![]() Van Zant was more than just the band's main song writer and central figure. Listed here are the facts behind the infamous plane crash that ended Lynyrd Skynyrd. The death of lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and his sister Cassie Gains, along with the aftermath of the tragedy, essentially destroyed one of the most unique voices of American rock and roll. Lynyrd Skynyrd is considered to have one of the most gruesome band histories because they lost several people in the aerial accident. Who died in the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash? Of the 24 passengers who boarded the ill-fated flight from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, three members of the band were killed. On October 20, 1977, a plane crash killed three members of the group, including its guiding light, Ronnie Van Zant. What caused Lynyrd Skynyrd's plane to crash? Even in the 21st century, despite an official investigation and opinion that characterized the crash as the result of pilot error, the circumstances and decisions that led to the aircraft's unusual demise remain unknown. If there’s stuff going on, I say, ‘Help us down here, you guys fucking help us.Tragedy struck Lynryd Skynyrd, one of the best Southern rock bands, just three days after the group released its fifth album and was seemingly on the brink of unprecedented popular acclaim. “I used to say to Dale, ‘I wish I could talk to Ronnie, ask him what I should do with this.’ So that’s what I started doing. “Ronnie was a father figure, he really was,” said Rossington. Yet despite the events in Hamburg and his tendency for drunken orneriness, Rossington – who himself died on Mafollowing a long period of ill-health – told Classic Rock that he retained nothing but love and respect for the singer. Ronnie died just over two years later in the plane crash that also took the life of Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines and three other people. “I played the gigs,” Rossington told Classic Rock. Rossington did make the show that took place the night after The Bloodbath In Hamburg, albeit with both hands bandaged and an unable to play all but the most basic licks (Ronnie himself didn’t escape injury free - one of his own hands was wrapped in bandages). Rather than offering an apology, Ronnie told the Rossington “to catch the first flight home tomorrow.” But when he got back to the hotel, he found his singer in less than contrite mood. In the end, the guitarist got 10 stitches in one hand and 11 in the other. “Allen was going, “Hey man, don’t fuck this up.’ But they did it real good, I guess.’” “I was trying to say, ‘This is important, I play with my hands,’” said Rossington. The two musicians - neither of who spoke German – tried to get across the severity of what had happened to the doctors who were attempting to staunch the bleeding and stitch up Rossington’s wounds. With Pyle and the rest of the band restraining their furious singer, Rossington and fellow guitarist Allen Collins headed for the nearest emergency room. Artimus finally got him on the bed and was on top of him, cussing him out and yelling. He was throwing Ronnie around, the first time he ever did that. “He was an ex-marine and in great shape, and he had a wild streak too. “I remember Artimus coming in really mad,” remembered Rossington, whose hands were gushing blood by this time. Things could have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle. “He said, ‘I’m gonna cut your hands, you’re never gonna play guitar again.’ And he cut me here and there and up there.” That’s when Van Zant went for Rossington with the broken bottle. ![]() ![]() And it knocked our tour manager crazy – it was bleeding some.” You gotta hit somebody hard to break a bottle. A couple of us was trying to get him off, and then he took this fuckin’ bottle and busted it on the head of our tour manager and it broke. “He started a fight with somebody, I think it was our road manager. “He was so fucking drunk,” recalled Rossington. Unfortunately for everyone else, Ronnie’s temper was bubbling over. ![]() Jetlagged and inebriated, the band headed back to their hotel rooms. They had the glass all frozen - it tastes good. We’d never seen that, never even heard of schnapps. “But the guy at the hotel bar gave us cold peppermint schnapps. “We drank beer and whiskey every night – Scotch or Jack Daniel’s, and sometimes champagne,” said Rossington.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |