Lynyrd Skynyrd Has No Original Members Left—So Why Are They Still Touring?
Lynyrd Skynyrd continues to tour, even though no original members are left in the band — and many music fans have found the group’s decision to stay on the road puzzling. However, the current lineup does have a connection to an original member; it was actually guitarist and founding member Gary Rossington’s final wish that the band continue on for as long as possible.
Bandmate Johnny Van Zant told Fox News, “He knew his health was getting bad and he had told me, he said … ‘I’ve spent my life carrying on this legacy, and after I’m gone I don’t want to see this band go away.’ So we brought in Damon Johnson to play guitar and Gary kind of mentored him, you know, some and came to rehearsal and, you know, he wanted this music to go on, man. I don’t think me and Rickey would be here if Gary said, ‘Hey, after I’m gone I want this to go away.’ So, we’re carrying out his wishes as long as we can.”
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Rossington continued to play when he could, but his final show was in November 2022; he passed away in March 2023. In honor of Rossington, the band released a live album of that final show called Celebrating 50 Years — Live At The Ryman.
“This was never supposed to be a live release,” Van Zant added. “It was done for PBS. And after Gary passed, we were like, you know what? We think all the fans need to have this in their collection … and what they loved about the band. And Gary, you know, loved the fans and I know he’d probably be going, ‘Hell yeah, put it out!’”
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Bandmate Rickey Medlocke added that the current lineup works hard to honor the original members, including those who tragically died in a plane crash in October 1977. He said, “I don’t want to get off the bus of life one day and have him to whoop my a–. You know what, man? I’ll really be honest. And I think Johnny feels the same way. I look over there and I still to this day, missing him incredibly. And Damon’s doing a great job, no doubt, you know, but there’s a thing that, you know, when you played with somebody that long, you know, you don’t ever get over it. And his spirit is all over that stage, as is the rest of the guys that have gone on before us.”
Tell us in the comments, would you still go see them on tour ? Or is the lack of original members a dealbreaker?
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