On a flight on October 20,1977 after a concert in Greenville, South Carolina the great Southern rock band Lynard Skynard, became a legend. For this is when their chartered Convair CV-300 ran out of fuel and despite the valiant efforts of the pilots to make an emergency landing on a small airstrip, the plane went down in Gilsburg, Mississippi in Amite ( pronounced A-mitt) County, 10 minutes from the next Lynard Skynard tour stop,Baton Rouge,Louisiana. Just three days after the release of the band's fifth studio album Street Survivors and five days into their most successful headlining tour. Lead singer, Ronnie Van Zant was killed on impact when a piece luggage flew out of the above head compartment and struck him snapping his neck. Also killed in the crash was guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister backup singer Cassie Gaines as was assistant road manager Dean Kirkpatrick, pilot William McCreary and co-pilot William Gray; the other band members Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Leon Wilkeson, Billy Powell,Artimus,Pyle and background singer Leslie Hawkins and road crew suffered serious injuries.
Following the crash and the immediate press, Street Survivors became the band's last album to have original members of Lynard Skynard, Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins on it and is also the only studio recording to have Steve Gaines on it. It is also the second platinum album for the band reaching number5 on the U.S. album charts. With the single "What's Your Name" reaching number 13 on the singles charts in January of 1978. The original cover of Street Survivors had flames in the background but because of the death of band members and pilots the flames were discontinued and a black background was put in its place behind the band.
What's Your Name
Well, it's 8 o'clock in Boise, Idaho
I'll find my limo driver
Mister, take us to the show
I done made some plans for later on tonight;
I'll find a little queen
And I know I can treat her right.
What's your name, little girl?
What's your name?
Shootin' you straight, little girl?
Won't you do the same?
Back at the hotel, Lord, we got such a mess
It seems that one of the crew had ago with one of the guest, oh yes.
Well the police said we can't drink in the bar
What a shame
Won't you come upstairs girl
and have a drink of champagne
What's your name, little girl?
What's your name?
Shootin' you straight, little girl?
For there ain't no shame
What's your name, little girl?
What's your name?
Shootin' you straight, little girl?
Won't you do the same?
What's your name, little girl?
What;s your name?
Shootin' you straight, little girl?
Won't you do the same?
9 o'clock the next day
And I'm ready to go
I got six hundred miles to ride
To do one more show, oh no
Can I get you a taxi home
It sure was grand
When I come back here next year
I wanna see you again
What's your name, little girl?
What's your name?
Shootin' you straight, little girl?
Well, there ain't no shame
What's your name, litle girl?
What's your name?
Shootin' you straight, little girl?
Won't you do the same?
Lynard Skynard disbanded after the crash, reuniting just once in January of 1979 to perform an instrumental version of "Free Bird" at Charlie Daniels' Volunteer Jam V. Collins, Rossington, Pyle and Powell performed the song with Charlie Daniels and members of his band. Even though he was still undergoing physical therapy for his left arm, Leon Wilkeson was at the performance as was Ronnie Van Zant's widow, Judy; Chris Gaines' widow, Teresa; JoJo Billingsley, backing vocalist for the band and Leslie Hawkins.
Even though the end of the original band is tragic as were some times for the survivors after it Lynard Skynard has survived the years of break-ups, replacements, deaths to finally getting it right with again with Ronnie's kid brother, Johnny Van Zant.
On May 2, 2012 Lynard Skynard the upcoming release of a studio album entitled Last of a Dyin' Breed along with a North American and European concert tours. On August 21,2012 Last of a Dyin' Breed was released. To celebrate the album's release, the band had four autograph signing tour throughout the southeast.
On September 9, 2012 while on the Piers Morgan show on CNN the band stated that it had discontinued the use of the Confederate flag in their concerts because they did not want to be associated with racist who had adopted the flag. After fans protested they revised the decision, noting that it is part of Southern heritage and states rights.
MAY THEY REST IN PEACE
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