Oct. 20, 1977: A plane carrying Lynyrd Skynyrd crashes in Mississippi, killing lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines along with backup singer Cassie Gaines, the road manager, pilot, and co-pilot.
Was truly a bummer of a day.
Turn it up, these boys were the real deal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep7dp1HgZnw&p=03A00019ADD6B29C&playnext=1&index=25
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep7dp1HgZnw&p=03A00019ADD6B29C&playnext=1&index=25
Some of my own history about Skynard,Stevie Gaines. My older brother attended the Gaines's funerals in Miami,OK. He is a drummer living in California now,but was a drummer in bands around Miami while going to school at NEO in the 70s and had become friends with Steve Gaines and members of his old band that played around Miami,Joplin,etc- Crawdaddy. He first became buddies with the bass player then met Steve later. Steve was still in the band when he wrote the original version of 'I Know A Little'. My brother has a rough version of it on cassette from a live show his band played with them in Joplin at 'The Ranch' in the mid 70s,a club there that every one played at. What a freak occurence. Guy gets his big break and then dies in a plane crash along with his sister,who was the one who actually got him in the band as she was a backup singer who had told the band about her little brother. Ive heard more than once that Steve would most likely have gone on to being really big outside of Skynard if he had lived. Its nice that he was included when they were inducted Skynard into the R&R Hall of Fame,even though he was only on one album.
Weirdly,I just read not too long ago that the jr high school teacher that the band credited for their name,Leonard Skinner, died recently.
My brother has an original first pressing copy of their last album 'Street Survivors' with the flames behind the band,put out before they changed the cover and removed the flames. Ive heard that they have gone back and put the flames back on the cover.
Great band still. Johnny and Donnie van Zant are both great singers but they will never sound as good as Ronnie did,IMO.
Weirdly,I just read not too long ago that the jr high school teacher that the band credited for their name,Leonard Skinner, died recently.
My brother has an original first pressing copy of their last album 'Street Survivors' with the flames behind the band,put out before they changed the cover and removed the flames. Ive heard that they have gone back and put the flames back on the cover.
Great band still. Johnny and Donnie van Zant are both great singers but they will never sound as good as Ronnie did,IMO.
I realize that I may only be 28 - but this is absolutely one of the greatest bands EVER!!!!!
