The earliest incarnation of Lynyrd Skynyrd, formed by friends Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins and Gary Rossington, performed under the moniker My Backyard, before switching to One Percent in 1968. Two years later the band thanks to headlining a series of local concerts and opening for several national acts, Lynyrd Skynyrd became a popular Jacksonville act, they honed their hard-rock, southern blues style and began to make their studio recordings.
As a result of a successful performance at an Atlanta club Funocchio, which caught to attention of producer Al Kooper, the band singed to MCA in 1972. The band’s debut album arrived in 1973 with members Van Zant on lead vocals, Rossington on lead guitar and rhythm guitar, Collins also on guitar, Ed King on lead guitar, Billy Powell on keyboard, Bob Burns on drums and Leon Wilkeson on bass. The single “Free Bird” from the album earned Lynyrd Skynyrd their first taste of national exposure, notorious for their three guitar attack.
It wasn’t long before the band developed a popular following, with the success of “Free Bird” and opening for the Who on their “Quadrophenia” tour. Lynyrd Skynyrd's sophomore album “Second Helping” was released 1974 featuring the hit single “Sweet Home Alabama”. The album has since been certified multi-platinum and was followed up by 1975’s Nuthin’ Fancy”. “Nuthin’ Fancy saw Burns and King leave the band and replaced by Artimus Pyle. The album was there first to break the Top 10 and performed much better than its successor “Gimme Back My Bullets” released in 1976.
The band maintained its devoted following through well-documented touring and the release of the double live album “One More from the Road”. Three days after the release of the band’s sixth studio album “Street Survivors” on October 17, 1977, the band’s privately chartered plane crashed outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi. Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and his back-up singer sister Cassie all died in the crash with everybody else picking up manageable injuries. Due to the event and the media coverage, “Street Survivors” became one of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s biggest and most popular albums, however the band soon broke up after the crash.
In 1987 members Rossington, Powell, King and Wilkeson reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd with the addition of vocalist Johnny Van Zant and guitarist Randall Hall. The band toured relentlessly which can be heard on the double live album “Southern by the Grace of God/Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour - 1987”.
The band subsequently released a string of studio albums including “Endangered Species” in 1994, “Twenty” in 1997, “Edge of Forever” in 1999, “Christmas Time Again” in 2000, “Vicious Cycle” in 2003 and “God & Guns” in 2009. In 2012 Lynyrd Skynyrd released the album “Last of a Dyin’ Breed”, it was produced by Bob Marlette and recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Well, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hands down the hardest working band in the land, came to my area. San Francisco. I can't recall the Southern Rockers playing a venue in San Francisco, let alone headlining, since the 70's, at the now, just a memory Bill Graham's Winterland Arena. It was Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bad Co. together for a night in the city by the bay. And what a weekend for the Bay Area to host an event with so much happening in and around the Golden Gate. I live just North of San Fran in the wine country. Usually a pleasant 45 minute drive South on the state route 101. Last night was no exception. I'm sure the boys in the band will be hanging around today to stop in at the 49ers new home in Santa Clara to take in the game vs. the Denver Broncos. I don't recall, but I believe their next performance is in Saratoga tonight which would take their tour bus right by Levi Stadium. What a fantastic state of the art sporting arena that is. Lynyrd Skynyrd, my FAVORITE band in the world, so close to home. A few years back they played at the now closed down resort, Konocti Harbor, in Clearlake, I was fortunate to see them there 2 or 3 times. They played both the outdoor amphitheater and the small, intimate indoor stage. On Superbowl Sunday of all days. Probably THE MOST badass kickass rock-n-roll show I had ever seen. And, I've seen a lot. Skynyrd took the stage immediately following the Denver Broncos and the Greenbay Packers Superbowl game. What a game that was. By games end the crowd inside the Konocti Resort was well lubed and rowdy. Setting the stage for a typical bar room brawlin beer guzzlin fist fightin broken furniture guitar slingin amplifier blowin rock show. Their signature giant Confederate Army flag dropped the lights came up, and BAM! like a ton of led, Gary Rossington's screaming Les Paul Guitar fired right down your throat. I have goose bumps and tears in my eyes right now typing this review. There they were, my hero's. Four feet in front of me. Jamming. Playing ALL the Skynyrd hits. They played for well over an hour. I Idolized Ronnie Van Zant since the day I first received the vinyl album Nuthin Fancy for my 13th birthday. It was 1974. I was use to my older brother smoking weed in his bedroom and listening to Prounced Lehnerd Skinerd in his bedroom and would always put my ear to the wall when the epic Freebird song would play. I would air guitar Allen Collins and his solo. What fond memories. I once drew a picture of Ronnie Van Zant that, I guess was so good, it was stolen from house during a party later in my life. I miss that drawing. Probably THE BEST drawing I have ever done. Forward to 2014, San Francisco, California. Lynyrd Skynyrd and Bad Co. I didn't get to go. AGAIN. This is the 2nd time. First time was 1977. Day on the Green, Oakland Coliseum, Oakland, California. Directly across the bay. I was given a ticket the night before the concert. It was my Birthday. It was the last concert Lynyrd Skynyrd would play in California before the horrific and devastating plane crash on October 20, 1977. Lynyrd Skynyrd and Peter Frampton. I couldn't get a ride. Oh, a lot of my friends were there for sure, but I couldn't hook it up. In fact the entire Sonoma County Rocker Army was on The Green for that show. Not me. And my idol was killed shortly after that day. No. Lynyrd Skynyrd at The Warfield Theater in Downtown San Francisco was way over my budget for me to attend. Lynyrd Skynyrd had finally out priced me. Kicked me to the curb. I am disabled now. I live on a measly little SSI income. I can't afford concert tickets anymore. The ticket prices for Lynyrd Skynyrd, in my opinion, were astronomical. Way over "The Workin Man" budget. So much for playin for the fans. So long Skynyrd, you are in a different stratosphere than I am now. I will still listen to every song, on every album you ever made. Even the ones you haven't made yet, because I AM a DIEHARD LYNYRD SKYNYRD FAN! To the core. My blood runs deep in the South. My hair is turning white, my neck has always been red, and my collar is still blue. Gary, carry on the name and your signature sound, I will always be your biggest fan. Johnny you are doing your brother proud. Instead of San Francisco, and spending two,three, or most likely four hundred dollars that I don't have, I drove 18 minutes westward to the little town and my former stompin grounds, Forestville, California. The infamous Forestville Club. Eric Lindell and his band returned to his Little Ol club that he always enjoyed playing so much. A place he calls home in West County. For 20 bucks. What a great show he put on. I danced my crippled self till 1AM. Eric Lindell what a fantastic musician and gentleman. Now that is my kind of venue.
MrBreeze
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