37 Years Ago Today.....

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

The Free Bird was pulled from the sky......

Lynyrd Skynyrd (pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd) is an American rock band best known for popularizing the southern hard-rock genre during the 1970s. Originally formed in 1966 as the The Pretty Ones in Jacksonville, Florida, they then went through two name changes: The Noble Five and One Percent, before coming up with Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1969. The band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tunes "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird". At the peak of their success, three members died in an airplane crash in 1977, putting an abrupt end to the band's most popular incarnation.

The surviving band members re-formed in 1988 for a reunion tour with lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant, the younger brother of lead singer and founder Ronnie Van Zant. The re-formed band continues to tour and record with co-founding member Gary Rossington and core members Johnny Van Zant, along with guitarist Rickey Medlocke, who recorded with the band for a short time in the early 1970s. Drummer Michael Cartellone has recorded and toured with the band since 1999. Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006.

[Bighead]

One of my Favorites I put my IPod on shuffle of just Skynyrd songs on my way home from the FCR

[Valkorado]

MAN I had to do a double take, I can't believe it's been that long.  I was a heavy fan.  Now I feel old.

[BF]

First cut, first album. 

Still one of my all time favorites.   

Lynyrd Skynyrd - I Ain't the One (studio version)

[Oss]

great post Joe

and a great band it was

[Strider]

Saw em in 76 in Jackson, Mississippi - one of the BEST CONCERTS I have ever enjoyed!  Great band - great loss.  I still remember the encore was Freebird and the Stars and Bars unfurled behind the stage - Jackson went NUTS!!!! 



But have to admit, now I feel old as well.  Of course, the great thiong about OLD rockers is that I can always figure that Keith Richards has made it to 70 - I might have a chance of seeing the same age!

[Momz]

Yeah, I loved "Southern Rock", but lets not forget the Allman Brothers, Molly Hatchet, Marshall Tucker Band, and the great Charlie Daniels.

You know when my wife and go down to Daytona Bike Week, there is a radio station that plays Free Bird every morning at about 7:00 am. I think it's for us old guys that get up early so we can get our blood pumping.

I'm hoping to not have to hustle my old butt down to Florida soon (looking to buy a house in Flagler Beach). That way I can catch the sunrise and turn on "Free Bird" to start my remaining days. 

[T-Bird]

Like Strider, I saw them in Atlanta in 76, when I was a hippie kid.  When my youngest son was in highschool he dated the niece of a lady backup singer for the band in the seventies. They are still one of my favorite bands...going through 8-tracks, cassettes, Cds, and now they are loaded on my
I- phone. I have seen the survivor band twice at bike week.

[G-Man]

First heard LS last year of middle school and wore through my One More From the Road album too quickly.  Never got to see the original band but did see the "reincarnation" of the band in 1988 or 1989 at the Sportatorium in Sunrise Florida.  They played with Molley Hatchet and The Smitheriens on that tour.  Killer!!!

Second compact disc I bought was Gold and Platinum (first one was Yessongs) because I couldn't afford to replace all my albums so I started out by getting live and best of discs, more bang for the buck.