October 20, 1977. Remembering Lynyrd Skynyrd's crash

I believe so.

I don't have the book with me. I will have to check when I get home.

 

When I first read this I thought you meant their re-union tour in the 1987. I overlooked the 1997. They had brought back Ed King. Allen Collins had been in a car crash and was in a wheelchair. They also had Randall Hall fill in. They played Free Bird with Ronnie's hat on the mic stand instrumentally. It was very moving.

 

Allen died in 1990. By 1997, Ed was long gone again also.

 

Ah.. it's a good day to 'turn it up' then!
I just downloaded the pbthal vinyl rips yesterday.

 

Yes, I responded above before I could delete my original post. See my above response.

 

With an avatar like that, I'm amazed anybody reads what you posts.

 

We lost a great band that day! R.I.P.

 

A very sad day.

 

Recently had one of the survivors of the crash at my home. Gene Odom, security manager for the band was in my home town to visit a friend and they stopped by. Very nice guy.

The issues with the plane are well documented. On the next to last flight into Greenville, SC from Florida the fuel/oxygen mix was so screwed up that fire was seen coming from one of the engines. Fuel consumption was anything but normal. They used up 400 gallons of fuel in two hours on that last flight and simply ran out in mid air. No fuel in plane and hence no fire at crash site. Easily could have been prevented. Pilot error all the way in my book.

 

Yeah man RIP brothers. Sad year in many ways for me. Lots of death around me at that time. Elvis that summer then Skynyrd plus a few family members.

 

Yeah, remember it well. Was in college. Already had tix for their concert in Philly. Think I picked up Street Survivors just a few days before. My friends & I used to play practical jokes on each other and when they told me the news I thought they were kidding - didn't believe the news until I saw it for myself in the newspaper. Such a tragic waste, totally avoidable as someone already said.

Skynyrd were really peaking then too, Street Survivors is a great album, Steve Gaines was a great songwriting/singing addition. Can you imagine what they would have come up with for the next album - or over the next 20 years? Mind boggling.

 

I remember a guy in my high school wearing a black armband and not realizing what a fan he was. They sure had a great guitar sound, but boy, what a terrible day that was for Southern rock.

 

Well there ain't no shame
What's your name, little girl

 

I had seen them the December before and it was definitely one of the best concerts I'd ever seen.

They were at the top of their game, IMO. Such a sad loss, and I remember thinking the same thing when I first heard about the crash.

 

Good on you for bringing this topic up MYKE and well remembered
I thought in those days (and still do) that Lynyrd Skynyrd were at the equivalent point in their career as the Stones in 1968 - Street Survivors and Beggars Banquet respectively.
Alas there was no further output to test that theory obviously
R.I.P. those who died in 1977 and of course Allen Leon Billy and JoJo

 

I think of it every year on this day because it's my birthday and remember hearing the news like it was yesterday.

 

I grew up near Fargo, ND which was Buddy Holly's destination, but now live in Greenville, SC, the last place the original lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd played. I saw them play here in 1993 or so, the first time they had returned since the crash. The show was outdoors, and not at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium.

 

I remember when the record co pulled the album because of the flames behind the band members image on the cover.

I remember very clearly exactly what I was doing that night when I heard the news...one of those moments never forgotten.

 

gotta give Drive-By Truckers 'Southern Rock Opera' a spin


"Greenville to Baton Rouge"

One more night, one more show, four down, eighty-four to go
This ain't no time for moving slow

Greenville to Baton Rouge
I'll call you up when I get through
The life I live is the life I choose
Greenville to Baton Rouge

The shows have sure been great this year
All eight cylinders all twelve gears
Call you up when I touch down at the airport in a Louisiana town.

Street survivors, feeling no pain
A little more rock, a little less cocaine.
And don't forget about Stevie Gaines

Greenville to Baton Rouge
I'll call you up when I get through
If it's the last thing that I do
Greenville to Baton Rouge

Last night, you should have seen this plane. The right engine shot a twelve foot flame.
But South Carolina made us glad we came.
Now we're up in the air again.

Once we hit Louisiana, baby, I don't care
Got a brand new airplane waiting for us there
Give this piece of **** back to Aerosmith.
Wake me up when we get there.

The right engine gave a little flash, the pilot panicked and dumped the gas
Everything is quiet, we're dropping fast.
When we touch down gonna whup' his ***!

Greenville to Baton Rouge
Can't die now got a show to do
The life I live is the life I choose
Greenville to Baton Rouge.

"Angels and Fuselage"

Looking out the window, the trees are getting closer it seems.
Thinking bout you Darling.
Adding up the cost of these dreams.

Strapped to this projectile, just a blink ago I was back in school.
Smoking by the gym door, practicing my rock-star attitude

And I'm scared ******** of what's coming next.
I'm scared ********, these angels I see in the trees are waiting for me.

The engines have stopped now. We all know we are going down. Last call for alcohol.
Sure wish I could have another round.

And I'm scared ******** of what's coming next.
Scared ********, these angels I see in the trees are waiting for me.
Waiting for me.

Friends in the swamp.
Friends on the ground, in the trees.
Angels and fuselage.

 

and a great album by the Truckers. I believe it is loosely or more based on Skynyrd was it not?

 

It is.

 

Same in my high school.

Evan

 

Ronnie Van Zant
Steve Gaines
Allen Collins
Leon Wilkeson
Billy Powell

It was also a Thursday, that night of October 20th, 1977, the Free Bird fell from the sky. Since then, we've lost 3 more brothers, and a lot of friends.
Today, I ask that you remember...post memories of shows, before that night in 1977. I saw them 3 times from 1974-1976, how about you ? Let's remember the music.

 

You can guess how I feel about it.

I remember when I heard the news... first class of the day, 7th grade, in rural Washington State.