Lynyrd Skynyrd has introduced that they may proceed as a band following the demise of Gary Rossington on March 5. The guitarist was the final remaining founding member of the legendary Southern rock group’s unique lineup.
A brand new press launch notes that the band was initially “unsure” about transferring ahead after Rossington’s demise. “After much discussion with the band, the families of Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins, and Dale Rossington, the collective has reached unified support,” the assertion reads. “[They] feel that continuing to perform live, and keeping the music alive, is in the best interest of the fans and everyone involved.”
“Gary was always the first to say how ‘Skynyrd’s music is bigger than me or any one person,’” the guitarist’s widow, Dale Rossington, said.
“Gary made it known at every chance to express how timeless the music was, and it was always his goal to keep the music alive for his brothers because that was always their dream. He spent his entire life trying to carry on that dream for Ronnie, Allen, Steve and all the others over the years. While he was not able to physically be onstage with the current lineup over the last couple years, he supported them in every way. His dream will continue thanks to [singer] Johnny [Van Zant], [guitarist] Rickey [Medlocke] and the rest of our bandmates to continue to carry his legacy and music on for future generations.”
Johnny Van Zant added that “Gary was not only my brother, bandmate and friend. I think he loved me as much as I loved him. We would do anything for each other. We laughed, we fell, we cried and made up, and shared the stage for the last 36 years. Gary, along with my brother Ronnie and Allen, started this band and left us all a legacy of music that has stood the test of time, and crossed three generations of fans.”
In addition to Van Zant and Medlocke, the present Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup additionally contains guitarist Mark “Sparky” Matejka, drummer Michael Cartellone, bassist Keith Christopher, keyboardist Peter Keys, and backing singers Carol Chase and Stacy Michelle.
Guitarist Damon Johnson (Alice Cooper, Thin Lizzy), has been enjoying with the group since 2021 when Rossington underwent emergency coronary heart surgical procedure. It has not been introduced whether or not or not he can be half of the revised lineup.
Lynyrd Skynyrd carried out their first live performance with out Rossington on March 12. They referred to as it “one of the toughest shows of our lives.” After a run of upcoming headlining dates, they’re going to begin the Sharp Dressed Simple Man tour with ZZ Top on July 21.
Van Zant is now Lynyrd Skynyrd’s longest-tenured member. He stepped in to fill the footwear of his late brother in 1987. Medlocke affords one other hyperlink to the group’s early days: Even although he’s been with the band since 1996, he was additionally half of the second iteration of its lineup, enjoying and recording with Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1971 and 1972 earlier than the discharge of their debut album.
According to authorized paperwork, the unique surviving members took a “blood oath” to not use the band identify following the tragic airplane crash in 1977 that claimed the lives of three bandmates. In 2009, Larkin Collins, father of unique Skynyrd guitarist Collins (who died in 1990), instructed The Florida-Times Union that the band’s ‘80s reunion agreement stipulated that there had to be at least three original members for the band name to be used. When bassist Leon Wilkeson died in 2001, they lowered the required number to two.
At the time of keyboardist Billy Powell’s demise in 2009, Larkin Collins indicated that they might have the ability to make preparations for Skynyrd to hold on with simply Rossington. But he was guarded about any prospects past that. “Without an original band member, I’ve got my doubts,” he mentioned. “We’re not going to turn it loose to nobody who would ruin the name, let it get out there and have no respect for the name.”
Rossington weathered a number of well being points main as much as coronary heart surgical procedure in 2021, together with a 2015 coronary heart assault. He revealed in 2018 that medical doctors had been urging him to cease touring for 15 years; the guitarist mentioned he selected to depend on a “battery of nitroglycerin tablets to remain alive.”
“I’ve had heart attacks onstage a lot,” he told the Tampa Bay Times in 2018. His growing feelings of mortality were a factor in the group’s decision to begin the Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour that same year.
“That’s why I used to be calling it a farewell tour – I do not know if I’ll be right here,” Rossington explained. “I do not need to simply say, ‘Well, we’re by no means going to finish,’ as a result of I do not need to die after which it finish that manner – which is a heavy factor to speak about, however I’ve to.”
Even though the band’s initial plans to call it quits changed, Johnny Van Zant told The Florida-Times Union in 2022 that they would probably be “hanging it up” within a year. “We’re going to retire from touring,” he said.
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