"Simple Man" extols the virtues of simple, humble living."Saturday Night Special" talks about the dangers of readily-available cheap guns."God and Guns" takes a stand about anti-gun politicians."All I Can Do Is Write About It" talks about destruction of the Southern enviroment.Young especially played it the night after the plane crash. Young, a friend of Ronnie Van Zant, didn't take the song personally - hell, he's even performed it on occasion. The song defends the South, directly calls out "Mr. Answer Song: "Sweet Home Alabama" serves as one of these (and a Take That!) to Neil Young's 1970 Protest Song "Southern Man", which criticized the rampant racism in the American South at the time.It's the only part of the song that comes close to admitting Neil Young might have a point - although the lines about the regressive Wallace are followed up by a dig at the fact a bigger political scandal, Watergate, did not happen in the South. Antagonistic Governor: Sweet Home Alabama, whilst a fiery defence of Southern values, does accept that Alabama having one of these (George Wallace) and the fact he was loved by enough people to ensure he remained Governor, was not an especially helpful or progressive thing.Alliterative Name: Bob Burns, Mark Matejka and Ean Evans."If I trope here tomorrow, will you still remember me?": Ronnie Van Zant lead vocals (1964≡977 died in the plane crash).Johnny Van Zant lead vocals (1987present).Mark Matejka guitar, backing vocals (2006present).Rickey Medlocke drums, mandolin, guitar, backing vocals (1971≡972, 1996present).Peter Keys (Peter Pisarczyk) keyboards (2009present).Randall Hall guitar, backing vocals (1987≡993).Steve Gaines guitar, backing vocals (1976≡977 died in the plane crash).Donald "Ean" Evans bass, backing vocals (2000-2009 died 2009).Johnny Colt (Charles Brandt) bass, backing vocals (2012present).Michael Cartellone drums (1999present).Principal Members (Founding members in bold, current members in italic): ("Sweet Home Alabama" even took a few direct shots at Neil Young for some of his protest songs, despite the off-stage friendship between Young and Van Zant.)
Rossington is the only founding member still performing with the band.Īlthough the group never topped charts (their biggest hit, "Sweet Home Alabama", topped out at #8 on Billboard), Skynyrd remains beloved by tons of rock fans, especially in the South, where fans embraced the band as a counter to the "protest bands" that popped up in the '60s. Larry Junstrom went on to spend more than 35 years as the bassist for 38 Special (led by Ronnie's other brother Donnie - yes, the brothers' names are Ronnie, Johnny and Donnie), retiring in 2014 and passing in 2019. In 2015, Bob Burns was killed in a car accident at his Georgia home. (The next time you hear someone shout "Play 'Free Bird'!" at a concert, you now know who to blame).Īllen Collins died in 1990 of pneumonia resulting from a serious car accident four years earlier due to his drug abuse. The group was eventually discovered by producer Al Kooper and recorded its first album, (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd), in 1973 - in the process, the album forever cemented the song "Free Bird" as a permanent part of the rock'n'roll lexicon. Meanwhile, roadie Billy Powell joined the group as the keyboardist. In 1972, Walker and Medlocke left the group to perform with the band Blackfoot and Leon Wilkeson took Walker's place as the bassist. Walker replaced him, while Rickey Medlocke joined the band as a second drummer and mandolinist. During their early years, Junstrom left the group and Greg T. They later renamed themselves "My Backyard" in 1965, "Leonard Skinner" (a rather authoritarian teacher at their former high school who disapproved of male students with long hair) in 1970, and " Lynyrd Skynyrd" in 1972. Jacksonville friends Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Larry Junstrom, Gary Rossington, and Bob Burns formed the band in 1964 under the name "The Noble Five". If you live in the American South, you damn well better know Lynyrd Skynyrd.
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