Hurricane Lili gave
farm owner
Johnny Mote fits
just before his
Southern Tribute
concert Saturday
October 5, 2002.
Artimus Pyle, long
time drummer for the
band
Lynyrd Skynyrd
who's plane crashed
near the Motes
property 25 years
before, got knocked
down quite few
musical notches.
It happened when
personnel with
headliner
Travis Tritt told
property owner
Johnny Mote and
promoter Arden
Barnett that neither
Pyle nor the other
bands lined up to pay
tribute to Lynyrd
Skynyrd, could play
on the professional
stage.
It meant Pyle, the
musician ran from
the plane wreckage
through the very field
on which he was
playing, had to put
his show together on
a flatbed trailer at the
last minute.
Pyle and his band
expected to play on
the stage before
Travis Tritt.
"The professionals
say we can't play on
that stage"
Pyle jeered. And,
adding insult to
injury, the drummer
said Tritt's band
threw Pyle's
equipment from the
stage. Tritt's band
was the only one that
didn't include songs
in tribute to
Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Many people,
including Artimus
Pyle believed that
Judy Van Zant
Jenness was behind
many of the problems
that went wrong
during the day. She
is the widow of the
late Skynyrd singer
Ronnie Van Zant.
Others performing
at the concert were
Jay B. Elston,
Russell Walker
(whose show was cut
short) and the
Jimmie Van Zant
Band. Molly
Hatchet pulled
out.This was the first
time Pyle had been
back to the Gillsburg
site, and it was an
emotional experience
for him. "I'm here to
honor the memory of
Ronnie Van Zant,
Steve and
Cassie Gaines,
Dean Kilpatrick,
and the pilot and
co-pilot who died
here". He spoke of
the feeling he had for
the band members at
the crash site as he
ran for help."My
friends were dying;
every drop of blood
was a second" he
said. "Cassie was
one of the strongest
women
I know. I was sitting
right behind her.
She died I didn't.
Pyle's playlist, with
one exception was all
Skynyrd. But before it
ended, he cut it short
and announced that
Tritt's band was
threatening to pull
the sound on him. He
finished the set and
ended with a crowd
sing-along of a
couple of "Freebird"
verses.
An anxious group of
well-wishers rolled
right past security
officers, and Pyle
signed autograph's,
patient with each
person.
Of the current Lynyrd
Skynyrd band, only
two original members
remain; keybordist
Billy Powell
and guitarist
Gary Rossington.
Jimmie Van Zant,
a cousin of the late
Skynyrd frontman,
made a toast to his
cousin and others
who died at the
nearby site
with a bottle of
Jack Daniels, then
tossed the bottle out
into the crowd.
"The thing at
Johnny's farm was for
closure", Pyle said.
farm owner
Johnny Mote fits
just before his
Southern Tribute
concert Saturday
October 5, 2002.
Artimus Pyle, long
time drummer for the
band
Lynyrd Skynyrd
who's plane crashed
near the Motes
property 25 years
before, got knocked
down quite few
musical notches.
It happened when
personnel with
headliner
Travis Tritt told
property owner
Johnny Mote and
promoter Arden
Barnett that neither
Pyle nor the other
bands lined up to pay
tribute to Lynyrd
Skynyrd, could play
on the professional
stage.
It meant Pyle, the
musician ran from
the plane wreckage
through the very field
on which he was
playing, had to put
his show together on
a flatbed trailer at the
last minute.
Pyle and his band
expected to play on
the stage before
Travis Tritt.
"The professionals
say we can't play on
that stage"
Pyle jeered. And,
adding insult to
injury, the drummer
said Tritt's band
threw Pyle's
equipment from the
stage. Tritt's band
was the only one that
didn't include songs
in tribute to
Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Many people,
including Artimus
Pyle believed that
Judy Van Zant
Jenness was behind
many of the problems
that went wrong
during the day. She
is the widow of the
late Skynyrd singer
Ronnie Van Zant.
Others performing
at the concert were
Jay B. Elston,
Russell Walker
(whose show was cut
short) and the
Jimmie Van Zant
Band. Molly
Hatchet pulled
out.This was the first
time Pyle had been
back to the Gillsburg
site, and it was an
emotional experience
for him. "I'm here to
honor the memory of
Ronnie Van Zant,
Steve and
Cassie Gaines,
Dean Kilpatrick,
and the pilot and
co-pilot who died
here". He spoke of
the feeling he had for
the band members at
the crash site as he
ran for help."My
friends were dying;
every drop of blood
was a second" he
said. "Cassie was
one of the strongest
women
I know. I was sitting
right behind her.
She died I didn't.
Pyle's playlist, with
one exception was all
Skynyrd. But before it
ended, he cut it short
and announced that
Tritt's band was
threatening to pull
the sound on him. He
finished the set and
ended with a crowd
sing-along of a
couple of "Freebird"
verses.
An anxious group of
well-wishers rolled
right past security
officers, and Pyle
signed autograph's,
patient with each
person.
Of the current Lynyrd
Skynyrd band, only
two original members
remain; keybordist
Billy Powell
and guitarist
Gary Rossington.
Jimmie Van Zant,
a cousin of the late
Skynyrd frontman,
made a toast to his
cousin and others
who died at the
nearby site
with a bottle of
Jack Daniels, then
tossed the bottle out
into the crowd.
"The thing at
Johnny's farm was for
closure", Pyle said.
| Text and some of the Images from the McComb Mississippi, Enterprise-Journal |
| Southern Tribute Concert in Gillsburg Mississippi |
| Artimus Pyle & others at the Plane Crash Site |
| A concert on the Mote farm, at the sight of the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash 25 years later, on Saturday October 5, 2002 |
| Featuring: Jay B. Elston Russell Walker Jimmie Van Zant Artimus Pyle & Travis Tritt |
| Left: Longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle signs autographs. Picture by McComb Enterprise Journal. Right: An autographed promotional picture of Lynyrd Skynyrd & Artimus Pyle Band drummer Artimus Pyle |
| An APB (Artimus Pyle Band) member signs autographs behind the trailer stage |
| Lynyrd Skynyrd's plane crashed at the site on October 20, 1977 |
| Click on Images to Enlarge |
| Jacquelyn & Terry Cooper at the concert |
| Above: Local residents Jimmie & "Pop" Gerrit Click on Images to Enlarge |
| Travis Tritt on Stage Tritt would not let the other bands play on this stage, saying, "they are not professional enough" |
| Thanks to Jacquelyn Cooper for pictures & information. Lynyrd Skynyrd's plane crashed on her families property, in the woods behind the house |
| Southern Comfort: It's taken 25 years, but there's finally a concert with a tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd in the area where the plane carrying one of the ultimate Southern rock bands crashed. When the plane carrying the group couldn't make it to the McComb-Pike County Airport in Fernwood on their way to a Baton Rouge Louisiana show in 1977, the pilot did the only thing he could do: Try to land with as little possible. But the plane, out of gas, |
| sputtered down into the swampy woods of Fernwood Industries land adjoining Johnny Mote's property in Gillsburg, crashing through tall pines and falling in jagged pieces in the night. Six people were killed including three band members. Among the survivors was longtime Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle, a former marine who new about survival techniques. But this life-or-death mission was all to real. When the bleeding Pyle showed up at Mote's home - the same night Mote said there were prison escapees from Louisiana on the loose - it soon became clear to the landowner that this was no escape. The band members needed help and fast. Hours later, the dead and injured were carried out of the swampy area and whisked to hospitals throughout the area. The band, never again the same - reformed several times with a different line up. There has been talk every since the crash that someday Lynyrd Skynyrd would play in southwest Mississippi. The band never did perform here, but it came close this summer. Mote had a deal all but sealed for the newest Lynyrd Skynyrd band to play the festival, but they backed out, as did roadmates 38 Special. Artimus Pyle, who heads the APB, the Artimus Pyle Band played at Mote's Gillsburg farm, joining an all-star lineup. The Southern Tribute featured country superstar Travis Tritt, Jimmie Van Zant, the Jay B. Elston Band and Russell Walker. Van Zant is a first cousin of the late Skynyrd frontman. The event ran from 11am until midnight. |
| Concert Lineup: Travis Tritt (2002) - Tritt's latest album, "Down The Rode I Go" hit record stores Tuesday. The Georgia native, who's hits include "Modern Day Bonnie & Clyde," "Trouble," "Here's A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)" and "Country Club", has made nine albums, including Christmas and "Best Of" issues. |
| Jimmie Van Zant (2002) - touring in support of his first J-Birds Records release "Southern Comfort," which includes a cover of what many believe to be one of Skynyrd's finest songs, "Simple Man" and "Ronnie's Song," a tune he wrote in memory of his cousin. Other acts include Louisiana's Jay B. Elston Band and Russell Walker, familiar to local music fans. |
| Johnny Mote |
| Artimus Pyle thanks a small, but loyal crowd of Lynyrd Synyrd fans for coming to the Southern Tribute Show on Johnny Motes farm near Gillsburg Mississippi. Molley Hatchet, scheduled to appear at the tribute, pulled out because of Hurricane Lili. Above: Pictures & Text from McComb Enterprise Journal October 8, 2002 |
| Below: Former Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer and plane crash survivor Artimus Pyle speaks to the crowd. His band, the Artimus Pyle Band featured former Skynyrd members (after the plane crash) Tim Lindsey on bass and Mike Estes on guitar. |
| Tribute of the Lynyrd Skynyrd, including video of area at crash site, probably taped around the time of the 2002 concert shown above |
| TENNESSEE CONCERTS SEARCH ENGINE Search this website Website by Pat Adams. pat@tennesseeconcerts.com |
| Web site by Pat Adams in Nashville Tennessee, with the help of Jacquelyn Cooper in Mississippi (plane crash scene) Web sites include: SouthernTribute.com TennesseeConcerts.com Nashville Tennessee 2003-2008 |
| Music Video: Artimus Pyle & original Lynyrd Skynyrd band members Original Lynyrd Skynyrd members Artimus Pyle, Ed King, JoJo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins perform Down South Jukin with Thane Shearon and the Saturday Night Special Band YouTube Video, unrelated to the Southern Tribute concert |
| In Memory Of Ronnie Van Zant A Lynyrd Skynyrd Music Tribute Video! The nice song in the video is Jimmie Van Zant's, Ronnie's Song |
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