After Burnss death over the weekend, Rossington said he was at a loss for words.. Johnson sat in for Gary Rossington on the Big Wheels Keep on Turnin' Tour, Crinkley played guitar on the Big Wheels Keep on Turnin' Tour. He was exhausted from touring and left the band in 1975, and Artimus Pyle replaced him. [23], Hall and Custer were replaced by Mike Estes and Owen Hale, respectively,[24] both of whom performed on the 1994 album Endangered Species. Lynyrd Skynyrds Sweet Home Alabama meaning is often interpreted as being racist because of the the lyrics reference In Birmingham they love the governor who was a segregationist. Powell suffered severe facial lacerations, almost losing his nose, but was otherwise relatively uninjured. [citation needed] Powell returned to Jacksonville, where he enrolled at Bishop Kenny High School. On January 28, 2009, Powell died at the age of 56 at his home in Orange Park, Florida. Today Gary Rossington is the last surviving member of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup. He is known in popular culture as the eponym of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd; Skinner was the band members teacher. There was no mention of him in the article. Original Lynyrd Skynyrd members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Steve's sister Cassie (backup singer), assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray didn't survive. Steve Gaines, Cassie's younger brother, was 28. The band's iconic songs include "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird.".
Lynyrd Skynyrd founding member Larry Junstrom has died at 70 - USA TODAY Who Is the Only Remaining Original Member of Lynyrd Skynyrd? However, the fact that he is on the mend is good news. However, the current tour will have to go on without him. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted the band in 2006; Skynyrd's songs remain a staple of classic-rock radio; calling for "Free Bird" during a concert is still a rite of passage; 1973's . "He rocked arenas all over the world and succeeded in living his dream. Is there going to be a Sweet Home Alabama 2? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
Lynyrd Skynyrd Last Living Original Band Member is Hospitalized - Outsider Mote realised the situation when Pyle shouted that there had been a plane crash, helped Pyle inside his house and was part of the initial rescue party. In the song the lyric I hope Neil Young will remember, southern man dont need him around anyhow, was a amusing shot at Young who had wrote the songs Southern Man and Alabama. In 1969, they became Leonard Skinnerd (soon to be Lynyrd Skynyrd) to mock Skinner, who used to give the boys trouble for their long hair. Cause. The other band members suffered serious injuries but survived. With the death of original bassist Larry Junstrom in 2019 (via Rolling Stone ), Gary Rossington was left as the only surviving founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. He. Things were going great for the band in 1977 as they recorded their next studio album, Rock-n-Roll Music by The Beatles in Paris 1965, Guaranteed to Blow Your Mind, Anytime - Freddie Mercury, 134 Rock-n-Roll Legends Crossed the Rainbow in 2017, https://rockandrollparadise.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/21-Rock-n-Roll-Music-Live-Evening-Show.m4a, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C11MzbEcHlw, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZnodJJ7l_I, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZf41UudAbI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWz9VN40nCA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dC0DseCyYE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV2kH2yPwUw. Neil Young's song Southern Man disparaged the South. It was named after Leonard Skinner , the bands high school P.E. [3] The following year, Walker was replaced by the band's original choice of bassist Leon Wilkeson, and Medlocke moved to third guitarist as Burns returned on drums. Two years later, keyboardist Billy Powell died from heart problems. ), Allen Collins, Bob Burns, Gary Rossington,Larry Junstrom, Ronnie Van Zant. During the time between the plane crash and the Lynyrd Skynyrd reunion in 1987, Powell joined the Christian rock band Vision in 1984. 2023 Cable News Network. More:Cream drummer Ginger Baker dies at 80. He has been in the band from day one and his six-string slinging has been featured on every one of the bands releases. David DiDonato, a member of local band Modok and music instructor, broke the Guinness Book World Record after a 24 hour session that saw him surpassing the previous record by nearly forty minutes. [3] It was during a break from Skynyrd's touring schedule that Powell suffered a fatal heart attack. In fact, the guitarist said that he has had heart attacks on stage a lot.. Lynyrd Skynyrd broke up after this devastating crash, until the surviving members got together during a Charie Daniels gig and found that the audience for their music was as strong as ever. However, the group consisted of some familiar faces. Being the opening act for The Whos Quadrophenia tour in 1973 also helped expose the band to a nationwide audience. He named it "Berniece" in honor of his mother (whom he was extremely close to after the death of his father). The 10 most difficult guitar solos to play. [6], Shortly before recording began for the band's debut album (Pronounced 'Lh-'nrd 'Skin-'nrd), Wilkeson left Lynyrd Skynyrd and was replaced by Ed King. To date, Rossington still plays in Lynyrd Skynyrd. What Happened to the Original Drummer from Lynyrd Skynyrd? This would lead to another album release in 76, the live album One More For the Road, which also was a huge hit. [2] After performing live for several years, the band recorded for the first time in 1971, when Junstrom and Burns were replaced by Greg T. Walker and Rickey Medlocke, respectively. Lynyrd Skynyrd members Mark Matejka, Johnny Van Zant and Gary Rossington perform at SiriusXM Presents Lynyrd Skynyrd Live at Buckhead Theatre in Atlanta on March 15, 2018. Recorded and released in 1974,Second Helpingcemented their legacy as a band determined to face the world entirely on its own terms.. At the end of the statement, Lynyrd Skynyrd asked that fans say some prayers for Gary Rossington and his family to help speed his recovery along. He was 70. The band was formed by a bunch of high school friends in 1965, vocalist/songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, bassist Larry Jungstrom and drummer Bob Burns. In 1987, Lynyrd Skynyrd reunited for a full-scale tribute tour. The crash took the lives of singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, and both pilots. Today Gary Rossington is the last surviving member of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup.
Rickey Medlocke - Bio, Facts, Family Life of Singer His death inspired countless tributes, in and out of the Southern rock community and extending across the country-music world, where he had many friends and admirers. Rossington has carried the Skynyrd torch all these years.
How many original Lynyrd Skynyrd members are still alive? How many guitarists did Lynyrd Skynyrd have? |. As of last night, a man in Austin, Texas now holds the new world record for the longest guitar solo of all time. This album also would feature Kings replacement, guitarist Steve Gaines and a trio of female backup singers, and it became Skynyrds second Top Ten album. He still plays with the band today.
What Does It Mean If Someone Is Rudderless? Things were going great for the band in 1977 as they recorded their next studio album, Street Survivors, which would turn out to be one of the bands biggest hits. Lynyrd Skynyrd (/lnrd sknrd/ LEN-rd SKIN-rd) is an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. Van Zant performs at a concert in Atlanta in 1975. Those members included: Gary Rossington Ronnie Van Zant Bob Burns Allen Collins Larry Junstorm Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. From left, Collins, Van Zant and Rossington perform in New York. In 2023, with the 50th anniversary of their pioneering debut albumPronounced Lh-nrd Skin-nrdthe band continues to tour, record, and delight their hundreds of millions of global fans with an eye on both the future and their rich history. Formed in the summer of 1964, there were five original members based out of Jacksonville, Florida. 0:00. The album, featuring the hit song Free Bird, sold over a million copies and reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The band is the epitome of classic southern rock and roll. It would be ten years before they reunited. In 1987, the band returned for what was intended as a one-time tribute tour and album "Southern by the Grace of God: Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour 1987." Before the man could act, Van Zant told him to gimme a few steps, and he would be gone. Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1973 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.
[9] King left on May 26, 1975, two months after the release of Nuthin' Fancy.
Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist recovering following emergency heart surgery - CNN Raquel sat in for Dale while Gary is recovering. Burns laid the pace for the famous songs Free Bird and Sweet Home Alabama. Ed King makes Skynyrd a three-guitar band no small feat and Billy Powell joins on keyboards, solidifying the group that would make many of the enduring classic songs the band became known for. But it was the song Free Bird, a tribute to Allman Brothers deceased Duane Allman, with its great three lead guitar-army attack ending, that really got the band going. [18] Hall left in 1993 after the release of The Last Rebel,[21] later suing the remaining members of the band for $500,000. Kid Rock borrowed from the melody and lyrics in his 2008 hit, All Summer Long. Larry Junstrom, an originalmember oftheSouthern rockbandLynyrd Skynyrdand the longtime bassist for .38 Special, has died. He danced with a girl whose boyfriend didnt like it. They would regroup again in the mid 90s with former Blackfoot guitarist Rickey Medlocke replacing King, ex Outlaw Hughie Thomasson replacing Hall and new drummer Michael Cartellone. Van Zant, left, and Gaines perform on stage in 1976. The bands next album,Nuthin Fancy, was recorded in a rushed 17 days to accommodate an aggressive touring schedule. Before long, guitaristAllen Collinsand bassistLarry Junstromwere added to the mix, and the band began entertaining Jacksonville audiences first asMy Backyard, then asThe Noble Five, then asThe One Percent, before finally arriving on the nameLynyrd Skynyrdin 1969. They said, Music is a powerful healer! The band's popularity soared in 1974 with their follow-up album, Second Helping, which featured their highest-charting single, "Sweet Home Alabama". Lynyrd Skynyrd is a Southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Who were the original members of the band free? This song is not for the faint hearted. 1976 But another tragic event would take place in 1986 when Collins was in a bad car crash which killed his girlfriend and left him paralyzed; four years later, he died of respiratory failure. Rossington had just bought a new Ford Torino and hit an oak tree while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. Before long, a second generation Lynyrd Skynyrd was adding new members and recording new music, despite legal battles with the widows of Van Zant and Gaines over the use of the name. The sound got louder and louder until Rossington was knocked unconscious; he awoke some time later on the ground with the plane's door on top of him. Van Zant performs at RFK Stadium in Washington. Ronnie Van Zandt handled vocals, Allen Collins and Gary Rossington shared guitar duties, Larry Junstrom played bass and Bob Burns sat behind the drums. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Required fields are marked *. Ironically, the cover of Street Survivors showed the band enveloped in flames. Formed: 1965 in Jacksonville, Florida Providing backup vocals for the band's live performances were, from left, Cassie Gaines, Leslie Hawkins and JoJo Billingsley. Forming in 1975, guitarist Don Barnes and singer Donnie Van Zant come together and start the band. The deceased were Ronnie Van Zant, the bands lead vocalist, guitar player and vocalist Steve Gaines and his sister, backup singer Cassie Gaines. He joined 'Blackfoot' back in 1969 and was associated with the band for two years as a front-man cum guitarist. Formed in 1964, the group originally included vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, bassist Larry Junstrom and drummer Bob Burns. In 1972, Skynyrd played a show at the Bolles School prom. He was in the ill-fated 1977 plane crash, sustaining injuries to both arms, legs, wrists, ankles, and pelvis.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2012-2023 On Secret Hunt - All Rights Reserved Home How Many Lynyrd Skynyrd Band-Mates are Original? ", The bassist went on to join the rock band .38 Special in 1977, fronted byVan Zant's younger brother, Donnie. Hughie Thomasson passed away from heart failure in 2007. After the deaths of keyboardist Billy Powell (2009) and Larry Junstrom (2019), guitarist Gary Rossington became the last surviving original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The early 2000s saw more recording and touring, including a performance at the 2008 Bama Jam in Enterprise, Alabama, which was attended by over 111,000 people the largest crowd the band had ever entertained. Along with his wife, Dale Krantz-Rossington, he then formed The Rossington Band, which released two albums in 1986 and 1988, respectively. Kooper, right, works in an Atlanta studio with members of the band: from left, Van Zant, Gary Rossington and Allen Collins. The remaining crew and band members were seriously injured. Lynyrd Skynyrd is about as southern as biscuits and gravy or dinner at grannys on a Sunday. Ironically, the cover of Street Survivors showed the band enveloped in flames. In 1973, they released their first album, Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd. An impromptu afternoon jam session in the carport of Burns parents house inspired the trio to form a band. Rossington was also a founding member of the Rossington Collins Band, along with former bandmate Allen Collins. As of January 24, 2021, Rossington is the only original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd that is still alive. [4] Medlocke had left by the end of the year. It wasn't Neil Diamond who disparaged the south; it was Neil Young, with his song 'Southern Man'.
Steve and his sister Cassie grew up in Miami and played in several bands before joining Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1976. He has been in the band from day one and his six-string slinging has been featured on every one of the band's releases. His death was announced Sunday on . He recalled the plane crash and the effort afterwards to get help, which included him getting shot by the first person he found. The first album version runs nine minutes and eight seconds, allowing original Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarists Collins, King, and Rossington to full-on jam. His death was announced Sunday on the official Facebook account of .38 Special, a rock band thatJunstrom joined in the 1970s following his stint withLynyrd Skynyrd. Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. Forby Leonard Skinner (January 11, 1933 September 20, 2010) was an American high school gym teacher, basketball coach, and businessman from Jacksonville, Florida. The first iteration of the band formed in 1964. When Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed, Burns joined the band two more times. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. >> Click to read more << The hit song Free Bird and an opening on The Whos Quadrophenia tour sent the original members into stardom. [9] In July 2021, he underwent emergency heart surgery.[10]. Rossington, a guitarist, is the only original member still in the group. We wanted to do the guys who arent with us any more proud and keep the name proud, too., Lynyrd Skynyrd. The group was discovered in Atlanta by Al Kooper in 1972 while they were playing a gig and he signed them to his Sounds Of The South label. ", 'Our time is coming to an end':Lynyrd Skynyrd on new music, loss and farewell tour, Junstrom formedLynyrd Skynyrd with singer Ronnie Van Zant, drummer Bob Burns andguitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins in 1964, but left before the band recorded their 1973 debut album, "Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Lynyrd Skynyrd number 95 on their list of the100 Greatest Artists of All Time.". Gary Robert Rossington is an American guitarist. Lynyrd Skynyrd. Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington performs during the Stagecoach Festival near Palm Springs, California, on April 27, 2019. 2 Who was the original lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd? April 3, 2015, Cartersville, Georgia), and Artimus Pyle (b. Drummer Bob Burns died in 2015 due to a fatal car accident. And since that time, we have been talking amongst the band, and realized that music has such a way of healing, Rossington said in a statement in June. Tell us in the comments what your favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd song is! Powell rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 for a tribute tour, and remained with the band until his death. Lynyrd Skynyrd on new music, loss and farewell tour, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. [30] He was replaced by Ean Evans, who had earlier substituted for Wilkeson at several shows the previous year. Gaines and Van Zant were 29 years old when they died in the 1977 plane crash. The rest of the band was seriously injured. [38] Keith Christopher replaced Colt in mid-2017.[39]. . 2023 sees them teaming with fellow southern legends ZZ Top for the Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour, as well as playing several stand-alone concerts for their enthusiastic and generational fan base. Rossington recalled that he was a "good ball player" but upon hearing the Rolling Stones in his early teens he became interested in music and ultimately gave up on his baseball aspirations.[1]. 7 Which members of Lynyrd Skynyrd that died? 38 Special Overview Forming in 1975, guitarist Don Barnes and singer Donnie Van Zant come together and start the band. Having become one of the top bands in the Jacksonville area, they had an opportunity to record their first demos at the now iconic Muscle Shoals Sounds Studio in Alabama. Skynyrd disbanded following the crash. There will never be another like him. We all felt playing the shows and bringing the music to yall was a better option than canceling the performances.. [citation needed] When it was time for high school, his mother enrolled Billy and his brother Ricky at Sanford Naval Academy in Sanford, Florida. Neil Young, not Neil Diamond. During the concerts, Powell spoke about his newfound Christianity; messages that were also delivered via two bonus tracks included on the album Mountain in The Sky. 5 When did Steve and Cassie Gaines join Lynyrd Skynyrd? Rolling Stone, according to a release on the bands website. Billy Powell, a keyboardist, passed away from heart issues two years later. List of Lynyrd Skynyrd members Three lineups of Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1973 (top), 1977 (middle) and 2008 (bottom). [25] King was forced to leave the band in 1996 due to health problems, with Hughie Thomasson brought in to take his place; Estes left around the same time, with former drummer Medlocke returning to the band on guitar as a result. From their humble Jacksonville beginnings, through tragedy, reunion, and redemption, the band has earned its place on Rolling Stones list of the100 Greatest Artists of All Time as well as a prominent spot in the hearts of generations. two original Who Wrote Islands in the Stream (Hint: It Wasnt Dolly or Kenny). The bands fan base continued to grow throughout 1973, fueled in part by their performances as the opening act for The Whos U.S. Quadrophenia tour. He is the only remaining original member of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, in which he plays lead and rhythm guitar. Disagreements and pressure led to fissures among the group and prompted additional lineup changes.. 2. Who is the last original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd?
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Band's History With Confederate Flag, Guns - Rolling Stone There is more good news for those who planned to see the band live this summer. Huffman substituted for Powell at several shows in 2008 during the Rock & Rebels Tour. Junstrom performed with the group for nearly four decades, playing on hits songs "Hold On Loosely," "Caught Up in You" and "Rockin' Into the Night.". Sadly, he hasn't been in the best of health in recent years, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times in 2018. One of those new additions was Steve Gaines, whose multiple talents were on full display in the bands fifth album, "Street Survivors." The band continues to record and tour to this day with a loyal following, but not quite like it was in the old glory days of Ronnie Van Zant and company. 1. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much The bands sixth studio album, Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991, was their first collection of new music since 1977s Street Survivors.". Lynyrd Skynyrd is currently on tour, 15 months after the bands farewell tour was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a release on the bands website. Are any of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd band still alive?
List of Lynyrd Skynyrd band members - INFOGALACTIC With the deaths of keyboardist Billy Powell (2009) and Larry Junstrom (2019), he is the last surviving original member of the band. Rossington's mother recalled that he had a strong childhood interest in baseball and aspired as a child to one day play for the New York Yankees. The Muscle Shoals recordings would ultimately be released in 1978 as Skynyrds First andLast, then repackaged in 1998 as Skynyrds First: The Complete Muscle Shoals Album., Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Leon Wilkeson, Ronnie Van Zant, Billy Powell, Bob Burns, Ed King. Van Zant, 59, has been the frontman for the Southern rock band since 1987, when he took over for his late brother, founder Ronnie Van Zant, who died in a 1977 plane crash along with guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines. No matter where you are in the world, everyone is from Alabama when Sweet Home Alabama plays. After graduation in 1970, he enrolled at and briefly attended a community college, majoring in music theory. Rossington, the bands only original member still playing in the current iteration, is home resting and recovering with his family, according to the post on Friday. All Rights Reserved.
How many original members are in Lynyrd Skynyrd now? In 1996, he participated in a performance to promote Freebird: The Movie. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. How Do You Get Rid Of Hiccups In 5 Seconds. Although this video hit the YouTubes a few years ago, we thought youd enjoy hearing the isolated guitar-solo track from Lynyrd Skynyrds Free Bird. The solo on the songwhich was played by Allen Collins and Gary Rossingtoncomes it at Number 3 on Guitar Worlds list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time. The outlet noted that the guitarist previously underwent quintuple-bypass heart . Now Available: 134 Rock-n-Roll Legends Crossed the Rainbow in 2017 - A Tribute to their Lives Dismiss. [1] In elementary school, Powell met Leon Wilkeson, who became a lifelong friend and the bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd. "The Big Man on the Big Bass has left us," the statement began. Original members Leon Wilkeson and Billy Powell passed away in 2001 and 2009, respectively. [19] After the band's first post-reformation studio album Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991, Pyle left suddenly after a show in August,[20] with Kurt Custer taking his place. Stairway to Heaven Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin (1971) Since its release in 1971, Stairway to Heaven has topped numerous lists as the best rock song and best guitar solo of all time, and its primarily thanks to the masterful architecture of Jimmy Pages guitar solo. A Warner Bros.
Flags, farewells and Florida: Lynyrd Skynyrd goes deep on their [3] It's not known if the elder Van Zant's efforts were successful, but Rossington later dropped out of high school to focus on Lynyrd Skynyrd full-time.[2]. As great a song as Free Bird was, it would not turn out to become their biggest international hit. After the crash, producers changed the cover. More than the Allman Brothers, their blues-hard rock, three-guitar weaving line-up was a Southern Rock image hard to forget.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - Lynyrd Skynyrd History Gary Robert Rossington is an American guitarist. They released their third album Nuthin Fancy in 1975 and it was a Top Ten hit. The fact that Rossington just got out of heart surgery is worrying for several Lynyrd Skynyrd fans. 1. They didnt land on the name that we all know until 1969. Guitarist Hughie Thomasson died from a heart attack in 2007. How do I choose between my boyfriend and my best friend? In 1980, Rossington joined former Lynyrd Skynyrd members Collins, Wilkeson, and Powell to form the Rossington-Collins Band. Three teenagers, Ronnie Van Zant on vocals and Allen Collins and Gary Rossington, both on guitar, got together to form a band in 1964. Hughie Thomasson.
What You Didn't Know About Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gary Rossington - Grunge.com 2:23. For most of his career, he has been playing through Marshall and Peavey Amplifiers. The members included bassist Leon Wilkeson, keyboardist Billy Powell, and guitarist Ed King. Under that name and several others, the group developed its chops playing local and regional gigs throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, then finally broke out nationally in 1973 following the adoption of the name Lynyrd Skynyrd in honor of a high school gym teacher/nemesis named Leonard Skinner. The bands statement said, Our thoughts and prayers are with Gary Rossington as he recovers from emergency heart surgery. The statement went on to say that Rossington is currently resting and recovering with his family at his home. Rossington was one of 20 passengers who survived the October 20, 1977 plane crash near McComb, Mississippi, that claimed the lives of Lynyrd Skynyrd members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and three others. Original members Leon Wilkeson and Billy Powell passed away in 2001 and 2009, respectively. What was the original purpose of a cupola?
How many of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd are still alive? - Vim Buzz Are any of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd band still alive? The plane crashed in the woods five miles outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi, killing band members Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, as well as backup singer Cassie Gaines (Steves sister) and road manager Dean Kilpatrick.