Billy was doing on the keyboards. You know they never would have chosen Peter if he wasn't a great player?! I think Peter's kicking ass in that spot personally
You are all right, Ed is an absolute King and I did close my eyes as he did and no you could not tell a difference between his and Allen's solo, then I opened my eyes and seen something but kept listening to it. When it was done I went back to 10:30 and that lady looks just like JoJo and moves like her too
