The passing of Gary Rossington gave me great pause last night. Lynyrd Skynyrd was one of my favorite bands of all time. And the memories it gave me with my close friends during the 70s came flooding back. With all the original members now deceased it’s very strange.
For those of you not familiar with the group and having trouble with the band’s name they made it clear on their first album – (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd)
It’s reminding me of how old we have gotten and how precious all those past days were and how important all future days are. As I’ve sat here listening to some of my favorites Simple Man, Freebird, and Working for MCA it makes the hair on my neck stand up still. This is a band of stories. Experienced and observed ones sang with passion and played with their hearts.
I loved their cover of J.J. Cale song Call Me the Breeze. I remember the live album, On More From the Road coming out and becoming our group marching music. I still throw this one in the car cd player on my trips to the beach when I go alone.
Everyone has those times when they can remember the exact moment when news of tragedies hit their idols. I was working my first newspaper job when the news came of the plane crash in 77, I can almost relive that crushed feeling I had that night. I saw them before the crash but was never interested in the redone lineup. It just wasn’t the same without those important members who perished.
They are all playing again in Hell House. Kind of fitting it’s just about a full moon tonight. They are shining bright in the sky as always. Thank you to all the members who gave me an important soundtrack for life.
Random Thoughts of the Day
- Life is better with friends.
- March Madness is upon us. My favorite sports month of the year. Well, that and the final four in early April.
- The Revenge tour is underway I see from the film at CPAC. I thought the President was supposed to represent all US Citizens, not to make war against more than half the population. He and Putin have a lot in common. No wonder they like each other so much.
- Things change because time changes