If I Leave Here Tomorrow...

Today, October 20, I want to pay tribute to the moment when the world of rock music was forever altered — the day Lynyrd Skynyrd’s chartered plane crashed near Gillsburg, Mississippi in 1977. On that tragic day, six lives were lost, including Iead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines, his sister/backing vocalist Cassie Gaines and road manager Dean Kilpatrick — alongside the two pilots. One of the last surviving original members from the 70s, Artimus Pyle, drummer, (yes this is always up for debate as he wasn't there from Day 1 but he WAS in the band in the 70s and WAS on the plane) crawled from the wreckage and sought help - not before being shot first. He made a documentary in 2020 about it (Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash). Definitely worth a watch if you are a fan.

Just three days earlier the band released their album Street Survivors. They were on top of the world. Beloved by so many. The surviving band members were all badly injured and this accident changed the band forever. Lynyrd Skynyrd was and always will be the the face of Southern Rock. Their songs - Free Bird and Sweet Home Alabama are Southern rock anthems.

I was a casual fan growing up, everyone knew Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird. But not until I was well into adulthood did I begin exploring their music more and I was instantly hooked by Ronnie's beautiful voice, the mesmerizing guitar riffs (thank you Gary), the raw sound of classic rock, the stories told through songs. I loved it. I needed to know more, hear more, see more. I loved reading about their wild stories, how they came to be, Ronnie's personality. They will forever be one of my absolute favorite bands.

I've been fortunate to see them tour a few times but again, it's not the same, even with Ronnie's little brother Johnny taking the lead vocals (and he does a DAMN fine job) and Ricky Medlocke from the 70s on guitar today. But for a fan to see people who knew the OG members and played with them, bring their music to life on stage, it's good enough for someone who was only two years old when the accident happened. And I always get choked up when they play the memorial video in the background showing all the members who have passed while Ronnie's hat sits on the mic stand by itself. I was even fortunate enough to catch Gary Rossington come on stage for a few songs before he passed. Even more amazing was meeting Artimus Pyle a few years ago when his own band came to NJ - told him he was my 2nd favorite drummer after my dad - he got a kick out of that.

But for today, let's remember those voices lost and how bright their light shined, especially Ronnie and celebrate the music they left behind. Ronnie sang it - "If I leave here tomorrow, will you still remember me?" I don't think we will ever forget.