Actually Ricky Medlock was the original drummer before Artimus Pyle.
I don't know if Billy Powell is still tinkling the ivories, but with him, Ricky and Garry Rossington there are still 3 "original" members still playing.

 

It could have been worse...
Momma and me had VIP seating for that concert!
That was $120 down the tubes.....

 

Of course it could be worse; we could've been on the plane with them.

 

Johnny is about as for from being Ronnie as you can get. At a concert awhile back and each member of the whole band at one time or another spit out into the crowd, how sad (and the crowd was really into them, and they still spit on them). Could you imagine that happening in 1976?

 

Seen LS and ZZtop on July 31. LS was awesome, ZZtop sucked. I think it had alot to do with thier equipment tho.

 

Thought I heard Billy Powell passed away from a heart attack earlier this year. Everyone here is right, the current band is a cover, but I still have my old albums and concert memories. Out of all the 70s southern rock bands, they were the top of the heap. RIP

 

Yeah, Billy Powell did pass away, Gary Rossington is the last original member is the current lineup, Artimus Pyle is still around playing drums in his own band. I was a huge Skynyrd fan growing up, kinda sad how most of them died to young

 

Ricky Medlocke, who currently plays guitar with Skynyrd, was their drummer back in '71 before they hit it big. Medlocke went on to front Blackfoot. I know this because they played my high school spring dance.

I was there in Jacksonville when Ronnie sang 1 or 2 songs before retiring with a soar throat. After a lengthy jam with Charlie Daniels, who was the lead off act that night, a riot ensued. Skynyrd swore not to come back to their hometown. They relented, then the plane went down not too long after that.

It's too bad they cancelled. That was the one act our group we wanted to see while we were in Sturgis.

 

Well, I guess I'll chime in. So, since Duane Allman died in 1971, the Allman Brothers are a "cover band " too.

John Bonham dead, Led Zepplin, cover band.
Cliff Burton dead in 1986, Metallica, cover band.
Brian Jones dead, 1969, Rolling Stones, cover band.

Yes, Billy Powell died of a heart attack in Jan of 2009.

Johnny Van Zant in the hospital being treated for Staph infection, thus the canceled dates.

They have changed members since they started. If you saw them in '76 and '77, it was a different lineup each time.

I saw them first in 1975 and the 21st time in may of 2011. Most any band you hear is not the 'Original" members.
Granted Lynyrd Skynyrd took a huge hit with the death of Ronnie VanZant and Steve Gaines (see avitar)

But the current line up is awsome. If you like Skynyrd's music you will love the show.

I wouold be pissed, too if I lost $$ due to cancelled show. The Chip should have made it good.


Are they older? Yes, but so am I.

Do they still rock? You bet. Packed houses everytime.

If you don't like em, that's cool. I don't like a lot of groups either.

 

Going to see them saturday at aberdeen proving ground. Hope they make it.