Lynyrd Skynyrd Celebrates Legacy in Southern California return

Today (October 20, 2022) marks the 45th anniversary of the tragic plane crash that took the lives of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, along with backup singer Cassie Gaines (Steve's older sister). A number of other members of the famed group suffered serious injuries in the crash. Below is my review of the most recent time I caught the enduring Rock and Roll Hall of Famers in concert...Robert Kinsler

Review by Robert Kinsler

Photos by Bob Steshetz

Rickey Medlocke, left, with Damon
Johnson on May 13, 2022.

Who: Lynyrd Skynyrd

Where: Los Angeles County Fair

When: Friday, May 13, 2022

Next: Visit www.lynyrdskynyrd.com

Music historians — as well as the rock and roll faithful — know better than to ever count Lynyrd Skynyrd out. Indeed a tragic plan crash on Oct. 20, 1977 that took the lives of three band members including singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines marked the beginning of a series of tragic turns that have seen the passing of guitarist Allen Collins, keyboardist Billy Powell, bassist Leon Wilkeson, drummer Bob Burns, backing vocalist JoJo Billingsley and guitarist Hughie Thomasson.

The latest challenge for the enduring Southern rock troupe included founding guitarist Gary Rossington undergoing emergency heart surgery in July 2021.

Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Fast forward to Friday the 13th (May 13, 2022) and the band was headlining before a capacity crowd at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, CA. Although not able to run about, Johnny Van Zant — who noted he underwent knee surgery a month ago — was on his feet during most of the set and sounded great.

Early in the set Van Zant said of Rossington: "He is still on the mend and getting better." The singer also noted that Rossington had told his band mates to go to California and "I'll be there in spirit."

Peter Keys of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Delivering more than 90 minutes of Skynyrd favorites, this kickoff of the "Big Wheels Keep On Turning' World Tour" (continuing through the end of September) found Southern rock's most enduring Rock and Roll Hall of Famers celebrating their survival and legacy with a set that inspired throughout. Touring guitarist Damon Johnson (Alice Cooper, Thin Lizzy) did an excellent job filling in for the recovering Rossington, ably trading lead and slide guitar work with long-time members Rickey Medlocke and Mark Matejka. 

From left, guitarists Mark Matejka, Rickey Medlocke, Damon Johnson
and bassist Keith Christopher. Also seen are backing vocalists Carol Chase and
Stacy Michelle.

Early highlights of the concert included the rootsy blues rocker "Whiskey Rock-A-Roller" bolstered by backing gospel vocals, a rousing "That Smell" featuring all three of the guitar greats in action, and an affecting acoustic medley of "Mississippi Kid" and "Red White & Blue."

From left, Mark Matejka, Rickey Medlocke, Johnny Van Zant, Michael Cartellone and 
Damon Johnson during their mini-acoustic set at the Los Angeles County Fair.

The momentum built as the band performed their biggest hits, ending the night with the audience on their feet for bona fide greats like the powerful "Simple Man" (featuring some of Van Zant's greatest vocals of the night), along with the rollicking "Gimme Three Steps," a cover of JJ Cale's "Call Me the Breeze," rocking "Sweet Home Alabama" and marathon 12-minute run through "Free Bird" from its piano-anchored sing-along early section through the mighty guitars-on-steroids finale.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Concert Setlist for Friday, May 13, 2022

Guitarist Mark Matejka on May 13, 2022.

1. Workin' for MCA

2. You Got That Right

3. Double Trouble

4. Whiskey Rock-A-Roller

5. That Smell

6. Cry for the Bad Man

7. Saturday Night Special

8. What's Your Name

9. Tuesday's Gone

10. Mississippi Kid 

Drummer Michael Cartellone behind the kit.

11. Red White & Blue

12. Simple Man

13. Gimme Three Steps

14. Call Me the Breeze

15. Sweet Home Alabama

Encore:

16.  Free Bird

Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" 2CD, Digital Format coming June 2, 2015

Having caught Lynyrd Skynyrd in concert several times last year, I'm happy to hear the Southern rockers' legacy will be further celebrated thanks to the upcoming 2-disc/digital release "Sweet Home Alabama" coming later this spring. Here is the official release from Eagle Rock Entertainment...

On June 2, 2015, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd on 2CD and digital formats.  This classic 1996 Rockpalast concert  - released for the first time on CD - features the band performing all their classics: “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Free Bird,” “Working For MCA,” “Saturday Night Special,” “Gimme Three Steps,” “I Ain’t The One,” and many more. A 2LP release will follow.

Lynyrd Skynyrd is the ultimate Southern Rock band. Their signature three-guitar attack coupled with superb songwriting and onstage charisma has rightfully earned them a reputation as one of the greatest live bands of all time. The original band infamously had their career cut short by a disastrous plane crash in 1977, which took the lives of three band members (vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and vocalist Cassie Gaines) plus assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray, and seriously injured several others. In 1987, the surviving members reformed the band with Johnny Van Zant taking the place of his brother Ronnie. This concert from 1996 captures the band in top form at Rockpalast’s Loreley Festival on June 23, 1996. The band line-up for this show includes Johnny Van Zant (v), Gary Rossington (g),Rickey Medlocke (g, v), Hughie Thomasson (g), Billy Powell (k), Leon Wilkeson (b, v), Owen Hale (d), Dale Krantz-Rossington (bv), Carol Chase (bv).  

As a bonus, Sweet Home Alabama also includes extremely rare recordings of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd line-up. Captured at the Hamburg Musikhalle on December 5 1974, Ronnie Van Zant (v), Gary Rossington(g), Allen Collins (g, v), Ed King (g), Billy Powell (k), Leon Wilkeson (b, v), and Bob Burns (d) deliver incredible versions of “Working For MCA,” “Free Bird,” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”

Sweet Home Alabama proves that Lynyrd Skynyrd’s signature and sizzlin’ Southern-fried sound was able to enthrall fans the world over. It is a testament to the legendary band’s resilience to tragedy (which would have railroaded many other acts) and their ability to carry on and continue to rock stages with fervor and spirit. 

Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV and Digital Media in the world.  Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, Genesis, Alice Cooper, Eric Clapton and Aerosmith. Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 40 multi-platinum, over 80 platinum and over 144 gold discs, worldwide.  Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Paris and Hamburg.

Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: www.twitter.com/EagleRockNews

YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/eaglerocktv

TRACK LISTING:

Disc 1: 

1.  Workin’ For MCA   
2.  I Ain’t The One   
3.  Down South Junkin’   
4.  Double Trouble   
5.  I Know A Little   
6.  Saturday Night Special**   
7.  Swamp Music   
8.  What’s Your Name   
9. That Smell   
10. Simple Man***   
11. Gimme Three Steps   
12. Call Me The Breeze

Disc 2: 

1. Sweet Home Alabama****   
2. Free Bird  

CD Bonus Tracks From Hamburg 1974: 

3) Workin’ For MCA   

4) Free Bird   

5) Sweet Home Alabama

**Side B of 2LP format  

***Side B of 2LP format  

****Side D of 2LP format  

Lynyrd Skynyrd keeps legacy alive; Jeramiah Red impresses in Pac Amp debut

My review originally ran on The Orange County Register Web site on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014.

The band, which has tragically lost many members, rocks its hit-filled catalog for those not in line for beer.

BY ROBERT KINSLER / CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Published: Aug. 9, 2014 Updated: Aug. 10, 2014 12:28 p.m.

Lynyrd Skynyrd early in its set on Aug. 8, 2014.

While a number of classic rock acts have survived the loss or departure of key members, few have confronted that challenge with the grit of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

At the height of the band’s popularity in October 1977, a plane crash took the lives of original singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, singer Cassie Gaines, the flight crew and other group associates; band members Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Leon Wilkeson, Billy Powell and Artimus Pyle, and several others on the flight were seriously injured.

When the survivors walked to a nearby Mississippi farmhouse looking for help, they were reportedly greeted by residents with guns threatening them, furthering adding to the misfortune.

That crash appeared to put an end to the Jacksonville, Florida-bred ensemble, but just over a decade later the surviving members of the band teamed up with Johnny Van Zant (the younger brother of Ronnie) to begin recording and touring again.

On Friday night (August 8, 2014), there were two Lynyrd Skynyrd concert experiences that played out before a near-capacity crowd at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa.

For hard-core followers of the band aware of the band’s heartbreaking path (Collins died of pneumonia in January 1990, Powell died of heart failure in 2009), there is the legacy of an influential Rock and Roll Hall of Fame outfit that helped develop and commercialize Southern rock. Sadly, for many in the crowd the concert was simply a party-minded backdrop to go on endless beer runs while waiting for the band to perform its most iconic songs at the end of the 70-minute set.

For the discerning listeners at the Pac Amp, the good news is that the 2014 version of Lynyrd Skynyrd prides itself on celebrating the band’s 40-year legacy via mostly inspired takes on the group’s classic material.

Early in the night, “Call Me the Breeze” was offered up in a lush arrangement with keyboardist Peter Keys playing pretty on the piano while fast-moving video images projected in the background reinforced the lyrical spirit of the song. The combination of well-known material, artful video images and solid music-making was an approach that worked throughout the concert, notably on “Simple Man,” a beautiful song used by the band to celebrate those who serve in the U.S. military.

The use of technology doesn’t mean the 21st-century version of Skynyrd doesn’t rock. Cuts like “That Smell” and “Gimme Three Steps” provided perfect opportunities for Rossington, Rickey Medlocke and Mark “Sparky” Matejka to lock in for the distinguishing three-guitar attack long associated with the group. And those wanting to get a healthy dose of Rossington’s celebrated fretwork were treated to several sweet solos on “Tuesday’s Gone.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd fired up the faithful in Costa Mesa.

Throughout the heavy-on-the-hits show, Van Zant would venture to the edge of the stage to greet fans and often thank them for their support.

The “two” concert experiences – the one for Skynyrd enthusiasts and the one for the party-minded folks – finally converged at night’s end. With a powerful “Sweet Home Alabama” and set-ending 12-minute version of “Freebird,” one could see why the band’s music was such an original and powerful force in the 1970s.

Jeramiah Red impressed in the band's first-ever
performance at the Pacific Amphitheatre on Friday.

Orange County's own Jeramiah Red celebrated its burgeoning career as the night’s well-deserved opener, performing a muscular 30-minute set of memorable originals bound by a mighty hybrid of American and British blues, alt-country and indie rock. Opening with a rousing “Line ’em Up,” the band also hit hard with “My Baby.” The group closed with a fiery reading of its explosive “Can’t Help Myself,” which included the group morphing its song into a good-sized chunk of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.”