“If I leave here tomorrow, will you still remember me?” This is the opening verse to Freebird. Earlier this week the last Lynyrd Skynyrd original member Garry Rossington passed away.
Lynyrd Skynyrd was one of the pioneers of the Southern Rock genre of the 1970’s along with the Allman Brothers Band, the Marshall Tucker Band, The Outlaws, Molly Hatchet and the Charlie Daniels band. Their debut album had the included the iconic song “Freebird!” Other iconic songs include: “Sweet Home Alabama,” “That smell,” “Gimmie Three Steps,” “Workin’ for MCA.” As the band reached superstar status, tragedy followed the band through the years. In 1977, three members of the band died in a plane crash when their plane ran out of fuel. Over the years members of the band passed away from natural causes, cancer and other ailments. Even members that replaced members that passed away, also died.
I was fortunate to see Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1991. They were so electric that they caused a blackout at the New York State Fairgrounds! Despite having only Rossington and keyboardist Billy Powell in the line up they did not disappoint! But I can’t emphasize enough to see these acts before they called to play the great gig in the sky. These bands won’t play anymore: The Allman Brothers Band, the Doors, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, and now Lynyrd Skynyrd.
SEVEN FIVE RADIO 