Lynyrd Skynyrd
Formed in 1965, this US boogie band took their name from their Physical Education teacher Leonard Skinner. The group comprised Ronnie Van Zant (b. 15 January 1949; vocals), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Billy Powell (keyboards), Leon Wilkinson (bass) and Bob Burns (drums). After playing the southern states during the late '60s and releasing a couple of singles on small labels, they were discovered by Al Kooper in 1972. He produced their debut album PRONOUNCED LEH'-NERD SKIN'-NERD, which also featured former Strawberry Alarm Clock guitarist, Ed King. Their three-guitar line-up attracted much attention and the combination of blues, honky-tonk and boogie was greatly appreciated. Their momentous anthem Free Bird (a tribute to Duane Allman) included a superb guitar finale and its power and durability were indicated by frequent reappearances in the chart years after. In 1974, the group enjoyed their biggest US hit with Sweet Home Alabama, an amusing and heartfelt response to Neil Young who had criticized the south in his compositions Southern Man and Alabama. After the release of SECOND HELPING, drummer Bob Burns was replaced by Artimus Pyle. The group were by now renowned for their hard-living and equally hard music on GIMME BACK MY BULLETS. In late 1976, Rossington was injured in a car crash, while the recently departed King was replaced by Steve Gaines. With their tally of gold discs increasing each year and a series of sell-out tours, the band suffered an irrevocable setback in late 1977. On 20 October, Van Zant, Gaines, his sister Cassie and manager Dean Kilpatrick were killed in a plane crash en route from Greenville, South Carolina to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. That same month, the group's new album STREET SURVIVORS was withdrawn as the sleeve featured a macabre design of the band surrounded by flames. With their line-up devastated, the group split up and the remaining members went on to join the Rossington-Collins Band. In 1987, the name Lynyrd Skynyrd was revived for a ‘reunion’ tour featuring Rossington, Powell, Pyle, Wilkeson, King, with Ronnie's brother Johnny Van Zant (vocals) and Randell Hall (guitar). One of their performances was later issued as the live double, FOR THE GLORY OF THE SOUTH. Members of the band were still performing, and recording, under the name in the early '90s.