Following the recent death of Gary Rossington, the last surviving founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the remaining band members say they will continue on.
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“After much discussion with the band, the families of Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins, and Dale Rossington, the collective has reached unified support,” read a statement from the band. “[They] feel that continuing to perform live, and keeping the music alive, is in the best interest of the fans and everyone involved.”
Rossingon died on March 5 at the age of 71. A cause of death was not revealed, but the guitarist had suffered heart ailments over the years. In 2015, Rossington suffered a heart attack and was advised by doctors in 2018 to stop touring for 15 years. The guitarist survived the tragic plane crash in 1977 that claimed the lives of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines and seriously injured the remaining band members.
“Gary was always the first to say how ‘Skynyrd’s music is bigger than me or any one person,'” said Rossington’s widow, Dale, in a statement. “Gary made it known at every chance to express how timeless the music was, and it was always his goal to keep the music alive for his brothers because that was always their dream. He spent his entire life trying to carry on that dream for Ronnie, Allen, Steve, and all the others over the years.”
She continued, “While he was not able to physically be onstage with the current lineup over the last couple of years, he supported them in every way. His dream will continue thanks to [singer] Johnny [Van Zant], [guitarist] Rickey [Medlocke], and the rest of our bandmates to continue to carry his legacy and music on for future generations.”
Johnny Van Zant added, “Gary was not only my brother, bandmate, and friend. I think he loved me as much as I loved him. We would do anything for each other. We laughed, we fell, we cried and made up, and shared the stage for the last 36 years. Gary, along with my brother Ronnie and Allen, started this band and left us all a legacy of music that has stood the test of time, and crossed three generations of fans.”
Johnny Van Zant, the younger brother of late singer Ronnie, is now the longest-running member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, after joining the band in 1987 when they first reunited. Medlocke is also linked to the band’s earliest days, playing and recording with them in 1971 and 1972 prior to the release of their debut album, and as a member of the band since 1996.
In addition to Johny and Medlocke, the current lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd includes guitarist Mark “Sparky” Matejka, bassist Keith Christopher, drummer Michael Cartellone, and keyboardist Peter Keys, along with backing vocalists Stacy Michelle and Carol Chase.
Guitarist Damon Johnson (Thin Lizzy, Alice Cooper), has also played with the band since 2021 when he replaced Rossington, who underwent emergency heart surgery. It hasn’t been revealed whether Johnson will continue on with Lynyrd Skynyrd.
On March 12, the band performed their first concert since Rossington’s death at the Florida Strawberry Festival, which they called “one of the toughest shows” of their lives.
“We felt you there with us last night, Gary,” shared the band, following the concert. “Looking down from rock and roll heaven and helping us get through one of the toughest shows of our lives. We felt you during the nuances of ‘Free Bird,’ ‘Tuesday’s Gone,’ and ‘Saturday Night Special.’ We felt you in the roar of the crowd as they cheered your name and stood up for most of the night. And we will forever feel you on any stage and in our hearts as Skynyrd’s music continues to move billions of people across the world. We love you brother.”
After a series of headlining shows in May and June, Lynyrd Skynyrd is set to kick off the Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour with ZZ Top on July 21 at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida. The tour will continue with stops throughout North America before wrapping up on Sept. 17 in Camden, NJ at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion.
During the recent 2023 CMT Awards ceremony on April 2, the band and Rossington were honored with a star-studded tribute, featuring Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Paul Rodgers, and members of the Allman Brothers Band.
Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Tops’ The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour Dates:
7/21 West Palm Beach, FL iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
7/22 Tampa, FL Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre
7/23 Alpharetta, GA Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
7/28 Rogers, AR Walmart AMP
7/29 Fort Worth, TX Dickies Arena
7/30 Woodlands, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion ^
8/07 Denver, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre*
8/10 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
8/11 Wheatland, CA Toyota Amphitheatre
8/13 Phoenix, AZ Ak-Chin Pavilion
8/17 Maryland Heights, MO Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis, MO
8/19 Tinley Park, IL Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago, IL
8/20 Noblesville, IN Ruoff Music Center
8/25 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
8/26 Clarkston, MI Pine Knob Music Theatre
8/27 Toronto, ON Budweiser Stage
9/01 Charlotte, NC PNC Music Pavilion
9/02 Columbia, MD Merriweather Post Pavilion
9/03 Burgettstown, PA The Pavilion at Star Lake
9/08 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
9/09 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
9/10 Holmdel, NJ PNC Bank Arts Center
9/15 Raleigh, NC Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
9/16 Ocean City, MD Ocean City Bike Fest
9/17 Camden, NJ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
*Not A Live Nation Date
^ Presented by Huntsman
Additional 2023 Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour Dates:
4/29 Brandon, MS Jubilee Days – Brandon Amphitheater
5/05 West Panama City Beach, FL Thunder Beach at Frank Brown Park
5/19 Bushkill, PA Lost Highway Motorcycle Show & Concert 2023
5/20 Cleveland, OH Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
5/27 Laughlin, NV Laughlin Event Center
6/16 Santa Rosa, CA Country Summer Music Festival
6/17 Del Mar, CA Toyota Summer Concert Series
7/14 Prior Lake, MN Lakefront Music Fest 2023
7/15 West Fargo, ND Red River Valley Fair
8/04 Sweet Home, OR Oregon Jamboree Music Festival 2023
8/06 Sturgis, SD Sturgis Buffalo Chip
Photo by Doltyn Snedden / EBM Media PR
