Before I list a lot of the Q & A answers from the band, I just want to make a few comments about the cruise...........
*It was AWESOME!! One of the best things this year was getting picture made with the entire band.
*Thanks to Medway for helping me to get my picture made with Sparky (my new avatar)!! I will also treasure the new dog-tag Skynyrd necklace.
*Tom, I wish that I could have been one of the members of the Nation that you met on the cruise. Didn't know that you were going to be on it.
*For the few negative comments I have already read on the boards--I'm usually the "peace maker" and the sweet one on the boards, but I just want to say to you.......You get out of it what you put into it!!!!!! If you can't walk away from an experience like that and be happy, then probably your glass is usually half-empty anyway.

Skynyrd Q & A
Let me just say that Gary Rossington should be a stand up comedian. He was TOO FUNNY!!
(I watched the video I made of the event, and here are some notes that I made.)
?? Effect of Nashville Flooding--Billy Powell's white piano was found sitting in water just like the rest of their equipment. But, it is being restored!! Ricky's old "Explorer" was in 3 ft. of water & was restored. Michael C.'s drums were in 4 ft. of water and Pearl restored them and now he says that they sound better.
?? Ever closed with anything other than Freebird--Johnny, "No that would be sacreligious." Gary, "One time, back during our drinking days, we played an entire set backwards. But we still managed to end with Freebird."
??Peter, tell the story again about getting the job with the band--After trying out for the band he saw something white in a tree and he thought it was a plastic bag. Then it flew away and he realized that it was a white owl. Rickey M. told him that a white owl is the messenger between worlds. Now he has a tatto of it!! Then they told that Peter got married the Sunday before the cruise & that this was his honeymoon. Gary said, "If you go by their room and the boat's a rocking, don't come a knocking."
??When will you stop touring--Johnny, "When the Lord tells us to or when yall stop coming." Gary, "Or one of these cruises sinks! But, we'll be like the Titanic.....we'll play the whole way down!"
??Sparky, how did you get your name--Gary responded, "It was from our old gym coach in high school." Sparky said that he really got it from Little League.
??What is it like for yall when you hear the first few cords of "Sweet Home Alabama"--Gary, "When Sparky starts it, it makes our hearts soar like a hawk."

.............and that is just a sampling of all the comments from the Q & A.

I didn't ask questions. Questions were asked by others who had their submitted questions "drawn".
I've already posted in the "Words of Wisdom" thread that Skynyrd did say that they ARE ALREADY working on a new album.

Excellant post.!!

I don't contribute much these days, but i'm on here looking all the time.
So more of the same would be greatly appreciated.

=Sweet Home AL Sara said: ..........and that is just a sampling of all the comments from the Q & A.

Sara, thanks for the post.

I could sit and listen to those guys chat and tell stories for hours. :)

I have met Robert and Peter, they're really nice guys. Haven't met the rest of the band, yet, but I am looking forward to it.

Great Job Sara.....

Yes I agree this is a side that a LOT of people don't see of Gary.... Between Johnny and Gary these two guys were just cutting it up...

You forgot the question about rides....

Question: Do you ride and if you do what kind...
Answer: Gary - I just got a Green Schwin the other day.... The whole place was a sea of laughter...

And then the "stupid" one...
Question: Who is the "risk" taker in the band like SKY DIVING!!!! WTF!!!!
Answer: After everyone gasped (jumping out of a PLANE), Rickey said.... Why the hell would someone jump out of a perfectly good plane...
Bad question...

Don't know if it's the exact question and answer but you get the point....

Again Gary and Johnny were having a great time taking the questions. It was great to see Gary enjoying himself....

I agree, thanks for posting Sara. It was nice to read, since I wasn't able to make the cruise.

=Sweet Home AL Sara said:
*Tom, I wish that I could have been one of the members of the Nation that you met on the cruise. Didn't know that you were going to be on it.

*For the few negative comments I have already read on the boards--I'm usually the "peace maker" and the sweet one on the boards, but I just want to say to you.......You get out of it what you put into it!!!!!! If you can't walk away from an experience like that and be happy, then probably your glass is usually half-empty anyway.

Someone also asked the band what they thought of the Alabama Crimson Tide fanbase adopting Sweet Home as the unofficial battle cry for Bama athletics. Johnny said that he liked it and that the song is about Alabama afterall. Johnny did say that it shocked him the first time he heard a pro-Alabama concert crowd roar the words "Roll Tide Roll" in unison after the main chorus line. As soon as Johnny said that, I belted out a big Roll Tide Roll foe good measure. Om another note, I met Rickey Medlocke on the beach in Mexico and had my picture taken with him. I'll get it posted on my avatar within the next few days.

@AlabamaSkynyrdFan17: From one Alabama fan to another.........I can't believe that I forgot that one. There are several questions that I didn't add because I only added the ones that I recorded.

"maybe theres really no talent in the younger brother"LYNSKYN1981"

okay I am just going to say this about that. go to Jax , Find JVZ, and say that to his Face.
I'd like to be a bug on that wall when you do. He is in NO ONE's Shadow,and never has been.Take it from
a fan that was with Lynyrd before your Parents even Thought about having you..this Band is NOT about the new guys.It's not all about doing all new material at the shows.It's not.they could put an album out every Year if they wanted to.It'd be awful , but they could.Every time I hear them say we are working on a new album,I think to myself,gee-I hope I'm still alive when it comes out cause that could be awhile.lol..just part of the territory of being a fan.They take the Time (and yep-that may be years) to do it RIGHT,cause the Name Lynyrd Skynyrd and the reputation of Lynyrd is on it.
If you don't like what they are doing,fine.Do me a favor-stop going to see them.Give up your seats to People who have never seen them,but have always wanted to.
It's fine to have an opinion about the setlist and such,but to take a pot shot at JVZ-well,to me, that's just crap.
I've seen you post a lot about the new members-and they are fine musicians,don't get me wrong,but you seem to forget HOW they all got there.This is Ronnie's Band.He may not be here,but to me,he's still calling the shots.
It's for him and all of the others who gave their blood sweat tears love and lives for this Band,that they go on.
It seems to me , that you are one of the ones who just doesn't get it.But I ain't madatcha,cause you weren't around on that dark october night in 1977.Jvz doesn't need me or anyone else to defend him.Maybe now,you need to go and hang out on Gene Odom's Board...I mean,to take a swipe at JVZ is not something a TRUE Fan would do,and it's just not something,I , as a TRUE Fan,want to hear.He has more Talent in his little finger than most lead Singers I've seen ,and I love JVZ.that's all I'm gonna say.