Ronnie Van Zant (the lead singer) was a lyrical story-telling genius. He’s as southern as southern can be, but his songs are relatable to EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE. A true legendary, timeless talent.
Such a shame to lose them. Always love lyrics and guitar playing. Alan Collins, Gary Rossington, and the addition of Steve Gaines would've been something to see.
I did a Skynyrd tour with Ronnie Van Zant’s best friend, who was the band’s security manager and airplane crash survivor, Gene Odom. He took us to The Jug and many more p,aces. The Jug was actually called Westside Tavern at the time of the incident. There was a liquor store called The Jug though. And the boys thought The Jug sounded better with “cutting the rug” (dancing)
Very familiar with this catalog. I’ve played a good 60% of their music onstage in bars for 40+ years. Couldn’t tell you how many many times I’ve played this one. In the 80’s we played it at least once a night, 5-7 nights a week, 48-50 weeks a year, so my total would be in the thousands for sure because I’ve played many times since then. The weeklong houseband gigs dried up in the early 90’s and weekends took over so that left it at twice a week minimum. At one point we did an entire LS set, 3rd set on Saturday nights. Takes a special bunch of folks to pull this stuff off correctly.. generally takes 3 guitarists of extraordinary skills, a “lead” bassist, an “in the pocket”, musical drummer and a pianist with pedigrees in both classical and Southern Gospel. That last one is tough to find, fortunately I’ve had one since high school. Have been able to work with him 75% of my career. So yeah.
This entire concert is fire! The Stones were scheduled next. They were promoting a new album called Hot Licks and it had a tongue graphic on it. The Stones had a catwalk added shaped as a tongue and ordered everybody to stay off it. Well during Free Bird, lead singer Ronnie got his guitar army on the catwalk for the solo and then proceeded to drive the crowd to a frenzy. Mick was furious. The Stones refused to come out for hours until the crowd settled down. For a really fantastic piano solo, listen to "They Call Me The Breeze" Billy Powell does some great New Orleans style playing on that solo!
you are so misinformed about this concert and what happen how I know the RS were not the next schedule band to play. So you start with bad info.The had the same tour manger and no one order everyone to stay off the tongue.
One of my all time favorite songs 😂🤣 I was just remembering a time when I was still in highschool cruising down Surfside Beach TX, at that time everyone listened to 101FM KLOL and I was too. Had the top down on my 67 Mustang radio blaring and this came on! You could drive and park on the beach and everyone had it on. The beach was packed and everyone was dancing! It was great 😃
How ironic. I literally just finished watching y'all's Bee Gees "Too Much Heaven" reaction that was released an hour ago, and immediately after I searched for Lynyrd Skynyrd reactions and see that y'all uploaded one 43 minutes ago.
All their songs are about things that happen in their lives, Like That Smell that came from an accident Gary Rossington had which was serious, Little Girl was about Ronnie's daughter he was always touring and didn't get to see her much, I love this band I saw them 2x before the crash and about 10x after
This jam is so joyous and brings back a special memory for me: In the eighties I was in a garage band and in 1984/‘85 I had a coworker that happened to play bass and his little brother played guitar….and the brothers knew a guy who owned a little studio and they had access to it…so my friend/drummer and I got together with the brothers a couple of times just to have fun and jam in this little studio…..this was one of the songs we did….we had a blast and that memory comes up every time I hear it!
Their song “That Smell” is fantastic and one of the best anti-drug songs ever. I would love for you guys to react to it. Well done as always and Cheers from West Texas!😎🤘🏻
Now that Gary Rossington is no longer with us, the last original band member, it now becomes a "tribute" band. Though some may meg to differ that Artimus Pyle the original drummer, who is STILL alive and Rickey Medlocke who used to play drums now plays guitar in the band.
Anyone know if this is the Rolling Stones show, when Ronnie got all three guitarists on to the Stones tongue part of the stage during Free Bird, after being told do not go out on the tongue, it's for the Stones only?
This was in August of ‘76. Two months later Ronnie and others (Steve and Cassie Gaines etc.) were killed in the plane crash. R.I.P. man, y’all are missed. Rossington too, he finally made it to be with you. 💔♥️🎶
The stage had the Rolling Stones tongue like a runway out front. They were told they could not go on the tongue. During FreeBird they went out on the tongue… crowd went wild…stones refused to come out for an hour.
I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1974 overseas opening for Queen. Big mistake, as there were far more Skynyrd fans. Red and blue plaid shirts were everywhere. Great performance. We called them back twice. Queen was booed some, did one set, and they left. This is not Queen's fault, but it was a bad idea to have the raw southern band before the theatrical Queen. Maybe if Queen opened first...
That actually happened to me in 1977. Heck, the chick wasn't even wearing a ring, next thing I know, this dude is threatening me with a gun. I said, "whoa, she's all yours, and sorry". Luckily that was the end of it. But he and her scooted fast out of the place. I see her a month later working at a grocery store checkout, didn't recognize her, she says "hey, sorry about that scrape I almost got you into". Right then I realized who she was. I just paid for the merchandise and politely told her thank you, and left.
I LOVE this song my Mamma loves the song too. Who doesn't like Lynyrd Skynyrd that's not even American ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ I can't think of a song by Lynyrd Skynyrd I don't like you ought to watch the movie about muscle shoals music 🎵 absolutely awesome 👍🏽 I would highly recommend it.
Billy Powell was originally a roadie for the band, just handling equipment. After a show he sat down at the piano and started to play and Ronnie heard him. They had no idea that one of the roadies was a trained concert pianist. He and Ronnie talked awhile and the band lost a roadie but gained the pianist that played so many great piano solos for them.
I am new here, but I love your attitude, and the Lynyrd Skynyrd reactions. Heres some suggestions of 70s/80s rock: Rush 2112, ACDC Back n Black, Journey Lights. Thanks Guys!
Cool story about this venue is that their stage has that tongue part that goes way out and that was supposed to be only for Mick Jagger.. He got pissed off cuz Ronnie went on out there and performed. And they kind of stole the show from the stones
I was in a Club One night back in the early seventies and this guy walked straight over to a table with a man and woman. He grabbed the woman by the hair of her head and drew a hawk bell knife through her throat and shivered her head from her shoulders. Come to find out she was his wife with four children
The song that they do that smell it’s about Gary Rossington the true story. Plus I think it’s the first anti-drug song that’s ever been out. And yes Gary did hit Oaktree when it’s with his girlfriend he was drunk and high.
Oi - just saying Linda Lou was trying to escape that small time life all star struck probably..... I mean dude showed up with a gun right off the bat ( toxic relationship red flag on top of shady woman cheating) and meaning to shoot him. Those three steps called a lead off. Glad y'all doing these great over radio played songs that like you said are mostly background music that noone knows the lyrics to. I love these Lynyrd Skynyrd songs even freebird, sweet home Alabama, simple man, and gimme 3 steps even tho no one wants to hear them where I live cuz well over radio exposure as background music. I play these songs around my kids and they dont get it or listen to what's being said. These songs are all amazing and like you said with what we all know happened to these magic dudes in the end is like they looked into a crystal ball and wrote thier future. I also dig how y'all were already into the it's a fun song to the respect of how dark some of these get, especially like the video y'all did of that smell. 👊 To y'all for getting it Hope u ain't rambling but again appreciate what y'all did here, y'all rock yeah 🤘😖🤘
