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Lynyrd Skynyrd formed in 1964, originally under an entirely different name, “The Noble Five.” Originally from Jacksonville, Florida,The band later changed their name in a nod to one of their high school teachers, Leonard Skinner. Their name was a slam on a hated high school teacher who had once made them cut their hair. Later, they became friends and remained that way until Mr. Skinner passed from Alzheimer’s at the age of 77.

The Big Break

After recording the album which featured the classic song “Free Bird” in 1973, the band opened for The Who’s Quadrophenia tour and grew their fan base immensely. The band went on to record many hits including “That Smell,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” and “What’s your name,” just to name a few. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006.

Tragedy

On October 20, 1977, the band’s plan ran out of fuel and crashed into a forest. Three band members, a road manager, and the two pilots were killed on impact. The surviving members had serious injuries The band disbanded and went on to form other bands. They reunited one time to play “Free Bird” at a Charlie Daniels festival and some of the original members ended their future concerts with the song. Each member continued in the music industry at some level.

Reunited

In 1987, the band decided to reunite, including some of the members that had left prior to the plane crash. Through the years there have been many lineup changes as the original members have either left, been forced out, or died. None the less, the band remains intact and continues to tour today featuring only one of it’s original members.

New Ventures

The band is taking on entirely new frontiers as they open a restaurant in the Excalibur Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The eatery will be named “Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer” and is set to open in December. This will a popular venue and somewhat unique to the area.

Touring

The band is currently on their “God and Guns” tour with the legendary ZZ Top and a few other bands. Gods and Guns is also the name of the 11th studio release by the band since 1973. The tour is scheduled to conclude on October 30th, 2011 in Charleston, West Virginia.

Fans

The group enjoys a following of virtually all ages and that is quickly apparent when you attend a concert. Attendees will range from young teens to people in their 70′s or even older. The southern rock appeal crosses many cultural lines and is enjoyed by many.

The Future

In a recent interview, band members discussed the longevity of the group. There were many moments when quitting seemed like the logical path– tragic deaths, lawsuits, internal strife, car accidents, substance abuse, and more. This band has experienced virtually every tragedy that is known to a rock band and yet they keep playing. The band members say that they keep going because they love the music. None of them need the money any longer, but they don’t want to stop. While this tour is wrapping up, none of us will be surprised when they announce the next one.