Ronnie is the best writer of all time. He’s my favorite writer and singer and Lynyrd Skynyrd is my favorite band by far. I wish you’d tell more about the time you were with this amazing band because so many of the people who were there are gone and so are their stories. Don’t let that happen Allen. Please don’t let it happen
He had an alcohol temper, and a gift for gab, but being only about 5.4 or 5.8 tops, he had to pick his fights. The band members all feared him because if he said bye they were gone, however, Artimus Pyle claimed he told him he would not tolerate his crap, so Ronnie left him alone. Both sides of my grandparents owned bars, I seen a lot of guys that could handle themselves. I saw it happen at least 100 times, a guy Ronnies size gets liquid courage and suddenly moths off to a guy over 6 ft tall, I NEVER saw it end well for him. Putting words together to sound cool and tough is being cool maybe, but not tough....
Growing up on Jacksonville's westside or "Shantytown" as many called it, Mr. Van Zant would need to defend himself. Reportedly, the elder Mr. Van Zant (Lacey) taught his sons how to fight and one day, Ronnie gave him a crack while training/fighting and the elder Van Zant knew that his son would have no issue defending himself.
