Sad to hear. I saw the original band play 5 times including their second to last show (Lakeland, FL Civic Center) before the plane crash.
I heard a girl play the freebird solo on bagpipes on Reddit
It was pretty good
So sad! Those old rockers from my teen years are elderly now - Mick Jagger will be 80 this year.
I remember hearing about the plane crash that killed Ronnie Van Zandt (age 29) - along with bandmates Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray. Another day the music died.
The song “Freebird” and “Sweet Home Alabama” are as fresh today as when they were released in the 70s.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx5gdTtBq90&t=113s
I was at this show in 1976.
They burned the house down.
It changed my perspective on modern music.
Saw them in Corpus Christi TX in ‘77 I think (pre-Steve Gaines). You never think you are watching history. For my money, Second Helping was their best effort. That album made an indelible mark on my soul during high school years. The guitar lick from “Needle and the Spoon” was just playing through my head this morning before I heard this news.
RIP to Gary and all other members who have passed on.
RIP ...
Mr. Breeze