Booking Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd Biography

Lynyrd Skynyrd came together in Jacksonville, Florida, when Allen Collins, Ronnie VanZant, and Gary Rossington formed a band called My Backyard. Billy Powell and Leon Wilkeson came on board, and the band changed their name to Lynyrd Skynyrd, in mocking tribute to one of their high school teachers.

Lynyrd Skynyrd found themselves signed to MCA after a producer watched them play in Atlanta in 1972. Their debut album was released in 1973, and "Free Bird" launched them to success. Second Helping followed in 1974, and the hit single "Sweet Home Alabama" went multi-platinum and reached number twelve on the charts.

Nuthin' Fancy followed in 1975, becoming Lynyrd Skynyrd's first top Ten hit, and Gimme Back My Bullets came after in 1976. The band toured constantly, maintaining a steady following, and even documented the tours on the album One More from the Road, released also in 1976. A sixth album, Street Survivors, was released in 1977.

Shortly after its release, tragedy struck the band. A privately chartered plane crashed while carrying the band between shows. Ronnie VanZant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines, a backing vocalist, were killed in the crash, and the remaining members all injured. Lynyrd Skynyrd disbanded, but not before releasing a collection of demos, called Skynyrd's First And?Last.

In 1987, Lynyrd Skynyrd's remaining members reunited, joined by Johnny VanZant and Randall Hall on guitar. They embarked on a reunion tour, captured on Southern by the Grace of God, released in the same year. They began recording again in 1991, and continued to tour throughout the decade. Additional albums were released, and in 2009, Lynyrd Skynyrd released God & Guns.

A new studio album, Last of a Dyin' Breed, was announced in 2012. A tour is expected to follow.

Lynyrd Skynyrd is ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. "Free Bird" was named one of the greatest guitar solos by Guitar World, and in September 2010, Lynyrd Skynyrd ranked on VH1s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

The reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd has gone through several lineup changes and continues to record and tour today.