Lynyrd Skynyrd: Classic or Dud?

The original lineup of The Beatles aka The Quarrymen

I thought Artimus Starr was still with us...

Not anymore unfortunately. Cause of death: bizarre archery accident.

Original Skynyrd bus drive Optimus Prime is still with us, isn't he?

john ingham, a uk writer who interview skynyrd in glasgow in the mid 70s, wrote this in a letter to bob lefsetz:

I joined them in Glasgow at the Albany Hotel (the only place musicians stayed). We were the only people sitting in the dining lounge. At the end of the room was a low stage and a keyboard and mics. After awhile a guy and girl combo climbed on to the stage and started to play in a very Carpenters style. Not brilliant, not terrible, an ordinary hotel band.

As soon as they started Ronnie Van Zandt and Gary Rossington paid attention and listened to them and at the end of each song applauded. Then the record company lady made a disparaging comment about the playing. Instantly Ronnie spun on her and with real anger said, “They’re musicians. They’re working. You show them respect.”

A-plus

<3

A+

RVZ OTGDM

that's awesome

rossington's slide work on "Freebird" is all time, beautiful

Singer-songwriter (and one-time '90s Blues dude) Ian Moore, from FB:

Gary Rossington- I want to tell a short story about his humanity.
My band was touring with Skynard and Ted Nugent. It was, as you can imagine, a very trippy tour. I would spend a lot of evenings hanging with Gary and his wife Dale. Gary and Ted were very different people. Opposite ends of the spectrum.

One night, during the show, Ted’s main guitar, a late 50’s Birdland, fell and the neck broke. I was hanging with Gary. He was distraught. Despite their differences, he couldn’t stand that Ted’s main guitar was broken. He stayed up all night, found the exact same guitar, bought it, and had it at the arena the next morning. That is the kind of guy Gary Rossington was

Gary and Ted were very different people. Opposite ends of the spectrum.

trying to think of higher praise that you could give someone

so tough

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx5gdTtBq90

the preeminent prog country band

I was caught off guard this morning by the mellotron on "Tuesday's Gone" and "Free Bird" before remembering this scientific fact

captain beyond might like a word but i get it

That respect thing says so much, don’t want to mess with it but summarizing or paraphrasing etc.

But=by

second helping was released 50 years ago today

turn it up

I'm *still* not sure of the politics of "Sweet Home Alabama." At the least it's probably the most maddeningly ambiguous/misunderstood/complicated song of its ilk aside from "Okie from Muskogee," with which is shares a lot of DNA. Even the band was inconsistent when talking about it.

Skynyrd are playing with ZZ Top not too far from me, but the line-up now is basically Ricky Medlocke, Ronnie Van Zant's brother and a bunch of random dudes. How they get to go out playing under the name is beyond me.

“SWA” is a good sophomore year high school talent show entry, just be prepared that the bass player will be the only one in the band who remembers the F-E-D turnaround

Ronnie was in his twenties when he wrote that and came from a very backward place. That song is well beyond him and his politics now. Anyway saying the governor’s true in that situation is pretty reprehensible.

“All I can do is write about it” is his best defense of the south.

Disney Skynyrd ride when

yeah 'watergate does not bother me/does your conscience bother you' is pretty straightforward

but the Swampers

“Now watergate has got the swompers”

“Now we all did what conscience do”

I've got to admit, as a simple man, that I've never had any idea what "watergate does not bother me/does your conscience bother you (tell the truth)" was meant to convey.

I think he’s questioning whether the average citizen should feel guilty about the behavior of their elected representatives.

Or is it kind of the same idea as Randy Newman's "Rednecks"? Like, you get all righteous about misbehaving politicians, but maybe you secretly harbor similar beliefs? ("Tell the truth")

You can't read too hard into these lyrics, folks.

https://i.imgur.com/wvB32jh.jpeg

Or is it kind of the same idea as Randy Newman's "Rednecks"? Like, you get all righteous about misbehaving politicians, but maybe you secretly harbor similar beliefs? ("Tell the truth")

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, April 18, 2024 12:19 PM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink

different in that Randy gets to say the n-word cuzza he's such a Smart Guy