71-560: The Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum (originally and still commonly known as the Jacksonville Coliseum ) was a multi-purpose arena located in Jacksonville, Florida . Built in 1960 and known as "northern Florida's most historic concert venue", it was home to most of the city's indoor professional sports teams and it hosted various concerts, circuses, and other events . It was demolished in 2003 and replaced with
142-546: A Christian rock band named Vision, touring with established Christian rocker Mylon LeFevre . During Vision concerts, Powell's trademark keyboard talent was often spotlighted and he spoke about his conversion to Christianity after the near-fatal plane crash. Pyle formed the Artimus Pyle Band in 1982, which occasionally featured former Honkettes JoJo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins and released one MCA album, titled A.P.B. In 1980, Allen Collins's wife Kathy died of
213-599: A Jacksonville native and partner in Macon, Georgia-based Hustlers Inc.; along with Phil Walden 's younger brother, Alan , became the band's managers. Armstrong left Hustlers shortly thereafter to start his own agency. Walden stayed with the band until 1974, when management was transferred to Peter Rudge. The band continued to perform throughout the South in the early 1970s, further developing their hard-driving blues rock sound and image, and experimenting with recording their sound in
284-547: A band. Bassist Larry Junstrom rounded out the lineup. They soon approached guitarist Allen Collins to join the band just two weeks later, and he agreed to join. The band later rehearsed in Junstrom's carport after Burns' parents said the band was too loud. The band settled on the name My Backyard, later changed to Conquer the Worm for a day or two, then The Noble Five, and finally The One Percent by 1967. In 1968, Van Zant sought
355-734: A biopic film project was announced. The film was later titled Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash and released in June 2020. On March 13, 2018, filmmaker Stephen Kijak premiered his documentary called, "If I Leave Here Tomorrow" at the Stateside Theater during the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas. Kijak was joined on stage by Johnny Van Zant and Gary Rossington at
426-598: A falling out over the affections of Dale Krantz, whom Rossington married and with whom he formed The Rossington Band , which released two albums, Returned to the Scene of the Crime in 1986 and Love Your Man in 1988 and also opened for the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour in 1987–1988. The other former members of Lynyrd Skynyrd continued to make music during the hiatus era. Billy Powell played keyboards in
497-477: A lineup that included bassist Leon Wilkeson , keyboardist Billy Powell , and guitarist Ed King . Burns left and was replaced by Artimus Pyle in 1974. King left in 1975 and was replaced by Steve Gaines in 1976. At the height of their fame in the 1970s, the band popularized the Southern rock genre with songs such as " Sweet Home Alabama " and " Free Bird ". After releasing five studio albums and one live album,
568-704: A massive hemorrhage while miscarrying their third child. He formed the Allen Collins Band in 1983 from the remnants of the Rossington Collins Band and released one MCA studio album, Here, There & Back . He was visibly suffering from Kathy's death; he excessively drank and consumed drugs. On January 29, 1986, Collins, then 33, crashed his Ford Thunderbird into a ditch near his home in Jacksonville, killing his girlfriend Debra Jean Watts and leaving himself permanently paralyzed from
639-528: A multitude of spectators. The word derives from Latin harena , a particularly fine-grained sand that covered the floor of ancient arenas such as the Colosseum in Rome , Italy, to absorb blood. The term arena is sometimes used as a synonym for a very large venue such as Pasadena's Rose Bowl , but such a facility is typically called a stadium . The use of one term over the other has mostly to do with
710-463: A new name after growing tired of taunts from audiences that the band had "one percent talent". At Burns' suggestion, the group settled on Leonard Skinnerd , which was in part a reference to a character named "Leonard Skinner" in Allan Sherman 's novelty song " Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh " and in part a mocking tribute to P.E. teacher Leonard Skinner at Robert E. Lee High School . Skinner
781-486: A part of their stage show, because they did not want to be associated with racists that adopted the flag. However, after protests from fans, they reversed this decision, citing it as part of their Southern American heritage and states' rights symbolism. The band would later cease use of the Confederate flag starting with their 2019 tour. Original drummer Bob Burns died at age 64 on April 3, 2015; his car crashed into
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#1732787167172852-403: A studio. Skynyrd crafted this distinctively "southern" sound through a creative blend of country, blues, and a slight British rock influence. During this time, the band experienced some lineup changes for the first time. Junstrom left and was briefly replaced by Greg T. Walker on bass. At that time, Rickey Medlocke joined as a second drummer and second vocalist to help fortify Burns' sound on
923-495: A tree while he was driving alone near his home in Cartersville, Georgia . From 2015 through 2017, the band had periods of being sidelined or having to cancel shows due to health problems suffered by founding member Gary Rossington. Former member Ed King, who had been battling cancer, died in his Nashville, Tennessee , home on August 22, 2018, at 68 years of age. On January 25, 2018, Lynyrd Skynyrd announced their Last of
994-450: A trio called Me, You, and Him. Later in the summer of 1964, teenagers Van Zant, Rossington, and Burns all became acquainted while playing on rival baseball teams. The trio decided to jam together one afternoon after Burns was injured by a ball hit by Van Zant. They set up their equipment in the carport of Burns' parents' house and played The Rolling Stones ' hit " Time Is on My Side ". Liking what they heard, they immediately decided to form
1065-421: Is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre , musical performances , and/or sporting events . It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators, and may be covered by a roof. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the lowest point, allowing maximum visibility. Arenas are usually designed to accommodate
1136-516: Is an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1964. The group originally formed as My Backyard and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom (bass), and Bob Burns (drums). The band spent four years touring small venues under various names and with several lineup changes before deciding on "Lynyrd Skynyrd" in 1968. The band released its first album, (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) , in 1973. By then, they had settled on
1207-654: The Dixie Chicks . The Coliseum was imploded on June 26, 2003, and replaced with the $ 130 million Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena . Extreme care was taken not to damage the black granite Veterans Memorial Wall located just eight feet from the east wall of the building. After the debris was cleared, a 2-acre (8,100 m) walking park was added to the area around the Memorial. 30°19′29″N 81°38′27″W / 30.3245961°N 81.640901°W / 30.3245961; -81.640901 Arena An arena
1278-565: The Rossington Collins Band , which released two MCA albums, Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere in 1980 and This Is The Way in 1981. Deliberately avoiding comparisons with Ronnie Van Zant as well as suggestions that this band was Lynyrd Skynyrd reborn, Rossington and Collins chose a woman, Dale Krantz, as the lead vocalist. However, as an acknowledgement of their past, the band's concert encore would always be an instrumental version of "Free Bird". Rossington and Collins eventually had
1349-570: The VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena . The Coliseum was dedicated on November 24, 1960. The general contractor was Daniel Construction, and construction took two years and cost $ 3 million. The first event was the first ice hockey game ever played in Jacksonville, featuring the New York Rovers and Charlotte Clippers on November 30. The first events scheduled included an automobile show, a boat show, boxing matches,
1420-738: The Coliseum home from 2000 to 2002. The WCW events WrestleWar 1992 and WCW Greed (the final pay-per-view before WCW's acquisition by the World Wrestling Federation ) were staged at the coliseum, as well as some episodes of WCW Monday Nitro . Hundreds of thousands of Duval County high school students received their diplomas at ceremonies in the Coliseum, and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus train stopped in Jacksonville for two weeks of shows every January for decades. The fairgrounds were adjacent to
1491-467: The Coliseum were The Allman Brothers Band in 1970, Lynyrd Skynyrd in '75, 38 Special in '82, Molly Hatchet in '85, Blackfoot in '80, and also Limp Bizkit played there in 2000. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers from Gainesville played there in '87. By the 1990s, it became harder for promoters to fill the seats of the Coliseum. The venue was designed in the late 1950s before the advent of
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#17327871671721562-941: The Coliseum, and the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair incorporated the facility into their November event, hosting music concerts, entertainers and exhibitions. Monster truck shows, tractor pulls and motocross events were also very popular over the years. The Coliseum hosted hundreds of concerts and shows during its 43-year history, including Grand Funk Railroad in 1970, Rush , Bob Dylan , Duran Duran , Billy Joel , Black Sabbath , Bon Jovi , Frank Sinatra , Jimi Hendrix , Elvis Presley , New Kids On The Block , The Smashing Pumpkins , David Bowie , Bruce Springsteen , Led Zeppelin , Jacksonville's Lynyrd Skynyrd , Journey , AC/DC , Deep Purple , Wishbone Ash , Grateful Dead , Judas Priest , Three Dog Night , Def Leppard and Iron Maiden . Famous Southern rock bands from Jacksonville that played at
1633-424: The South label, which was to be distributed and supported by MCA Records , and produced their first album. Wilkeson, citing nervousness about fame, temporarily left the band during the early recording sessions, playing on only two tracks. He rejoined the band shortly after the album's release at Van Zant's invitation and is pictured on the album cover. To replace him, Strawberry Alarm Clock guitarist Ed King joined
1704-865: The Street Survivors Farewell Tour, which started on May 4, 2018. Supporting acts included Kid Rock , Hank Williams Jr. , Bad Company , the Charlie Daniels Band, the Marshall Tucker Band , .38 Special , Cheap Trick , Blackberry Smoke , the Randy Bachman Band, Blackfoot , Massive Wagons , and Status Quo . Concerts were usually on Fridays and Saturdays. On January 8, 2020, Rossington stated in an interview that while they would no longer be touring, they will continue to play occasional live shows. On March 19, 2019, Johnny Van Zant announced that
1775-690: The U.S. in 2009 with Keys on keyboards and Robert Kearns of the Bottle Rockets on bass; bassist Ean Evans died of cancer at age 48 on May 6, 2009. Scottish rock band Gun performed as special guests for the UK leg of Skynyrd's tour in 2010. In addition to the tour, Skynyrd appeared at the Sean Hannity Freedom Concert series in late 2010. Hannity had been actively promoting the God & Guns album, frequently playing portions of
1846-672: The U.S., until the July 2008 Bama Jam in Enterprise, Alabama where more than 111,000 people attended. On January 28, 2009, keyboardist Billy Powell died of a suspected heart attack at age 56 at his home near Jacksonville, Florida. No autopsy was carried out. He was replaced by Peter Keys . On March 17, 2009, it was announced that Skynyrd had signed a worldwide deal with Roadrunner Records, in association with their label, Loud & Proud Records, and released their new album God & Guns on September 29 of that year. They toured Europe and
1917-549: The article), and they reunited with former members Bob Burns (drums), Artimus Pyle (drums), and Ed King (guitar) for a performance of "Free Bird." On November 2, 2007, the band performed for a crowd of 50,000 people at the University of Florida's Gator Growl student-run pep rally in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium ("The Swamp" football stadium). This was the largest crowd that Lynyrd Skynyrd had played to in
1988-439: The band amid flames, with Steve Gaines nearly obscured by fire. Out of respect for the deceased (and at the request of Teresa Gaines, Steve's widow), MCA Records withdrew the original cover and replaced it with the album's back photo, a similar image of the band against a simple black background. However, the group would restore the original image for the 30th anniversary deluxe edition of the album. Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded after
2059-506: The band and played bass on the album (the only part that Wilkeson had not already written being the solo section in " Simple Man "), and also contributed to the songwriting and did some guitar work on the album. After Wilkeson rejoined, King stayed in the band and switched solely to guitar, allowing the band to replicate its three-guitar studio mix in live performances. The band released their debut album (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) on August 13, 1973. It sold over one million copies and
2130-722: The band boarded a chartered Convair CV-240 bound for Baton Rouge, Louisiana , where they were scheduled to appear at LSU the following night. After running out of fuel, the pilots attempted an emergency landing before crashing in a heavily forested area five miles northeast of Gillsburg, Mississippi . Killed on impact were Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, along with backup singer Cassie Gaines (Steve's older sister), assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot John Gray. Other band members (Collins, Rossington, Wilkeson, Powell, Pyle, and Hawkins), tour manager Ron Eckerman, and several road crew members suffered serious injuries. The accident came just three days after
2201-568: The band confirmed that they would continue as a band. There had previously been agreements about how many pre-crash members had to be in the band in order for it to be active and "legal", but this appears to be no longer applicable since Rossington's death. In November 2023, Dolly Parton released a cover of "Free Bird" on her rock album Rockstar ; this version also featured contributions from members of Lynyrd Skynyrd (including slide guitar from Rossington, recorded before his death), along with former drummer Artimus Pyle and his band, and even part of
Jacksonville Coliseum - Misplaced Pages Continue
2272-441: The band did four autograph signings throughout the southeast. Lynyrd Skynyrd used a Confederate flag from the 1970s until the 2010s, and several criticisms have been raised against them because of this. While promoting the album on CNN on September 9, 2012, members of the band talked about its discontinued use of Confederate imagery. In September 2012, the band briefly did not display the Confederate flag, which had for years been
2343-490: The band during the same year, with Custer becoming the band's sole drummer. That lineup released a second post-reunion album, entitled The Last Rebel in 1993. Later that year, Randall Hall was replaced by Mike Estes. In 1994, Owen Hale replaced Kurt Custer on drums. Ed King had to take a break from touring in 1996 due to heart complications that required a transplant. In his absence, he was replaced by Hughie Thomasson . The band did not let King rejoin after he recovered. At
2414-404: The band from 1971 to 1972 before his return in 1996. Over the years, other founding members of the band have died either during—or after—their time in the band. In January 2018, Lynyrd Skynyrd announced its farewell tour , and continued touring until 2022. Members were still working on the band's fifteenth album at the time of Rossington's death in 2023, after which no founding members remained in
2485-471: The band intended to go into the studio to record one last album after completing the tour with several songs ready or "in the can". They appeared at the Kaaboo Texas festival on May 11, 2019. Lynyrd Skynyrd was among hundreds of recording artists whose original master recordings were believed to have been destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire . Though it is not known with certainty which, if any, of
2556-513: The band parted ways by mutual agreement after the tracking was completed, with Kooper mixing the album while the band left for the tour that had precipitated the constricted recording schedule. Though the album fared well, it ultimately had lower sales than its predecessors. Midway through the Nuthin' Fancy tour, guitarist Ed King abruptly left the band after a falling out with Van Zant. King's guitar roadie and Van Zant were arrested together and spent
2627-460: The band's career was abruptly halted on October 20, 1977, when their chartered airplane crashed , killing Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines , and seriously injuring the rest of the band. Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed in 1987 for a reunion tour with Ronnie's brother, Johnny Van Zant , as lead vocalist. They continued to tour and record with co-founder Rossington, Johnny Van Zant, and Rickey Medlocke , who first wrote and recorded with
2698-426: The band's master recordings were lost in the blaze, Lynyrd Skynyrd was among the artists listed in an internal Universal Music Group document listing the artists whose master recordings the company believed had been lost and subsequently spent tens of millions of dollars trying to replace. Rossington, the last founding member of the band, died on March 5, 2023, leaving no original members left alive. In April 2023,
2769-469: The band, and the drums on the album were played by session drummer Kenny Aronoff . Michael Cartellone became the band's permanent drummer on the subsequent tour. Despite the growing number of post-reunion albums that the band had released up to this time, setlists showed that the band was playing mostly 1970s-era material in concert. The band released a Christmas album, entitled Christmas Time Again in 2000. Leon Wilkeson , Skynyrd's bassist since 1972,
2840-530: The band. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Lynyrd Skynyrd No. 95 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006. As of 2023, the band has sold more than 28 million records in the United States. AllMusic called them "the definitive Southern rock band". Allen Collins received his first guitar in 1963 and
2911-430: The birth of his daughter Melody in 1976, Van Zant was making a serious attempt to clean up his act and curtail the cycle of boozed-up brawling that was part of Skynyrd's reputation. The Street Survivors album of 1977 turned out to be a showcase for guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines , who had joined the band just a year earlier and was making his studio debut with them. Publicly and privately, Ronnie Van Zant marveled at
Jacksonville Coliseum - Misplaced Pages Continue
2982-507: The building's poor acoustics and the structure couldn't support the elaborate special effects lighting and sound equipment which rock concerts had come to require. The Eagles , Bon Jovi , Ozzy Osbourne , Dave Matthews and Fleetwood Mac all declined to perform at the Coliseum, although the acts wanted to perform in Jacksonville. The venue was still able to house exhibition shows, special events and several country acts including Alan Jackson , Garth Brooks , Reba McEntire , Wynonna Judd and
3053-461: The chest down. In 1987, Lynyrd Skynyrd reunited for a full-scale tour with five major members of the pre-crash band: crash survivors Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson and Artimus Pyle, along with guitarist Ed King, who had left the band two years before the crash. Ronnie Van Zant's younger brother, Johnny , took over as the new lead singer and primary songwriter. Due to founding member Allen Collins' paralysis from his 1986 car accident, he
3124-1015: The circus, an ice skating show, a pro basketball exhibition game and a tennis tournament. Ice hockey teams based in the Coliseum included the Jacksonville Rockets (1964–1972) of the Eastern Hockey League , the Jacksonville Barons (1973–74), the Jacksonville Bullets (1992–96), and the Jacksonville Lizard Kings (1995–2000). (Fans of the Lizard Kings referred to the coliseum as the "Reptilian Pavilion.") The American Basketball Association franchise known as The Floridians played some of its home games there in 1971 and 1972. The Jacksonville Dolphins utilized
3195-547: The coliseum for their home basketball games from 1969 to 1999, and it hosted the 1981 Sun Belt Conference and 1999 and 2000 Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball tournaments. The Jacksonville Tea Men of the NASL played indoor soccer home games at the coliseum during the 1980–81 & 1981–82 seasons. The Jacksonville Tomcats of the af2 , the Arena Football League 's developmental league , called
3266-530: The drums. Medlocke had grown up with the founding members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and his grandfather, Shorty Medlocke , was an influence in the writing of " The Ballad of Curtis Loew ". In 1972, the band (then comprising Van Zant, Collins, Rossington, Burns, Wilkeson, and Powell) was discovered by musician, songwriter, and producer Al Kooper of Blood, Sweat & Tears , who had attended one of their shows at Funocchio's in Atlanta. Kooper signed them to his Sounds of
3337-464: The facility is called Cameron Indoor Stadium . Domed stadiums, which, like arenas, are enclosed but have the larger playing surfaces and seating capacities found in stadiums, are generally not referred to as arenas in North America. There is also the sport of indoor American football (one variant of which is explicitly known as arena football), a variant of the outdoor game that is designed for
3408-828: The group No. 95 on their list of the " 100 Greatest Artists of All Time ". On November 28, 2005, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced that Lynyrd Skynyrd would be inducted alongside Black Sabbath , Blondie , Miles Davis , and the Sex Pistols . They were inducted in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan on March 13, 2006, during the Hall's 21st annual induction ceremony. The inductees included Ronnie Van Zant , Allen Collins , Gary Rossington , Ed King , Steve Gaines , Billy Powell , Leon Wilkeson , Bob Burns , and Artimus Pyle . On April 4, 2017,
3479-486: The late Ronnie van Zant's vocal track from the original recording of "Free Bird" (with the permission of Ronnie van Zant's widow). A similar version was featured on a Pyle-led tribute album of re-recorded collaborations with other musicians on Skynyrd songs, and Skynyrd also plans (as of 2023) to release their own similar version; however, according to Parton, only her version was allowed to use Ronnie van Zant's original vocal track. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked
3550-471: The multiple talents of Skynyrd's newest member, claiming that the band would "all be in his shadow one day". Gaines' contributions included his co-lead vocal with Van Zant on the co-written "You Got That Right" and the rousing guitar boogie "I Know a Little", which he had written before he joined Skynyrd. So confident was Skynyrd's leader of Gaines' abilities that the album (and some concerts) featured Gaines delivering his self-penned bluesy "Ain't No Good Life" –
3621-467: The night in jail. With his guitar roadie unavailable, King played that night's show with old strings that broke and caused his performance to be substandard, and Van Zant subsequently belittled him in front of his bandmates. King quit and returned home to Los Angeles, believing Van Zant had been responsible for his guitar roadie being in jail in the first place. Collins and Rossington both had serious car accidents over Labor Day weekend in 1976, which slowed
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#17327871671723692-560: The only song in the pre-crash Skynyrd catalog to feature a lead vocalist other than Ronnie Van Zant. The album also included the hit singles " What's Your Name " and "That Smell". The band was poised for their biggest tour yet, with shows always highlighted by the iconic rock anthem "Free Bird". Following a performance at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium in Greenville, South Carolina , on October 20, 1977,
3763-449: The original lineup to the present, and also a live DVD of their Vicious Cycle Tour. On June 22, 2004, the album Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve: The Vicious Cycle Tour . Thomasson left the band in 2005 to reform The Outlaws , and Mark "Sparky" Matejka , formerly of the country music band Hot Apple Pie , joined in 2006 as his replacement. On March 13, 2006, Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (also discussed later in
3834-407: The other four surviving members from the pre-crash era, namely Wilkeson, Powell, King and Pyle. Following this rule, the band would have been forced to retire in 2001, but they have still continued to tour for another two decades. The band released its first post-reunion album in 1991, entitled Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 . By that time, the band had added a second drummer, Kurt Custer. Artimus Pyle left
3905-470: The others for violating an agreement made shortly after the plane crash, stating that they would not "exploit" the Skynyrd name for profit. As part of the settlement, Jenness and Rapp collect nearly 30% of the band's touring revenues (representing the shares their husbands would have earned had they lived), and hold a proviso requiring any band touring as Lynyrd Skynyrd to include Rossington and at least two of
3976-435: The recording of the follow-up album and forced the band to cancel some concert dates. Rossington's accident inspired the ominous Van Zant/Collins composition " That Smell " – a cautionary tale about drug abuse that was aimed towards him and at least one other band member. Rossington has admitted repeatedly that he was the "Prince Charming" of the song who crashed his car into an oak tree while drunk and stoned on Quaaludes . With
4047-466: The release of the group's fifth studio album Street Survivors . Following the crash and the ensuing press, Street Survivors became the band's second platinum album and reached No. 5 on the Billboard 200 , their highest position on the chart. The single "What's Your Name" reached No. 13 on the single charts in 1978. The original cover sleeve for Street Survivors had featured a photograph of
4118-423: The rock concert, and strong bass and drums reverberated off the dome. The facility had not been renovated since its construction in 1960, giving the arena an outdated feel. It looked like a water treatment plant, according to Mayor John Delaney . Considered a mid-sized venue at best against its larger competitors, concert promoters for the most popular acts wanted venues with at least 15,000 seats; performers disliked
4189-508: The same time, Mike Estes was replaced by Rickey Medlocke , who had previously played and recorded with the band for a short time in the early 1970s. The result was a major retooling of the band's 'guitar army'. Medlocke and Thomasson would also become major contributors to the band's songwriting along with Rossington and Van Zant. The first album with this new lineup, released in 1997, was entitled Twenty . The band released another album, Edge of Forever in 1999. By that time, Hale had left
4260-438: The songwriting, cemented the band's breakthrough. Its single " Sweet Home Alabama ", a response to Neil Young 's " Southern Man ", reached #8 on the charts that August. Young and Van Zant were not rivals, but fans of each other's music and good friends; Young wrote the song " Powderfinger " for the band, but they never recorded it. During their peak years, most of their records sold over one million copies, but "Sweet Home Alabama"
4331-491: The track "That Ain't My America" on his radio show. The tour is titled "Rebels and Bandoleros". The band continued to tour throughout 2011, playing alongside ZZ Top and the Doobie Brothers . On May 2, 2012, the band announced the impending release of a new studio album, Last of a Dyin' Breed , along with a North American and European tour. On August 21, 2012, Last of a Dyin' Breed was released. In celebration,
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#17327871671724402-528: The tragedy, reuniting only on one occasion to perform an instrumental version of "Free Bird" at Charlie Daniels ' Volunteer Jam V in January 1979. Collins, Rossington, Powell, and Pyle were joined by Daniels and members of his band. Leon Wilkeson, who was still undergoing physical therapy for his badly broken left arm, was in attendance, along with Judy Van Zant, Teresa Gaines, JoJo Billingsley, and Leslie Hawkins. Rossington, Collins, Wilkeson and Powell formed
4473-538: The type of event. Football (be it association , rugby , gridiron , Australian rules , or Gaelic ) is typically played in a stadium, while basketball , volleyball , handball , and ice hockey are typically played in an arena, although many of the larger arenas hold more spectators than do the stadiums of smaller colleges or high schools. There are exceptions. The home of the Duke University men's and women's basketball teams would qualify as an arena, but
4544-632: The usual smaller playing surface of most arenas; variants of other traditionally outdoor sports, including box lacrosse as well as futsal and indoor soccer , also exist. The term "arena" is also used loosely to refer to any event or type of event which either literally or metaphorically takes place in such a location, often with the specific intent of comparing an idea to a sporting event. Such examples of these would be terms such as "the arena of war", "the arena of love" or "the political arena". Lynyrd Skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd ( / l ɛ n ər d ˈ s k ɪ n ər d / , LEN -ərd SKIN -ərd )
4615-619: Was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA . The album featured the hit song " Free Bird ", which received national airplay, eventually reaching No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Lynyrd Skynyrd's fan base continued to grow rapidly in 1973, thanks to their opening on the Who 's Quadrophenia tour in the United States. Their 1974 follow-up album, Second Helping , featuring King, Collins and Rossington all collaborating with Van Zant on
4686-445: Was found dead in his hotel room on July 27, 2001. His death was found to be due to emphysema and chronic liver disease. He was replaced in 2001 by Ean Evans . The first album to feature Evans was Vicious Cycle , released in 2003. This album had improved sales over the other post-reunion albums, and had a minor hit single in the song "Red, White and Blue". The band also released a double album called Thyrty , which had songs from
4757-534: Was later in a band called The Mods in Jacksonville, Florida . The Mods membership included J.R. Rice and Larry Steele. In early 1964, Ronnie Van Zant joined another local band, The Squires, that he soon renamed to Us. That year, at a local 'Battle of the Bands', Us performed against The Mods and won the competition. Van Zant, however, left Us shortly afterward. In the early summer of 1964, bassist Larry Junstrom , drummer Bob Burns , and guitarist Gary Rossington formed
4828-403: Was notorious for strictly enforcing the school's policy against boys having long hair. Rossington dropped out of school, tired of being hassled about his hair. The more distinctive spelling "Lynyrd Skynyrd" was adopted at least as early as 1969. By 1970, Lynyrd Skynyrd had become a top band in Jacksonville, headlining at some local concerts, and opening for several national acts. Pat Armstrong,
4899-509: Was only able to participate as the musical director, choosing Randall Hall, his former bandmate in the Allen Collins Band, as his stand-in. In return for avoiding prison following his guilty plea to DUI manslaughter, Collins would be wheeled out onstage each night to explain to the audience why he could no longer perform (usually before the performance of " That Smell ", the lyrics of which had been partially directed at him). Collins
4970-512: Was stricken with pneumonia in 1989 and died on January 23, 1990, at age 37. The reunited band was intended to be a one-time tribute to the original lineup, captured on the double-live album Southern by the Grace of God : Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour 1987 . That the band chose to continue after the 1987 tribute tour caused legal problems for the survivors, as Judy Van Zant Jenness and Teresa Gaines Rapp (widows of Ronnie and Steve, respectively) sued
5041-433: Was the only single to crack the top ten. By 1975, personal issues began to take their toll on the band. In January, drummer Burns left the band after suffering a mental breakdown during a European tour and was replaced by Kentucky native and former US Marine Artimus Pyle . The band's third album, Nuthin' Fancy , was recorded in 17 days. Unhappy with the band's lack of preparation for the album's recording, Kooper and
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