I was stationed in the South for two years (1974-75) and I saw Skynyrd several times. I remember a concert with them and Marshall Tucker where Van Zant came out on stage, drunk on his ass carrying a bottle, and began singing with them.
I turned 11 years old that day. I was already a fan for life.
Man, 30 years ago. Amazing.
This was a good read.
LBT
......
When a mama lose a young un, there ain’t no sadder loss.
When a mama lose a young un, there ain’t no sadder loss.
They’re cursin the name of Jesus, laid aneath a Southern Cross.
I stood on the ground in England, I heard a hard Southern rain.
I stood on the ground in England, I heard a hard Southern rain.
Got a taste of Bourbon whiskey, and Mr J. J. Cale’s cocaine.
Nobody lives forever; some things never die.
Nobody lives forever; some things never die.
Like we did in The Land of Cotton, they tell me that Freebird always flies.”
Ray Wylie Hubbard, “Airplane Fell Down in Dixie”
My favorite band,even today.
I was lucky to see Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Spectrum in Philly about a year or so before the plane crash. A friend of mine had an extra ticket and asked me to go with him. Unfortunately, although I had heard of the band and knew maybe one of their songs, I really wasn’t familiar with their music.
One thing I remember clearly was the lead singer Van Zant getting testy because people kept yelling “Free Bird” as soon as they took the stage. I know it’s a standing joke nowadays, but it’s based on true fact - - saw it with my own eyeballs. Ronnie finally snapped and said something like, “Yeah yeah - - you know we’ll be doing that at the end!”
Freebird
If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me?
For I must be travelling on, now,
There's too many places I haven't seen
And if I stayed here with you, now
Things just wouldn't be the same
Well I'm as free as a bird now,
And a bird you can not change.
And a bird you can not change.
And a bird you can not change.
Lord knows I can't change
Bye, bye, its been a sweet love.
And though this feeling I can't change.
Please don't take it badly,
The Lord knows I'm to blame.
And, if I stayed here with you now
Things just wouldn't be the same.
For I'm as free as a bird now,
And this bird you'll never change.
And the bird you can not change.
And the bird you can not change.
Lord knows, I can't change.
Lord help me, I can't change.
As a hard rock fan since 1976, these guys were a no-brainer - and as a developing guitarist, they held my attention. Steve Gaines was a brilliant player, and very hard to mimic.
They got me with “One More From The Road”, one of the better live documents of a band ever put out - live these guys had a serious groove that you just don’t hear anymore, and they were all solid, talented musicians. I can’t imagine what they would have done later if they’d survived, seeing how great they were already. I’ve played ‘One More From The Road” for people who kinda know the band, and they’re amazed - “Dang, these guys were GOOD!”. If you don’t have this album, check it out, it seriously cooks, and shows the band at their best - onstage. Skynyrds rythym section doesn’t get nearly the attention they deserve, because the guitarists got all the lime light (which they more than earned).
I don’t think of them as “southern rock”, they were a rock band (No offense to Southerners, I know you take great pride in their heritage). And, one of the best rock bands ever. You don’t see this level of talent anymore - no flashy light shows, stages, costumes, or gymnastics, no corporate BS, no commerical junk, just a bunch of guys playing their hearts out, playing music they wrote and loved.
What kind of pilots let their plane run out of gas? Had they fried their brains too?
I still miss them.
Never cared for them. I wonder why?
SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL
Two feets they come a creepin
Like a black cat do
And two bodies are lyin naked
Creeper think he got nothin to lose
So he creeps into this house, yeah
And unlocks the door
And while a man reaching for his trousers
Shoots him full of .38 holes
(chorus)
Its a saturday night special
Got a barrel thats blue and cold
Aint no good for nothin
But put a man six feet in a hole
Big jims been drinkin whiskey
And playing poker on a losin night
Pretty soon, big jim starts a thinkin
Somebody been cheatin and lyin
So big jim commences to fightin
I wouldnt tell you no lie
And big jim done grab his pistol
Shot his friend right between the eyes
(chorus)
Hand guns are made for killin
Aint no good for nothin else
And if you like your whiskey
You might even shoot yourself
So why dont we dump em people
To the bottom of the sea
Before some fool come around here
Wanna shoot either you or me
I’ll play my L/S CD in honor of this great band. My kids cringe when my grandkids tell them I play L/S for them. The girls love “That Smell”.......:)
Anyways, for this pasty white Yankee, I spent a lot of time (like 4 semesters) at UMass, listening to the boys( live versions only) and then passing out in a bean bag like a opiated turtle on its back. There might of been some overconsumption involved. I can't remember. Well, some good came out of it. They got me out of UMass and into the Army and a free four year tour of the South.
I was in HS when it happened and a lot of kids were upset that day when we heard the news on the radio. I still love their music.
(( ping )) to post #89.
I’ll never forget going to the Will Rogers theater in Oklahoma City
with my brother to see some “concert films”.
One was on Lynard Skynard; it appeared to have been sponsored by
Pepsi.
It was a good collection of concert performances, along with some
“at home” footage, especially seeing the keyboardist playing classical
at home.
I think he had a bust of Beethoven on/near his piano.
They opened that tour (Ironically called the Tour of the Survivors) in Miami, and stayed at a little Holiday Inn just outside of Ft Lauderdale. I happened to be working there in the restaurant and got to wait on them during their couple of days stay. They were sweet and fun and generous.
I can still see Ronnie standing in the lobby, the sun coming in from the front glass doors and making it look like he was in silhouette. He had his guitar case in hand and was just standing there. I remember thinking dang I wish I had my camera...what a great picture that would be. It was a shock to hear the news not that long afterward. It saddens me still.
They pulled the original albums off the shelves because of the flaming artwork and replaced it with a black background. I still have my copy of the original.
Is there already a music ping list? If not, I would be happy to start one. If there is, could someone let me know who owns it?