Lynyrd Skynyrd 18713 226134685 2008-07-16T23:43:20Z Berean Hunter 6028820 /* External links */ this is the brief not the report {{Refimprove|section|date=June 2008}} {{Infobox musical artist | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> | Name = {{Pagename}} | Img = | Img_capt = | Img_size = <!-- Only use for images smaller than 220 pixels --> | Landscape = | Background = group_or_band | Origin = [[Jacksonville]], [[Florida]], [[United States|U.S.]] | Genre = [[Southern rock]], [[hard rock]], [[blues-rock]] | Years_active = 1970–1977<br/>1987–present | Label = [[MCA Records|MCA]], [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], [[Capricorn Records|Capricorn]], [[SPV|SPV Records]], [[CMC International]], [[Sanctuary Records|Sanctuary]], [[Universal Records|Universal]] | Associated_acts = [[.38 Special (band)|.38 Special]], [[Van Zant]], [[Rossington Collins Band]] | URL = [http://www.lynyrdskynyrd.com LynyrdSkynyrd.com] | Current_members = [[Johnny Van Zant]]<br/>[[Gary Rossington]]<br/>[[Billy Powell]]<br/>[[Ean Evans]]<br />[[Rickey Medlocke]]<br />[[Michael Cartellone]]<br />Mark Matejka | Past_members = [[Ronnie Van Zant]]<br/>[[Allen Collins]]<br/>[[Bob Burns (drummer)|Bob Burns]]<br/>[[Larry Junstrom]]<br/>[[Leon Wilkeson]]<br/>[[Ed King]]<br/>[[Artimus Pyle]]<br/>[[Steve Gaines]]<br/>[[Cassie Gaines]]<br/>[[Randall Hall]]<br/>[[Hughie Thomasson]]<br/>[[Byron Glover]] }} '''Lynyrd Skynyrd''' ({{pronEng|ˌlɛnɚdˈskɪnɝd}},Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd) is an [[United States|American]] [[Southern rock]] band. The band became prominent in the Southern United States in 1973, and rose to worldwide recognition before several members, including lead [[vocalist]] and primary [[songwriter]] [[Ronnie Van Zant]], died in a plane crash in 1977 near [[McComb, Mississippi|McComb]], [[Mississippi]]. A tribute band was formed in 1987 for a reunion tour with [[Johnny Van Zant]], Ronnie's younger brother, at the helm, and continues to record music today. The band was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] on [[March 13]], [[2006]], with members [[Gary Rossington]] and [[Billy Powell]], former members [[Ed King]], [[Bob Burns (drummer)|Bob Burns]], and [[Artimus Pyle]], and deceased members [[Ronnie Van Zant]], [[Allen Collins]], [[Steve Gaines]], and [[Leon Wilkeson]]. ==History== ===Early years=== In the summer of 1964, teenage friends Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Allen Collins, and Gary Rossington (guitar), formed the band "The Noble Five" then later in 1965 changed to "My Backyard" along with [[Larry Junstrom]] (bass) and Bob Burns (drums) in Jacksonville, Florida. Their early influences included [[British Invasion]] bands such as [[Free (band)|Free]], [[The Yardbirds]], the [[Rolling Stones]], and [[The Beatles]], as well as Southern [[blues]] and [[country & western]] music, and later [[The Allman Brothers Band]].{{Fact|date=November 2007}} In 1968, the group won a local Battle of the Bands contest and the opening slot on several Southeast shows for the [[California]]-based [[psychedelic rock]] band [[Strawberry Alarm Clock]].{{Fact|date=November 2007}} In 1970, [[roadie]] [[Billy Powell]] became [[keyboardist]] for the band, and Van Zant sought a new name. "One Percent" and "The Noble Five" were each considered before the group settled on '''Leonard Skinnerd''', a mocking tribute to a [[Physical Education|gym]] teacher at [[Robert E. Lee High School (Jacksonville, Florida)|Robert E. Lee High School]], Leonard Skinner, who was notorious for strictly enforcing the school's policy against boys having long hair.<ref>[http://www.dreamsbeginhere.org/lee/history.html Robert E. Lee high school website]</ref><ref name="digital">[http://digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/music0_name.html "Origins of bands' names"]</ref> The more distinctive spelling was adopted before they released their first album. Despite their high-school acrimony, the band developed a friendlier relationship with Skinner in later years, and invited him to introduce them at a concert in the [[Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/2006/06/02/skynyrd-namesake-in-brevard/ |title=Skynyrd Namesake in Brevard |accessdate=2007-07-15 |last=Cox |first=Billy |date= 2006-06-02 |work=Florida Today}}</ref> The band continued to perform throughout the South in the early 1970s, further developing their hard-driving, [[Blues (music)|blues]]-[[Rock Music|rock]] sound and image. In 1972, [[Leon Wilkeson]] replaced Larry Junstrom on bass, but left just before they were to record the first [[Record album|album]] (Wilkeson rejoined the band shortly thereafter at Van Zant's invitation).{{Fact|date=November 2007}} [[Strawberry Alarm Clock]] guitarist [[Ed King]] filled in as bass player, later switching to guitar after the album's release, allowing the band to replicate the three-guitar mix used in the studio. ===Peak years (1973&ndash;1977)=== In 1972 the band was discovered by musician, songwriter, and producer [[Al Kooper]] of [[Blood, Sweat, and Tears]], who had attended one of their shows at a club in [[Atlanta]]. They changed the spelling of their name to "Lynyrd Skynyrd",<ref>[http://www.lynyrdskynyrdhistory.com/less2.html Lynyrd Skynyrd history, by Judy Van Zant Jenness]</ref> and Kooper signed them to [[MCA Records]], producing their first album the following year. 1973's ''[[(pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd)]]'' featured the hit song "[[Free Bird]]", which received national airplay, eventually reaching #19 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] charts, and is still considered a [[Rock and Roll]] anthem today. Lynyrd Skynyrd's fan base continued to grow rapidly throughout 1973, largely due to their opening slot on [[The Who]]'s ''[[Quadrophenia]]'' tour in the United States. Their 1974 follow-up, ''[[Second Helping]]'', was the band's breakthrough hit, and featured their most popular single, "[[Sweet Home Alabama (song)|Sweet Home Alabama]]" (#8 on the charts in August 1974), a tongue in cheek response to [[Neil Young]]'s "Alabama" and "[[Southern Man]]." (Young and Van Zant were not rivals, but fans of each other's music and good friends; Young even wrote the song "[[Powderfinger (song)|Powderfinger]]" for the band, but they never recorded it<ref name="simmons">Simmons, Sylvie. ''Neil Young: Reflections in Broken Glass''. ?: Canongate, 2002. 135. Google Books. [[10 May]] [[2008]]. <http://books.google.com/books?id=uEOM7-oX-K0C&pg=PA135>.</ref>). The album reached #12 in 1974, eventually going multi-platinum. In July of that year, Lynyrd Skynyrd was one of the headline acts at The [[Ozark Music Festival, (1974)|Ozark Music Festival]] at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in [[Sedalia, Missouri|Sedalia]], [[Missouri]]. In 1975, Burns left the band and was replaced by [[Kentucky]] native [[Artimus Pyle]] on drums. Lynyrd Skynyrd's third album, ''[[Nuthin' Fancy]]'', was released the same year, though guitarist Ed King left midway through the tour. In December 1975, backup singers [[Leslie Hawkins]], [[Cassie Gaines]] and [[JoJo Billingsley]] (collectively known as [[The Honkettes]]) were added to the band, and guitarist [[Steve Gaines]], brother of Cassie Gaines, replaced King in 1976. Lynyrd Skynyrd's fourth album ''[[Gimme Back My Bullets]]'' was released that year, but did not achieve the same success as the previous two albums. Despite this, the band recorded the double-live album ''[[One More From the Road]]'' in Atlanta, Georgia, and toured the UK with [[The Rolling Stones]]. Lynyrd Skynyrd's sixth album, ''[[Street Survivors]]'' was released on [[October 17]], [[1977]]. It would be the final album by the "classic" line-up, and featured an image of the band members surrounded by flames. ===Plane crash (1977)=== {{Quote box |align=right |quote='''Maps & Satellite Photos of N55VM Crash Site''' |source={{coor dms|31|04|19|N|90|35|57|W|city}}<ref>US National Transportation Safety Board 1978 Accident Report, p. 3.</ref> |}} On Thursday, [[October 20]], [[1977]], just three days after the release of ''Street Survivors'', and three dates into their most successful headlining tour to date, Lynyrd Skynyrd's chartered [[Convair 240]] developed mechanical difficulties near the end of their flight from [[Greenville, South Carolina]] to [[Louisiana State University|LSU]] in [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]. Though the pilots attempted an emergency landing on a small airstrip, the plane ran out of fuel and crashed in a forest near [[McComb, Mississippi]], just short of its goal. Singer/songwriter [[Ronnie Van Zant]], guitarist/vocalist [[Steve Gaines]], backing vocalist [[Cassie Gaines]], assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray were all killed on impact. Other band members were injured, some seriously. Drummer [[Artimus Pyle]] crawled out of the plane wreckage with several broken ribs, but was able to walk, as were road crew members Kenneth Peden Jr. and Mark Frank. The three injured men hiked some distance from the crash site, through swampy woods, and finally flagged down farmer Johnny Mote, who had come to investigate. Varying accounts have Mote either firing a warning shot into the air or actually shooting Pyle in the shoulder &mdash; no report is completely reliable. Pyle claimed in a February 2007 appearance on [[Howard Stern]]'s [[Sirius satellite radio|Sirius]] radio program that Mote had shot him; Mote has always denied shooting the drummer. Video of a barechested Pyle at the 1979 Volunteer Jam does not show evidence of a gunshot wound. {{Infobox Aircraft crash |name = N55VM |image = |caption = |date = [[October 20]], [[1977]] |type = Stalled due to Fuel Exhaustion, destroyed on impact during emergency landing attempt. |site = Heavily-wooded Swamp, five miles northeast of [[Gillsburg, Mississippi]] |passengers = 24 |crew = 2 |fatalities = 6 |survivors = 20 |aircraft_type = [[Convair CV-240]] manufactured in 1947 |origin = [[Greenville, South Carolina]] |stopover = [[McComb-Pike County Airport]], [[Pike County, Mississippi|Pike County]], [[Mississippi]] (emergency attempt) |destination = [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]] |operator = L & J Company of [[Addison, Texas]] |tail_number = N55VM }} Medical personnel arrived and began to ferry out the injured and the dead. [[Allen Collins]] suffered two cracked vertebrae in his neck, and both Collins and [[Leon Wilkeson]] nearly had arms amputated as a result of crash injuries. Wilkeson suffered severe internal injuries, including a punctured lung, and had most of his teeth knocked out. [[Gary Rossington]] broke both his arms and both his legs in the crash, and took many months to recuperate. [[Leslie Hawkins]] sustained a concussion, broke her neck in three places and had severe facial lacerations. Road crew member Steve Lawler suffered severe contusions and facial lacerations. Security manager [[Gene Odom]] was seriously burned on his arm and face and lost the sight in one eye as a result of an emergency flare on board the plane that was activated during the crash. Victims were taken to the hospital in McComb, Mississippi by ambulances and other vehicles. Keyboardist [[Billy Powell]]'s nose was nearly torn off as he suffered severe facial lacerations, and he later caused a controversy by giving a lurid account of Cassie Gaines' final moments on a [[VH-1]] ''[[Behind The Music]]'' special about the band, claiming that the backing singer's throat was cut from ear to ear and that she bled to death in his arms. Powell also claimed that Ronnie Van Zant's head had been smashed. Powell's version of events has been discounted by both Artimus Pyle and Judy Van Zant Jenness, who posted the autopsy reports on the band's website in early 1998 in order to set the record straight.{{Fact|date=July 2008}} Despite this faux pas, Powell has been on good terms with the remaining band members since the incident. Notably, the third member of [[The Honkettes]], [[JoJo Billingsley]], was not on the plane and in fact was home tending to a family member's illness. She was planning to join the tour in Little Rock on [[October 23]], three days after the crash. According to an interview in the book Freebirds, Billingsley had dreamed of the plane crash and begged [[Allen Collins]] by telephone not to continue using the Convair. On hearing of the accident, Billingsley was so shaken that some of her hair fell out. The Convair 240 itself had been inspected by members of [[Aerosmith|Aerosmith's]] flight crew for possible use in the early summer of 1977, but was rejected because it was felt that neither the plane nor the crew were up to standards. In an interview in the book ''Walk This Way'', Aerosmith's assistant chief of flight operations Zunk Buker tells of seeing pilots McCreary and Gray trading a bottle of Jack Daniels back and forth while Buker and his father were inspecting the plane. Aerosmith's touring family was also relieved because the band, specifically [[Steven Tyler]] and [[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]], had been trying to pressure their management into renting that specific plane. {{pquote|The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of this accident was fuel exhaustion and total loss of power from both engines due to crew inattention to fuel supply. Contributing to the fuel exhaustion were inadequate flight planning and an engine malfunction of undetermined nature in the right engine which resulted in higher-than-normal fuel consumption.|NTSB Accident Report|<ref>[http://amelia.db.erau.edu/reports/ntsb/aar/AAR78-06.pdf 19 June 1978 Aircraft Accident Report - L & J Company, Convair 240, N55VM, Gillsburg, Mississippi, October 20, 1977 US. National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, D.C. Sec 3.2 Probable Cause page 16]</ref>}} It was known that the right engine's magneto — a small power generator that provides spark and timing for the engine — had been malfunctioning (Powell, among others, spoke of seeing flames shooting out of the right engine on a trip just prior to the accident), and that pilots McCreary and Gray had intended to repair the damaged part when the traveling party arrived in Baton Rouge. It is possible that the damaged magneto fooled the pilots into creating an exceptionally rich fuel mixture, causing the Convair to run out of fuel. It was suggested on the [[VH-1]] ''[[Behind The Music]]'' profile on Skynyrd that the pilots, panicking when the right engine failed, accidentally dumped the remaining fuel. Pyle maintains in the Howard Stern interview that the fuel gauge in the older model plane malfunctioned and the pilots had failed to manually check the tanks before taking off, although it is common practice in all but the largest transport-category aircraft to manually check fuel quantities to verify fuel gauge indications. Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded after the tragedy (although the surviving members, plus Judy Van Zant and Teresa Gaines, reunited to perform an instrumental version of "Free Bird" at Charlie Daniels' Volunteer Jam in January 1979). Following the crash and the ensuing press, ''Street Survivors'' became the band's second platinum album and reached #5 on the U.S. album chart. The single "What's Your Name" reached #13 on the single airplay charts in January of 1978. MCA Records withdrew the original cover sleeve of ''Street Survivors'' and replaced it with a similar image of the band against a simple black background out of respect for the deceased.<ref>[http://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/LynyrdSkynyrd-N55VM.htm The 'Lynyrd Skynyrd' Crash], Check-Six.com.</ref> ===Hiatus (1977&ndash;1987)=== Rossington and Collins formed [[The Rossington-Collins Band]] between 1980 and 1982, releasing two albums. Pyle formed The Artimus Pyle Band in 1982. Collins formed The Allen Collins Band in 1983. Tragedy struck the band again in 1986 when Collins crashed his car while driving drunk near his home in Jacksonville, killing his girlfriend and leaving him permanently paralyzed from the waist down. ===Reunion years (1987&ndash;present)=== In 1987, Lynyrd Skynyrd reunited for a full-scale tour with crash survivors Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson and Artimus Pyle and former guitarist Ed King. Ronnie Van Zant's younger brother, [[Johnny Van Zant|Johnny]], took over as the new lead singer and primary songwriter. Due to Collins' paralysis from the 1986 car accident, he was only able to participate as the musical director, choosing Randall Hall, his former bandmate in the Allen Collins Band, as his stand-in. Collins was stricken with [[pneumonia]] in 1989 and died on [[January 23]], [[1990]]. The reunited band was meant 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''. Wilkeson's long time friend Byron "Red" Glover, was Skynyrd's fill-in guitarist and functioned as a subsitute when needed. Several concerts Red was dragged up on stage by Wilkeson to play with the band. The reconstituted Lynyrd Skynyrd has gone through several lineup changes and continues to record and tour today. [[Leon Wilkeson]], Skynyrd's bassist since 1972, was found dead in his hotel room due to liver / lung disease on [[July 27]], [[2001]]. The remaining members released a double album called Thyrty which had songs from the original line up to the present. Lynyrd Skynyrd also released a live DVD of their Vicious Cycle Tour and on [[June 22]], [[2004]] Lynyrd Skynyrd released the album Lyve: The Vicious Cycle Tour. On [[December 10]], [[2004]] Lynyrd Skynyrd did a show for [[CMT]], ''Crossroads'', a concert featuring country duo [[Montgomery Gentry]] and other genres of music. In the beginning of 2005 [[Hughie Thomasson]] left the band to pursue other musical opportunites. On [[February 5]], [[2005]] Lynyrd Skynyrd did a Super Bowl party back in Jacksonville with special guests [[3 Doors Down]], [[Jo Dee Messina]], [[Charlie Daniels]] and Ronnie and Johnny Van Zant's brother [[Donnie Van Zant]] of [[38 Special (band)|.38 Special]]. On [[February 13]] of that year Lynyrd Skynyrd did a tribute to Southern Rock on the Grammy Awards with [[Gretchen Wilson]], [[Tim McGraw]] and [[Keith Urban]]. On [[May 10]], [[2005]] Johnny and Donnie Van Zant released a country album called [[Get Right With The Man]] which featured the hit single "Help Somebody". In the summer of 2005, lead singer [[Johnny Van Zant]] had to have surgery on his vocal cord to have a polyp removed. He was told not to sing for three months. On [[September 10]], [[2005]] Lynyrd Skynyrd performed without Johnny Van Zant at the Music Relief Concert for the victims of [[Hurricane Katrina]], with [[Kid Rock]] standing in for Johnny. In December of 2005, Johnny Van Zant returned to sing for Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band performed live at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky as a part of their 2007 tour. The concert was recorded in high definition for HDNet and premiered on [[December 1]], [[2007]]. On [[September 9]], [[2007]], former Skynyrd guitarist Hughie Thomasson died of a heart attack at his home in Florida. On November 2, 2007, the band performed at [[Gator Growl]], the world's largest student-run pep rally, in [[Ben Hill Griffin Stadium]] - also known as "The Swamp." The event's 50,000 person attendance marked the largest crowd that Lynyrd Skynyrd had ever played in front of in the United States; Until Bama Jam in Alabama where more than 111,000 people were in there.<ref>Kirkland, Kay. 2008-06-08. [http://www.zwire.com/news/newsstory.cfm?newsid=19755979&title=111%2C000%20jam%20at%20Bama%20Jam%20with%20Lynryd%20Skynyrd%2C%20Hank%20Jr.&BRD=1145&PAG=461&CATNAME=Top%20Stories&CATEGORYID=410 "111,000 jam at Bama Jam with Lynryd Skynyrd, Hank Jr."], ''Southeast Sun''. Retrieved on 2008-07-07.</ref> It was announced on Lynyrd Skynyrd's official website that they are in the process of recording a new album. It is confirmed to have a recording of pre-crash Skynyrd lineup that was previously unreleased. It is expected to be released by early 2009. ==Recognition== ===Honors=== In 2004, [[Rolling Stone Magazine]] ranked the group #95 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.<ref>[http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty/ 100 Greatest Artists of All Time]</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = The Immortals: The First Fifty| work = Rolling Stone Issue 946| publisher = Rolling Stone| url =http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty}}</ref> ===Rock and Roll Hall of Fame=== On [[November 28]], [[2005]], the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] announced that Lynyrd Skynyrd would be inducted alongside [[Black Sabbath]], [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]], [[Miles Davis]], and the [[Sex Pistols]]. They were inducted in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan on [[March 13]], [[2006]]. Lynyrd Skynyrd had been nominated 7 times. On [[March 13]], [[2006]], Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] at the 21st annual induction ceremony. The inductees included [[Ronnie Van Zant]] (Lead Singer/Song Writer), [[Allen Collins]] (Songwriter/Lead and Rhythm Guitar), [[Steve Gaines]] (Singer, Song Writer, Lead and Rhythm Guitar), [[Ed King]] (Backup Vocals, Songwriter, Lead and Rhythm Guitar), [[Gary Rossington]] (Songwriter, Lead and Rhythm Guitar;), [[Billy Powell]] (Keyboards), [[Leon Wilkeson]] (Songwriter, Bass Guitar), [[Bob Burns]] (Drums), and [[Artimus Pyle]] (Drums). ===Tributes=== *In 1994, various country music artists united to record a Skynyrd tribute album titled ''[[Skynyrd Frynds]]''. *Ronnie Van Zant's widow, Judy Van Zant Jenness, operates a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute website for the educational purpose of sharing the original Lynyrd Skynyrd band's history<ref>[http://www.lynyrdskynyrdhistory.com/index.html Lynyrd Skynyrd History Official Website<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, as well as [[Freebird Live]]<ref>[http://www.freebirdlive.com Freebird Live - Premier Live Concert Venue - Jacksonville Beach, FL - Home Page<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, a live music venue in [[Jacksonville Beach, Florida|Jacksonville Beach]], [[Florida]]. * The [[Drive-By Truckers]] album "[[Southern Rock Opera]]" should be considered a must listen for any fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The album is done in a Song Circle/Bildungsroman style libretto and tells the tale of a fictitious band, "Betamax Guillotine", whose life, times and ultimate fate resemble that of the Lynyrd Skynyrd band. ==Discography== {{main|Lynyrd Skynyrd discography}} === Studio albums === {| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Title !Certifications<ref>[http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS US Certifications]</ref> |- |1973 |''[[(pronounced 'lĕh-'nérd 'skin-'nérd)]]'' |align="center"| 2x platinum <small>(USA)</small> |- |1974 |''[[Second Helping]]'' |align="center"| 2x platinum <small>(USA)</small> |- |1975 |''[[Nuthin' Fancy]]'' |align="center"| Platinum <small>(USA)</small> |- |1976 |''[[Gimme Back My Bullets]]'' |align="center"| Gold <small>(USA)</small> |- |1977 |''[[Street Survivors]]'' |align="center"| 2x platinum <small>(USA)</small> |- |1991 |''[[Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991]]'' |align="center"| — |- |1993 |''[[The Last Rebel]]'' |align="center"| — |- |1997 |''[[Twenty (album)|Twenty]]'' |align="center"| — |- |1999 |''[[Edge of Forever]]'' |align="center"| — |- |2000 |''[[Christmas Time Again]]'' |align="center"| — |- |2003 |''[[Vicious Cycle (album)|Vicious Cycle]]'' |align="center"| — |- |align="center" colspan="20" style="font-size: 8pt"| "&mdash;" denotes albums that weren't certified. |} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.lynyrdskynyrd.com Official Lynyrd Skynyrd site] * [http://www.lynyrdskynyrdhistory.com Official Lynyrd Skynyrd History site] * [http://www.verboo.com/art/verboo.php?id=1882 Lynyrd Skynyrd - Verboo Article] * [http://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/lynyrd.htm Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young: Friends or Foes?] * [http://online.wsj.com/public/article/0,,SB111102511477881964-ZkAKwALO87RaHLbFJrSJSA_i9xg_20050415,00.html?mod=blogs Wall Street Journal: Rock's Oldest Joke: Yelling "Free Bird!" In a Crowded Theater] * [http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=44587&key=0 NTSB brief of crash] * [http://www.lynyrdskynyrddixie.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=588 Ronnie Van Zant "A Big Man"]' * [http://thephoenix.com/Supplements/2008/50States/Florida/ Boston Phoenix article naming Lynyrd Skynyrd the All-Time Best Band from Florida] {{Lynyrd Skynyrd}} {{Lynyrd Skynyrd singles}} [[Category:1970s music groups]] [[Category:American rock music groups]] [[Category:Jacksonville, Florida musical groups]] [[Category:Musical groups with siblings]] [[Category:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees‎]] [[Category:Southern rock bands]] [[bg:Ленърд Скинърд]] [[cs:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[da:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[de:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[es:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[fr:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[gl:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[id:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[it:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[he:לינרד סקינרד]] [[lt:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[hu:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[nl:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[ja:レーナード・スキナード]] [[no:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[pl:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[pt:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[ru:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[simple:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[sk:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[fi:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[sv:Lynyrd Skynyrd]] [[uk:Lynyrd Skynyrd]]