October 20, 1977
Lynyrd Skynyd
Back in the day, there weren't many bands that would get my feet to tapping and cause me to break out in a big grin as much as Lynyrd Skynyrd could...
Their genre of music was good old fashioned Southern Rock... and in my opinion, they were the best.
This is one of my mostest favoritest Skynyrd songs...
'Saturday Night Special'
... another mostest favoritest...
'Gimme Back MyBullets'
Skynyrd had just added Steve Gaines as a guitarist... Ed King had quit the band, claiming that he just couldn't keep up with the pace of touring that the band was experiencing. Gaines brought great guitar skills and another voice to the band...
In November, '77, Skynyrd was going to headline a concert at Madison Square Garden. They seemed to be set to take things to the next level. Skynyrd was traveling from Greenville, SC to Baton Rouge, LA, when their chartered plane ran out of fuel and crashed right outside of Gillsburg, MS...
Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, as well as Gaines' sister, Cassie, were killed in the plane crash, along with the pilot and co-pilot, and Skynyrd's assistant road manager. The surviving members of the band all suffered serious injuries from the crash.
In the years since, only two members of that version of Lynyrd Skynyrd are still alive... one being Artimus Pyle and the other, Gary Rossington. Rossington is the only surviving member of Skynyrd that is in the band of that same name today. Ricky Medlocke plays in today's version of Skynyrd... he was with them before the band achieved any form of notoriety...
Thirty-five years ago... where has the time gone?
It seems that we can work a life time for what we want from Life... attain it... and only enjoy it a short time.
I'm sure there is a Life Lesson in there somewhere...
~shoes~
And seven days later yours truly was born! Fly high free bird!!
ReplyDeleteHey Sunshine... in that case, you have a special birthday coming up next week!!!
DeleteDo you have any big plans??
~shoes~
Shoe's I hate to tell you this but you need a shrink, you obviously have a split personality. Your top song is a song talking about the ills of handguns and your second favorite song is complaining about missing bullets! :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is Curtis Lowe!
Ryan... I need a shrink for a whole host of reasons, but this isn't one of them. I did think about the paradox presented by this selection of songs... both performed live, and both kick-ass performances.
Delete'Gimme Back My Bullets' is a song about Billboard charts... If a song was ranked #12 with a bullet, it meant the song was expected to move up the charts the next week.
Skynyrd was struggling with their direction at this time... the song was about wanting some respect from Billboard, and how they wanted more respect for their songs.
"Gimme back, gimme back my bullets
Oh, put 'em back... where they belong..."
The album, on which this song was recorded, was the weakest selling of the Skynyrd portfolio, and was recorded with only two guitarists. Shortly after this album was released, Skynyrd hired Steve Gaines...
I hope you have had a great weekend, Ryan...
~shoes~
You know I love 'em! I didn't know all the history. I seriously only started listening to their music a couple years ago. I had horrible musical taste when I was younger :/
ReplyDeleteHi there, Ms Annie... I was that way with Pink Floyd... didn't care for them at the time... now, I can't get enough of them.
DeleteTalk about screwed up timing... :op
~shoes~
Do you listen to Van Zant? They get play on country radio these days. Ever since I got really sick I mostly stopped listening to the radio so I am not keeping up very well, but I liked them. They were just coming out when I was still barely holding it together. At that time, I mostly watched country music TV because I could watch for 10 minutes and turn it off to go back to bed. Yeah, I was hanging in by a shoestring. But, anyway, I knew as soon as I heard their song HELP SOMEBODY that they were going to be BIG. When music is in your soul you just have to play. Period.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Robin... yes, I have. They are the brothers of Ronnie Van Zant... not to be confused with Townes Van Zandt...
DeleteI totally agree with your last statement about music being in ones soul, and having to play it, or enjoy it in some form or fashion.
I so hope you are doing better, Robin.
~shoes~
Extremely sad--plane crash.
ReplyDeleteIf u ever learn the life lesson, please share with the rest.
I am always open for lessons.
Stormy... most of us don't learn our Life Lessons until somewhere towards the end of that Life.
Delete~shoes~
Since, I seem to go my own directions with comments I decided to be a good student this time instead of the rebel student. Regarding the lyrics of the song, just goes to show u so called don't judge a book by it's cover. The titles of the songs could be misleading. But the truth of the matter is u need to ask the author of the words what he meant.
ReplyDeleteI much prefer being a rebel student.
Brings about more conversation versus just agreeing
I think very few of us actually listen to the lyrics of a song, and instead, get caught up in the tempo of it.
DeleteSometimes, though, knowing the lyrics still won't get us to the real meaning of the song.
~shoes~
I love bands that make my feet tap, dance, move and impossible to sit still!!!
ReplyDeleteHi, Ana!! Me too!!!
Delete~shoes~
That is a serious Southern rock band and I had no idea about what had happened to them after the crash. Thanks for the history, memories and photos. Good stuff!
ReplyDeleteHi there, Scarlet!! How are the portraits coming along??
DeleteThere was as much sadness among the survivors after the crash as there was at the time of the crash. Continued drug and alcohol issues, personality clashes...
Just Life issues... you know?
~shoes~
I never knew much about the history of this group either so thanks i always wonder sometimes about what ever came of some artist.
ReplyDeleteDoesnt billboard post the sales and spins of songs and album sales?
So why would they feel billboard didn't respect them?
Hi there, Liz... Billboard used to. I'm not sure what they do now.
DeleteI think that LS hit a spell where their music was a little empty. Skynyrd was one of the first groups to go with three lead guitarists.
When Steve Gaines joined, he seemed to light a new fire under their rears...
~shoes~
I forgot when I use to look at billboard it also did articles on groups. Maybe they didn't like the review they got from them
Deleteahhhhhhhh I wore a mother of pearl free bird around my neck for longer than was considered cool.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Green Monkey...
DeletePPphhhhfffftttt...
some times are always cool!!!
~shoes~
Sad, sad, day when we lost these greats.
ReplyDeletexoxo
~vk~
Hi there, Vixen! Long time, no see!!
DeleteI hope all is great with you!!
~shoes~
Molly Hatchet did a pretty good job of ripping off Skynyrd's style but was a bit heavier, which I really enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Heff.. They sure as Hell did!!!
DeleteI think they did one kick-ass version of the Allman Brothers song, 'Dreams'...
How are things in Alabama today?
~shoes~
OMG Red, I loved your terminology "making my world smaller." It fits me a like a glove as well.
ReplyDeleteHi, Ana... that terminology does work well for me. As sad as it sounds, I tend to shut myself away from others when I am feeling that way. I find that it's one of the few ways I can really heal...
Delete~shoes~
You're so right, Shoes-- very few listen to the lyrics and for me that's what I love the most about a song-- lyrics that touch & move you on an emotional level.
ReplyDeleteBut I also don't mind a song that just has a great beat to dance to either.
Hi there, Princess...
DeleteLyrics... the written word... I love so adore good song writers. I went to Santa Fe a few years ago... after having broken up with someone. I was in this one shop, and a clerk asked if I was killing time while my better half shopped somewhere. I scoffed and made this comment: 'The last time I saw her was in Tupelo.'
He was convinced I was a song writer..
LMBO!!!
I hope all is well with you.
~shoes~
Ive given up trying to figure out the lessons we are being taught!!
ReplyDeleteCan't there just be a clear sign or something that says todays problem is sponsored by:
Hi there, Choleesa. I don't think it matters who is responsible for today's problems... I think what is important is how we each individually process that problem and put it behind us... make sense??
Delete~shoes~
The list of musicians killed in small plane crashes is sadly, impressive, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteBuddy Holly
Richie Valens
"The Big Bopper" J.P. Richardson
(The plane crash of the above 3, and the loss of Buddy Holly, inspired "Bye-Bye American Pie" aka "The Day That Music Died".)
Patsy Cline
Jim Croce
John Denver
Rick Nelson
Otis Redding
Reba McEntire (along with 7 members of her country music band)
And yes there are others. Perhaps all their tours, their chaotic schedule of performances from one locale to another only increased their odds of such a tragic death?
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThat type of travel is wrought with great danger. The number of people who have died in those kinds of plane crashes bear that out.
DeleteRe: the flight with Buddy Holly etal, Waylon Jennings was supposed to have been on that flight, but he got pulled at the last minute. Someone else took his place on the flight. Jennings told Buddy Holly that he hoped the plane crashed...
Jennings said that he was always haunted by those words.
Reba did lose those seven musicians in a plane crash, but she wasn't on that flight. She was aboard another plane
Thank you for stopping by.
~shoes~
Professor Red Shoes--
ReplyDelete"Shrink" We all need someone to talk to whether it be a professional or a friend that is willing to listen and most of the time not comment.
"Music being in one's soul" Music has made me cry for no particular reason at all. This usually happens while driving. Although, I am not sad the song makes tears stream down my face. But so do movies scenes. I was crying in the Disney movie "Brave" just this last weekend when the Mom and the daugther were realizing possibly they would never be together again.
"Making My World Smaller" I have scared myself and taken my blog down. I have gotten too personal with my information. Too many could locate me if they wanted. I have decided to not be so open with comments other than what I feel. Plus I am too open and too trusting with my heart.
"The last time I saw her was in Tupelo." It does have a ring of a song to it. No?
Have a blessed week and weekend.
StormyDawn and Buttons