An Oral History of “Free Bird”

Garden and Gun ^ | July 17 , 2019 | CJ Lotz

[LeoWindhorse]

Nearly fifty years after it was written, “Free Bird” is still the signature concert closer for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, whose final farewell tour wraps up in October in Manchester, Tennessee. Founding members Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins wrote the song in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1970, and it wasn’t long before “Free Bird” and its extended guitar solo near the end became one of the band’s most well-known tunes and a live-show favorite.

[Justa]

https://youtu.be/z499WFdQN-4?t=236

[Texas Eagle]

Many youtube videos explaining the details of the crash. One of them says one of the engines caught fire on one of the legs of the flight that crashed but, after the planed landed, cooled down, and refueled, some of the band members and crew wanted to take the equipment truck to the next destination, Baton Rouge, but Ronnie Van Zant persuaded them into continuing on that plane.

Lynyrd Skynyrd's Last Flight: (Jerry Skinner Documentary)

[dp0622]

That statement proves how SUPERIOR and SMART and COOL you are :)

What a dumb ####ing comment.

Probably the best duo guitar lead ever written.

[Henry Hnyellar]

Yep. In Memory of Elizabeth Reed is a real jam.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7rQWh62VUHE

[Robert DeLong]

FIRST TIME HEARING | Free Bird Lynyrd Skynyrd | REACTION

Kind of funny, spoiler he loved it!!! 8>)

[VastRWCon]

Don’t get your panties all twisted. I’m 55 and heard those songs soo many times I turn it off. Just my opinion listen to your hearts content i don’t

[Texas Eagle]

Dammit. Now I gotta binge watch every video about this song. Thank goodness I bought a case of beer.

[LeoWindhorse]

Damn straight ! Deo Vindice

[Truthoverpower]

Skynrd. Best southern band Evah ! ( do love them allmans too )

[Fiji Hill]

Stairway to Heaven is one of my favorite songs from the sixties.

[Texas Eagle]

I used to have one of the live LPs where RVZ says, “What song is it you wanna hear?” and of course the crowd yells, “Freeeebirrrrrd”. And RVZ says, “Yeh, I heard it then.”

[Home-of-the-lazy-dog]

Skynyrd never made a bad song!

[Fiji Hill]

My guess would have been Smoke On the Water

Smoke On the Water is another tune that I like.

[Texas Eagle]

Fun version of how the song, "Gimme Three Steps" was inspired.

Lynyrd Skynyrd -Gary talks Gimme Three Steps/Gimmie Three Steps (Demo)

[Yardstick]

Um no, it was Ed King playing a strat.

You’d have to be deaf not to recognize that as a strat.

[Adder]

Outstanding.
FREE BIRD!!!