Lynyrd Skynyrd
Formed 1966
Jacksonville Florida

1970's Hits Include:
Workin For MCA
Sweet Home Alabama
Gimme Three Steps
Tuesday's Gone
Saturday Night Special
Simple Man
Gimme Back My Bullets
That Smell
What's Your Name

Members at the
time of the 1977
plane crash were:
Ronny VanZant
Gary Rossington
Allen Collins
Billy Powell
Leon Wilkeson
Steve Gaines
Artimus Pyle
Leslie Hawkins
Cassie Gaines

JoJo Billingsley
She was also a
back-up singer in
the band at the time ,
but was not
on the plane

Early Nashville
Concerts:
Concerts in Nashville
of the original band
before plane crash.
March (1-2) 1974
June 9, 1974
September 21, 1974
January 17, 1976
July 30, 1976

Early Nashville
Venues included:
Muthers Music Emporium
Tennessee State Fair
Municipal Auditorium
March 1, 1974: A barely
known, Lynyrd Skynyrd
plays at Muthers Music
Emporium on Hermitage
Avenue in Nashville,
in front of only a few
hundred people
September 21, 1974:
Well known by Sept of '74,
Skynyrd plays at the
Tennessee State Fair, with
opener Blue Oyster Cult
Ticket stub from a
January 17, 1976 concert
featuring the original
band, at the Municipal
Auditorium in Nashville  
(on the same stage as
shown in pictures above)
Lynyrd Skynyrd
2006 POSTER
Lymyrd Skynyrd
at Nashville's
Starwood
Amphitheater
on Saturday
August 12, 2006
LYNYRD SKYNYRD
2007 TOUR
The Rowdy Friends
Tour  with Lynyrd
Skynyrd, 38 Special
& Hank Williams Jr.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour
announced: Lynyrd
Skynyrd members
Gary Rossington,
Johnny VanZant and
Rickey Medlocke were
in Nashville's Rock
105.9 Studio's on
February 2nd at
5:30pm to announce
this summers tour
Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour.
The Rowdy Friends
Tour features
Lynyrd Skynyrd,
Thirty-Eight Special
and Hank Williams Jr.
They stated on the
radio that Nashville is
like there L.A as far as
recording, etc.
They went on to say
that they love
Nashville and have
recorded about all of
there albums here
since re-uniting in the
1980's. This will be  
the fourth time
Lynyrd Skynyrd has
played here in the
past year (or so),
including the
Ryman Auditorium,
CMA Music
Festival/Fan Fan,
Starwood, and now
at Gaylord.
The Rowdy Friends
Tour will be playing
Nashville's Gaylord
Entertainment Center
on May 4, 2007.
This will be there
second time to play at
Gaylord. They played
there before with
ZZ Top. I went to that
show, it was great!
Allen Collins :
Tragedy struck
again in 1986 when
Allen Collins crashed
his car killing his
girlfreind, and
leaving him
paralyzed from the
waist down. Four
years later he died
of respiratory failure
due to pneumonia
at age 37

Leon Wilkeson:
Bass Player
Leon Wilkeson
died in 2001.
Johnny Van Zant:
Johnny Van Zant took
the place of Ronnie
as singer in the band.
His song "Brickyard
Road" recieved
airplay in the 1980's.
He also, currently
(2006) performs with
his brother Donnie,
in the country music
duo Van Zant
Lynyrd Skynyrd
After the plane crash. Nashville Reunions,
Concerts, Albums, Video Tapings & Tours
1970's - 2008
2nd Lynyrd Skynyrd Reunion:
1987: The next Lynyrd Skynyrd appearance, also took place at
a Volunteer Jam (XIII) Concert in Nashville.
Allen Collins served as music director, in a wheel chair, partially paralyzed,
after crashing his car. He could be seen at the back of the stage, clapping
along during Lynyrd Skynyrd's set, which included Ronnie Van Zant's
brother, singer Johnny Van Zant.  
1979: Papa John Creach, Barry Chance from Barefoot Jerry,
Billy Crain from the Henry Paul Band, Charlie Daniels,
Gary Rossington from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Toy Caldwell from
the Marshall Tucker Band and country singer Janie Fricke
Back on-stage, once again, at the Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam V, at the
Municipal Auditorium  in Nashville. They begin by jamming on "The Breeze"
with members of the Charlie Daniels Band. They go on to play an
instrumental version of Freebird for the first time without singer
RonnieVanZant. He was killed along with members Steve Gaines,
Cassie Gaines and assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick.
Skynyrd survivors on-stage included Gary Rossington, Allen Collins,
Billy Powell & Artimus Pyle. Ronnie Van Zant's widow Judy Van Zant made
an appearance on stage (as did Teresa Gaines). Leon Wilkeson, came out
with his arm still in a cast. Others paying tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd at this
show included the Henry Paul Band performing "Grey Ghost",
and the Charlie Daniels Band singing "Million Mile Reflections"
Poem by Charlie Daniels: While on the way to Ronnie's
funeral, Charlie wrote the poem. Ronnie's wife,
Judy, had the poem carved into the bench.
The bench was place in front of Ronnie's grave

A BRIEF CANDLE, BOTH ENDS BURNING
AN ENDLESS SMILE, A BUS WHEEL TURNING
A FRIEND TO SHARE A LONESOME TIME
A HANDSHAKE AND A SIP OF WINE
SAY IT LOUD AND LET IT RING
THAT WE'RE ALL PART OF EVERYTHING
THE FUTURE, THE PRESENT AND THE PAST
FLY ON PROUD BIRD, YOU'RE FREE AT LAST

By Charlie Daniels
1980's Nashville Concert Poster
* What happened after the crash *
January 21, 1979 :
1st Reunion
of Lynyrd Skynyrd
at the Charlie Daniels Band,
Volunteer Jam V
A yearly event (at the time) in Nashville.
The Volunteer Jam began in the 1974
and was an annual event in Nashville
for many years. I attended
approximately 20 Volunteer Jams.
One of the  highlights for me, was
when Charlie Daniels announced
"Lynyrd Skynyrd is back".
This was their first time on stage since
the fatal plane crash that killed six
people. Just feet from the stage,
I saw many people with tears in their
eyes as they played an instrumental
version of Freebird, on-stage for the
first time without their late singer
One of the most popular groups to come out of the Southern Rock
movement of the 1970's, Lynyrd Skynyrd's career was cut short in 1977 by a
plane crash that took the lives of three members. A 1987 reunion, the
Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band, was first planned as a single concert at the
Volunteer Jam XIII in Nashville Tennessee. They decided to tour, and the
name changed to Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991. Later, with Judy VanZant's
permission, the name changed back to Lynyrd Skynyrd
2000's DVD Taping
2005:  Lynyrd Skynyrd members, before and after the plane crash,
Ed King & Artimus Pyle play with the band Deep South, including
members of  Wet Willie, Atlanta Rhythm Section & 38 Special
at the Mercy Lounge in Nashville Tennessee                 
Click on Pictures to Enlarge                  Pictures by Jimbo Hagey Junior
Ed King left the band before
the plane crash. The late
Steve Gaines took his place
Artimus Pyle, pictured
here  with a fan, went for
help after the plane crash
Above: 1980's & 1990's Assorted line-ups of Lynyrd Skynyrd
continue to tour and play in Nashville every year.
2005: The only members remaining from the plane crash in the
current touring band are Gary Rossington and Billy Powell.
Right: 2000's: Lynyrd Skynyrd returns to Nashville to record
another DVD in the Music City. The Vicious Cycle Tour.
Promotional picture from Billboard Magazine
1974
1974
1976
Left: Pictured in 1987
at the Lynyrd Skynyrd
2nd on-stage reunion
are guitarist Randall Hall
and singer Johnny VanZant
Band Members after the Plane Crash
Gary Rossington 1964-Present
Allen Collins 1964-1987
Leon Wilkeson 1972-2001
Ed King 1973-1975 & 1987-1995
Billy Powell 1973-Present
Artimus Pyle 1975-1992
Johnny Van Zant 1987-Present
Ean Evans
Rickey Medlocke
Michael Cartellone
Dale Krantz (Backup singer)
Carol Chase (Backup singer)
Other members since 1987 included: Custer, Randall Hall, Owen Hale,
Hughie Thomasson, Mike Estes, Timmy Lindsey & others
Other back-up singers since 1987 included:
Carol Bristow, Debbie Bailey, Debbie Davis
1980:
Rossington Collins Band
featuring
plane crash survivors
Gary Rossington
Allen Collins
Leon Wilkeson
Billy Powell
plus singer
Dale Krantz
and others

Nashville Concert
Tennessee Theater
June 27 & 30, 1980
with opening act
singer
Johnny Van Zant
Click on Image to Enlarge
Above poster thanks to original Charlie Daniels Band drummer Gary Allen
Allen
Collins
Gary
Rossington
Lynyrd Skynyrd re-unites
for the first time since the
tragic plane crash in 1977
Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991
Promotional Photo
2006: Lynyrd Skynyrd is inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame
Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Artimus Pyle, Ed King & Bob Burns
Lynyrd Skynyrd was  recently be inducted into the
Rock  &  Roll Hall Of Fame in 2006
Guitar Player Magazine features Lynyrd Skynyrd in January 1988
10 Years Later LYNYRD SKYNYRD Rocks Again - Back With A Veneance!
Freebird (part 2) from Lynyrd Skynyrd's first on-stage reunion
Text from Tony Beasley's YouTube "Freebird" page
Added: November 07, 2006 (Less info).  Skynyrds first appearance since the plane
crash....Volunteer Jam 1979 Video and part 2 here
I am the first person to put this up on youtube!!!!
check the dates against the others who embedded this on their own sites.
My friend Pat Adams from www.tennesseeconconcerts.com ....thanks Pat for letting me put
this up and letting the Skynyrd fans see some great history.
January 21, 1979 : 1st Reunion of Lynyrd Skynyrd
at the Charlie Daniels Band, Volunteer Jam V.
Lynyrd Skynyrd's 2nd Reunion! That Smell at Volunteer Jam 1987
This was shot at Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam 1987, Starwood Ampitheater,
Nashville TN. Members include, Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkerson,
Artimus Pyle, Ed King, Johnny VanZant and Randall Hall. YouTube Video
See rare video of Lynyrd Skynyrd's first reunion, I preserved on tape for 25 years
1979: The first on-stage reunion of Lynyrd Skynyrd after the 1977 plane crash.
I was right in front of the stage & first to unearth this rare footage and give it to my
friend Tony Beazley who posted it on YouTube. Tony was the first person on YouTube
to post this Nashville reunion of the survivors,  from the Charlie Daniels Band Volunteer
Jam in 1979. This was from a Volunteer Jam Special, aired on TV  soon afterwards.
Due to the length of the song "Freebird", Tony had to post it on 2 video's.
Check out part 2, also.  
Pat Adams TennesseeConcerts.com & SouthernTribute.com
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Lynyrd
Skynyrd
1970's - 2008