Posted on 03/05/2023 10:13:10 PM PST by DoodleBob
Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s last surviving original member who also helped to found the group, died Sunday at the age of 71. No cause of death was given.
“It is with our deepest sympathy and sadness that we have to advise, that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington, today,” the band wrote on Facebook. “Gary is now with his Skynyrd brothers and family in heaven and playing it pretty, like he always does. Please keep Dale, Mary, Annie and the entire Rossington family in your prayers and respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time.”
Rossington cheated death more than once, Rolling Stone reported. He survived a car accident in 1976 in which he drove his Ford Torino into a tree, inspiring the band’s cautionary song “That Smell.” A year later, he emerged from the 1977 plane crash that killed singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, with two broken arms, a broken leg, and a punctured stomach and liver.
“It was a devastating thing,” he told Rolling Stone in 2006. “You can’t just talk about it real casual and not have feelings about it.”
In later years, Rossington underwent quintuple bypass surgery in 2003, suffered a heart attack in 2015, and had numerous subsequent heart surgeries, most recently leaving Lynyrd Skynyrd in July 2021 to recover from another procedure. At recent shows, Rossington would perform portions of the concert and sometimes sat out full gigs.
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I had to look it up, in 1950 the life expectancy for white males at birth was 66.5 years so he “made it”. In 1900 it was only 46.6 and for white males born in 2000 it is 74.7.
What about that one-hit wonder Ram Jam?
Ram Jam was an American rock band formed in New York City in 1977, known for their hit song "Black Betty", which was released in 1977.
NEW YORK CITY?!?!?
Get a rope.
I’m in, on that last.
The closest I’ve ever come to getting arrested at a concert was at a Jethro Tull show. Long story, LOL. Ah, the memories of a (partially) misspent youth!
LOL! That’s funny right there!
As if they had anything else.
I had a playlist similar to yours and we'd crank it up by the campfire after dark and after everybody had a few beers in them. Always livened things up.
To be fair, it was long enough ago that most Yankees hadn’t ever had sweet tea.
That’s great, good stuff.
This reminds me of the time my wife was doing an audit in rural GA. They had a new team member who was from Baltimore. They went into the local diner for breakfast and he said to the waitress “And I’ll try one of those grits.” Everyone cracked up, then explained it to him. This almost 40 years ago.
I saw both of them and Lynrd Skynrd, Outlaws and ARS at Armadillo World Headquarters back in the day. Good times.
I went to a show with Skynyrd and ZZ Top. New Year’s eve 1999 at the Summit in Houston. AWESOME show. At midnight, both bands came out on stage and started playing Elvis’ Jailhouse Rock.
I’ve seen Marshall Tucker with the Outlaws together numerous times. The Gi-Tar army can bring the house down.
I just remembered seeing The outlaws with Charlie Daniels Too. Good times.
Yes, he talks about that in one of the interviews with him and Allen and one of them says “Yeah, we’re not quite as dumb as we look.” LOL!
It’s sad that these great talents tear themselves up so much, tho’. Rossington was the prime object of “That Smell” (and then ironically the plane crash soon followed, which doesn’t appear to have any direct connection with the crazy lifestyle.)
Well it seemed they all settled down afterwards after the crash. But that lifestyle will take a toll. Rossington had heart problems for years.
Billy Powell became a Christian and joined a Christian Rock Band, but he died pretty young as well.
Excellent live version of Don’t Misunderstand Me w/ Travis Tritt:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZsYKYUYZeE
Dale kinda steals the show...
Sweet story about Gary and Dale:
Not many in that part of the biz manage to stay together. They must have had one heck of a love.
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Full Concert - 03/07/76 - Winterland (OFFICIAL)
The Outlaws join them for Freebird.
Long live Winterland and Skynyrd ! 🤘
Classic
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