Three members of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd die in a Mississippi plane crash

History.Com(This Day in History) ^ | 10/20/2017 | staff

[ratzoe]

Funny story...one of my grand kids had me listen to a great new song he found.... “Free bird”

Had the same thing happen with my son when he was in 10th grade about 10 yrs ago. Wanted me to hear this very 'rad' song by this new band he found.."Stairway to Heaven"

[KC Burke]

I had seen them two or three years earlier at the Ozark Music Festival in Sedalia, the midwest’s version of Woodstock. I was doing the dad thing for my one year old, finished my six years in the Guard the year before, and oblivious to the world around me in many ways. Had a friend a few years later that was related to Van Zant — he shot out his television one night.

Heard them live again in ‘97 with my new love. She said she felt under dressed due to the lack of ink.

[bravo whiskey]

I was the platoon leader of a 4.2 mortar platoon in an armor battalion Germany.

[Rebelbase]

Ronnie Van Zant is the one who ‘discovered’ Molly Hatchet and worked on arrangements of their songs and provided the recording space for their first demos.

He was also going to be the producer of their first album.

[dfwgator]

Pretty much all of the Southern bands were close, they had more of a sibling rivalry, but they all respected each other.

[Drew68]

Legend has it Ronnie Van Zant was buried in the same Neil Young concert t-shirt he’s wearing in that album cover photo.

[cherry]

I was 24...young married....think we were at Griffiss AFB at the time....the salad days as I recall...wonderful memories...

[rochester_veteran]

Legend has it Ronnie Van Zant was buried in the same Neil Young concert t-shirt he’s wearing in that album cover photo.

I didn't know that! Thanks for sharing the legend!

[bigbob]

The first part makes it sound like there was something wrong with the aircraft, but in the end it sounds like they just ran out of fuel. Was there a problem or was it pilot error that cause the crash?

[cherry]

and I can't remember if I even heard the news about Leonard Skynyrd...

but I can't tell you where I was when Thurmond Munson died...

[Rebelbase]

“Wasnt a movie squashed?”

IMO from what I’ve read in the past, there’s bad blood between Artimus Pyle and Gary Rossington and Judy Van Zant—Ronnie’s widow.

IIRC, Rossington and Ms. Van Zant control the Skynyrd name.

Pyle is SOL.

[Rebelbase]

Pilots didn’t measure the fuel tanks correctly prior to take-off.

[bigbob]

Ah. Yeah, that’ll do it. THanks.

[dennisw]

“Oh, won’t you
Gimme three steps, gimme three steps, mister
Gimme three steps towards the door?
Gimme three steps, gimme three steps, mister
And you’ll never see me no more”

For, sure

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Starting my first year of college.

[Disambiguator]

Now I have to surf YouTube and watch all the Southern Rock videos. /S

Don't neglect the Dixie Dregs in your travels!

Here's a rarity.

[utford]

I heard that they had an engine problem during flight and went to dump the fuel from that engine but dumped the wrong tank - not sure if that story is true though.

[tflabo]

I saw Stevie Ray Vaughn in concert 2 months before his helicopter crash. What a blues guitarist he was.

[Red Badger]

Jacksonville, Florida........Home of Lynyrd Skynyrd..........

[Red Badger]

No salsa?......................