Lynyrd Skynyrd Bio
Beyond the tragedy, the history, the raging guitars and the killer songs, ultimately, Lynyrd Skynyrd is about an indomitable will. About survival of spirit; unbowed, uniquely American, stubbornly resolute.
With their first set of new studio material since 2003’s Vicious Cycle, legendary rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd returns with God & Guns, due out September 29 on Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records. Recorded in Nashville in 2008-2009, the project was interrupted—but, tellingly, not ended—by the deaths of founding member/keyboardist Billy Powell and longtime bassist Ean Evans earlier this year.
Driven by core members Gary Rossington (guitar), Johnny Van Zant (vocals) and Rickey Medlocke (guitar), along with longtime drummer Michael Cartellone, Lynyrd Skynyrd have recorded an album (“under duress, as usual,” according to Van Zant) that very much lives up to the legacy begun some 35 years ago in Jacksonville, Florida, and halted for a decade by the 1977 plane crash that killed three band members, including Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines. Since then, the band tragically lost Allen Collins, Leon Wilkeson and Hughie Thomasson, yet they rock on.
With the passing of Powell and Evans, “a lot of people probably expected us to say enough is enough,” admits Medlocke. But that would not be the way of this Rock & Roll Hall of Fame powerhouse. With a catalog of over 60 albums and sales beyond 30 million, Lynyrd Skynyrd remains a cultural icon that appeals to all generations, and God & Guns is a fitting addition to the canon. The Skynyrd Nation awaits.
“We wanted to show the people that not only are we doing the old material, keeping the music going, but we still have some new tricks up our sleeves, too,” says founding guitarist Gary Rossington.
Returning to the studio after the death of Powell, whose keyboards can be heard on more than half the songs on God & Guns, was “very difficult, I ain’t gonna lie to you,” says Van Zant. “But we got through it, as Lynyrd Skynyrd seems to always do. Music’s a great healer. These songs needed to be out there, this record needed to be made. Gary, Rickey and myself just said ‘let’s go for it, let’s get this thing done.’”
Unfortunately, coping with loss is familiar to this band. “We just kind of fell back in,” says Rossington. “We’ve been doing this a long time, so you just kind of do what you do. As you get older, you get a little more used to it. You know it’s coming, and it’s coming to you, too. I just thank God for every day and all the time I had with the guys that aren’t with us anymore.”
The crying is over and now it’s time to rock. “We’ve had some really bad moments this year already, and I’m glad we’re able to pick ourselves up by our boot straps and just continue to play,” says Medlocke. “For us to weather through this makes this record even more special. I’m sure Billy and Ean are looking down upon us with big smiles.”
With noted rock producer Bob Marlette, input from guitarist John 5, and a wealth of material written by the band and a cadre of elite Skynyrd-minded songwriters, a remarkable album emerged. “We never really worked with producers that well, we kind of always wanted to do it our way,” admits Rossington. “But Bob Marlette came on and he’s such a great guy; he figured out how to talk to us musically, and we became friends instantly. He had a lot of fresh ideas and ways to do things, and also wanted to capture the old sounds, too.”
Of John 5, Rossington adds, “he’s probably one of the best guitar players I’ve ever played with, and I’ve played with a lot of great ones. He just lives with a guitar on him, and he knows that neck like nobody I’ve ever seen.”
With a backbone of Southern rock and country, passionate Van Zant vocals, and trademark layered guitars, God & Guns manages to maintain the iconic Skynyrd punch while sounding completely contemporary. Sure to attract attention in these politically divided times is the title track, which harbors a sense of menace and unwillingness to back down that hearkens back to Skynyrd’s earliest days. The band knows the song, and others like “That Ain’t My America,” will have their critics, but Medlocke says listeners should get beyond the title.
“It’s not just the words ‘God and guns.’ you gotta look past that and look at what this country was founded on: freedom,” Medlocke says. “Everybody should be able to make their own decisions and not be led around by a nose ring and told what to do and when to do it.”
And if some critics don’t like it, “that’s called freedom of choice,” says Medlocke, who carries his Native American heritage with pride. “I’m sure some critics will look at it, God & Guns, the rednecks are back.’ Well, the guys in this band aren’t rednecks, Rickey Medlocke’s the only damn redneck in this band ‘cause I got red skin.”
The title track, along with the unmistakable Skynyrd bite of the first single “Still Unbroken,” form thematic songs for an album laden with attitude, heart and purpose. “Skynyrd’s about tradition,” says Medlocke. “We are guys that don’t go around preaching about our own personal or political beliefs, although I’m sure you could probably guess mine. In this record is personal tragedy, personal relationships and being on the road, all under that umbrella of real life. That’s what we think, that’s what we believe, and we stand next to that title, God & Guns.”
To portray Skynyrd as a bunch of “gun nuts” would be incorrect, according to Van Zant. “I’m kind of like Ronnie, ‘handguns are made for killing,’ and I’ve never seen anybody shoot a deer with a .38,” he says. “I do own a bunch of rifles, I live out in the swamp, and you’ve got to protect yourself.”
Skynyrd is a band, after all, that has never shied away from standing up and speaking for a segment of the population whose voices are seldom heard. “Everybody’s so scared to say stuff these days, that’s not what I’m about,” says Van Zant. “We live in America, we can speak our minds. These are our values. That doesn’t mean we’re always right in everybody’s mind. Hopefully, we don’t offend a bunch of people. And if we do, well, get a record deal, man, and make your own songs.”
This is a band well aware of the responsibility that comes with putting the name ‘Lynyrd Skynyrd’ on anything, be it an album or a concert. “We feel like we have to keep the standards high,” says Rossington. “I wouldn’t put this record out, I’d fight not to, if I didn’t think it was good.”
And so Skynyrd stands, “still unbroken,” in 2009. “People may say, ‘they need the money,’ well I don’t think any of us need the money,” Van Zant says. “It’s just that we love the music, it’s bigger than the money, it’s not even about that any more. We have to make a living, sure, but it’s about the legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and what it stands for, what the fans are all about. There’s nothing like getting out there playing a great show with Skynyrd and seeing people love this music.”
Adds Rossington, “We’re still standing, still keeping the music going. We wanted to do the guys who aren’t with us any more proud, and keep the name proud, too.”
Gary Rossington- Guitar
Johnny Van Zant- Vocals
Rickey Medlocke- Guitar
Mark "Sparky" Matejka- Guitar
Michael Cartellone- Drums
Robert Kearns - Bass
Peter “Keys” Pisarczyk - Keyboards
Honkettes:
Dale Krantz Rossington- Backing Vocals
Carol Chase- Backing Vocals
Leave a comment (508 Responses)
LeandroRockify // August 26, 2010 12:49:44 AM UTC
The best band in the whole universe.
I'm 15 and these guys are my idols.My dream is to see them playing in a live concert.
God Bless u all,love u guys.Lynyrd Skynyrd Forever!
From your Brazil Fan
lnewt100 // August 19, 2010 3:12:46 AM UTC
me and my 15 year old son went to the sean hannity concert at the gwinette city arena and that was his first concert and to see his idols was the greatest thing abnd the seats we had were right were we could see johnny and the other band members before they went on stage and johnny waived at my son and that so made his whole year, and my son also has learned the drums and guitar , jamming out to some skynyrd , i as well grew up listening to them they are great and do put on a great concert , gary rossington -still a legend himslef great guitarist ... wonderful band .. the best i whish my son could have gotten and autograuph from johnny that would have been the icing on the cake ,,, the tickets were for his birthday.... the best gift ever he says >>> rock on guys , always a legend to us...
bermudaborn56 // August 19, 2010 2:37:52 AM UTC
yes I do think I am lucky. I love jacksonville. I moved here from oklahoma 11 yrs ago after visiting jax for two weeks, three weeks later i lived here, lol. I love the jaguars football team and Lynyrd Skynyrd and the fact that they are from here. I was very lucky to work with his oldest daughter and meet his youngest daughter too. They are both great young ladies and fun to be around. I hope one day to meet their dad in person, and to sit in maybe with the band would be a dream come true also. i grew up playing there albums cranked up loud and playing the drums to them with the patio doors open and the neighborhood kids outside listening in, lol. It's a bummer you can't come over here to hear them. I wish they would come to the Freebird club in jacksonville beach sometime. or the beach amphitheater and do a free concert or at the landing by the football stadium.. that would be great too. I love playing freebird on the drums to the cd. wish i had a live dvd of them playing in concert. I did get to see them live in oklahoma city many many years ago. and saw them in gainesville at the UF basketball auditorium with ZZTOP back around 99 right after I moved here. I won the tickets from one of the local radio stations. that was one hell of a great concert.
Cella // August 19, 2010 2:10:58 AM UTC
@ronnieinmyheart420: Please keep your nuts! Why can't you come to the United States? If that is too personal of a question, I am sorry, and just ignore this post. In all do respect, I never had enough money to see Skynyrd, I never had the time off work to see Skynyrd, I never could leave my aging parents and family that have counted on me for years. I FOUND A WAY! My heart and soul has been with LS for many, many years. I can't go without seeing them for more that 1 year. They deserve so much more than the R & R Hall of Fame! They deserve the Purple Heart of Rock & Roll, they deserve the Noble Rock-n-Roll Prize (if you know what I mean). I would love to see them in the Super Bowl this year. Whatever, they just deserve so much for being such a close band, who care so much for each other, America, their fans, etc. I honor them as I honor God. They are good people inside and out! YOU HAVE TO FIND A WAY!
ronnieinmyheart420 // August 18, 2010 10:35:21 PM UTC
@bermudaborn56: You bermudaborn56 (or how 'bout bb56 fer short?) are one of the luckiest folks on this ball of mud ever.
I'd give my left nut (or my right one) to be able to go to Jacksonville, Florida or Birmingham,Alabama,if they'd let me in the U.S.A. first of all, to party and jam with the Skynyrd gang for a week,day, hour, or even fifteen minutes.
YOU WILL NOT EVER FIND A MORE LOYAL, DEDICATED FAN OF THE GEAT LYNYRD SKYNYRD BAND ANYWHERE IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE. AND THAT IS OR MAY AS WELL BE WRITTEN IN STONE BY GOD HIS SELF.
Ya'll can laugh yer face purple reading this and may think,"…ya right…", but you know one thing? YOU GOT THAT RIGHT.
Bottom line, I ENVY YOU FROM YOUR SKYNYRD EXPERIENCE.I never got to see 'em live, 'cause I was in the hospital, pret' near dead when the plane fueled out in South Carolina or the North one. That terrible incident ruined my train of thought for a long damn time. Thanx fer yer time in reading my response. God Bless Lynyrd Skynyrd and do it now. Take care now, ya here?
bermudaborn56 // August 18, 2010 3:43:06 AM UTC
I have no response to anyones comments, but if any of the band members read this, really sorry to hear about the guys. I used to work at Ron Turner cycles in jax with Johnnie's oldest daughter, from around 04 to 05 when I had my bike accident in march of 05 going to bike week. Just about two yrs or so ago, the girls brought you (Johnnie) an album (pronounced) and had you (Johnnie and Billy and Gary) sign it. Thank you guys very much. And about two yrs ago my son and I were cruising my boat thru the back water tributaries over by the black creek area (we were camping at the old girl scout camp ground just south of the bridge) and came upon your land and dock and talked to a couple guys that said that is where you played now and then and in the old days, and also showed us the train track bridge just down the ways where you took your pics for your other album. It was a very nostalgic chat we had with the guys, not sure who they were, but I guess your buddies, lol. Anyway. I live in Jax on the ss still, over by the former ron turners cycles and I play drums. If you ever get a jam going on in jax, I would love to sit in and play one song with you guys. You can check out my drum set on my facebook under ken thurman and ask your daughter (we called her Red, lol. she was dating Tom back then) just to verify who I am and not a weirdo, lol. I hope someone from the band reads this and gets in touch. thanks. ken.
swampmusicolehounddog // August 16, 2010 1:35:40 PM UTC
HOW'Z IT GOIN' YA REBEL DOGS? ME?, WELL I'M JUST FREAKIN' DUCKY. HEY GARY, OR SHOULD I ADDRESS YA AS MR. ROSSINGTON? I WILL BE YOUR BAND'S "GO-BOY". YOU KNOW, RUN OVER HERE, THER, ANYTHING, TOO A POINT, ANYTHING REASONABLE re: guitar tuning, amp carrying, other instrument maintenance,etc.
I AM READY, WILLING AND MORE THAN ABLE TO DO MOST OF YOUR DIRTY WORK, BUT (even better), FOR FREE.JUST GIVE ME A CORNER TO CRASH AT TIMES AND A BIT OF FOOD, SOME SMOKES, I'LL PROVIDE MY BUD, IN FACT IT'S AS GOOD AS B.C. BUD BUT IT DID NOT HAVE A FANCY NAME, LIKE MOST OTHER BUD. ONE DAY, THE FAN LEAVES TURNED BLACKER THAN TOBY'S ARSE, SO I LABELED THE DRIED BUD "BLACK DAHLIA". COOL NAME EH?
ANYWAZE, YAZ LIKELY HAD A MILLION FANS SAY THEY'D DO IT, BUT WOULD OR COULD THEY? I F@%$(*^ DOUBT. AS FAR AS ME, I CAN DO THE FORE MENTIONED JOB FOR JUST FOOD. I DO NOT DRINK "BOTTLED ARSEHOLE" A.K.A. BOOZE EVER, SO I'D BE A VERY GOOD FREE SECURITY GUY TOO.
JUST GIVE IT A SECOND, TO THINK ABOUT IT. I DO HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD FOR GROWING A MEDICINAL PLANT, CAN YOU BELIEVE WHAT THIS WORLD HAS COME TO?
WHY WOULD A GUY OFFER TO WORK, AND I KNOW HOW HARD YA'LL MUST WORK, AND FOR FREE? REASON BEING, SO I CAN JAM A BIT WUTH GARY ON MY TELY (a freaking beauty 4 sure) AND TO WORK FOR RONNIE (R.I.P.) AND THE REST OF THE PASSED SKYNYRD BAND MEMBERS WHO HAVE SINCE PASSED OR STEVE,CASSIE,ETC. WHO PERISHED IN A SWAMP 'CAUSE SOME LAZY PIOLET INSISTED "…THERES ENOUGH FUEL…" (YA RIGHT, EVIDENTALLY EH?).
LOOK MONEY IS GRAT, BUT IT AIN'T EVERYTHING, MAYBR ITS THE ONLY THING, BUT, I WOULD BE JUST ECSTATIC ABOUT WORKING FOR "THE BEST BAND WHO LIVED ON THE PLANRT, EVER AND THE STREET SURVIVORS WHO ARE STILL SURVIVING. SURVIVE FOREVER GUYS, BECAUSE I ALREADY KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER WILL BE re: WORKING FOR LYNYRD SKYNYRD (4 FREE). TAKE CARE GUYS N' GALS AND KEEP ON PICKIN' AND A GRINNIN' EH YA'LL? FROM YOUR, WITHOUT A DOUBT, BESTEST FAN YA'LL WILL EVER HAVE, AND THE MOST LOYAL, "RONNIEINMYHEART".
Cella // August 09, 2010 11:29:17 PM UTC
@BranchWhitney: I agree! He did set the theme for the band. He was pretty much the song writer for the band. I have read up on them for years too. Everyone that knows me knows I am a huge Skynyrd Fan! On my door at work I had the count down of days to my next Skynyrd concert. The workers would always say they have heard of counting down to Christmas and all but not to a concert. "28 Days to Skynyrd!"
BranchWhitney // August 09, 2010 11:16:27 PM UTC
@Cella: Wow! What a great story. I have a great black n white photo of Ronnie reaching out from the stage and grabbing hands. It's my favorite photo of Ronnie. I believe Ronnie set the theme of the band: Southern boys with a ton of musical talent.
Cella // August 09, 2010 11:09:23 PM UTC
@BranchWhitney: How funny! My story is that I started my son on Rock-n-Roll with LS when he was 9 years old. He is now 18, but his favorite song was "Gimme Three Steps". When they came close to where we lived I bought tickets. Long story short, we are at the concert and on the floor, but my son was too small to see above the crowd, he was too heavy for me to hold on my shoulders. He wanted to stand on the chair, the bouncer or concert staff kept telling him to get down. He didn't want to miss his favorite song. After a while the bouncer saw how upset he was getting, tapped me on my shoulder and waved for us to follow him. He took us right up to the wall under neath Gary Rossington. I was so grateful to him. Anyway, his song finally came on. My son was so excited. He could barely see above the was but just enough. Gary looked down at my son and winked at him. When his song was over, Free Bird came on and my boy was the only little one on the wall. Johnnie saw him and during the song he pointed at my son and said "Little Guy", my son was freak'n out by this time and I was drooling on his head for being that close. When they really started to jam in FreeBird they all moved down and jammed in front of me and my son. They kept pointing at him and acknowleging him. When the song was over, Gary and Ricky bent down and gave my son their picks. I was just so overwhelmed by all that and my son could not believe they did that for him and the bouncer. When we got home my son put the picks and the ticket stub in a picture frame and to this day he remembers all that and still has the frame. I wrote to them after that concert and thanked them for the memory they gave me and especially my son. Weeks later they sent back a letter and an autograph picture of the band. They truly are a down to earth group of guys and gals and truly made an impression on my son. To this day also, my son loves rock and roll and I am so grateful for that. I just wanted you to know one of my memories of LS.
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