He. July 27, 2001, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida), Bob Burns (b. November 24, 1950, Jacksonville, Floridad. [35] Peter Keys was later brought in to replace Powell,[36] while Evans was replaced by Robert Kearns. After the plane crash, the band broke up. In fact, the guitarist said that he has had heart attacks on stage a lot.. October 20th, 1977. [38] Keith Christopher replaced Colt in mid-2017.[39]. The song is featured in over a dozen films and TV series. [citation needed] When it was time for high school, his mother enrolled Billy and his brother Ricky at Sanford Naval Academy in Sanford, Florida. Johnson sat in for Gary Rossington on the Big Wheels Keep on Turnin' Tour, Crinkley played guitar on the Big Wheels Keep on Turnin' Tour. [2], According to a New York Times article, Lacy Van Zant, patriarch of the Van Zant family, once went to West Jacksonville's Robert E. Lee High School to plead Rossington's case to school administrators after the fatherless Rossington was suspended for having long hair. Founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. 5 When did Steve and Cassie Gaines join Lynyrd Skynyrd? William Norris Powell (June 3, 1952 January 28, 2009) was an American musician and keyboardist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2009. Tragedy struck again when Bob Burns died on April 3, 2015, after his car crashed into a tree. When Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed, Burns joined the band two more times. In 1972, Skynyrd played a show at the Bolles School prom. 38 Special Overview Forming in 1975, guitarist Don Barnes and singer Donnie Van Zant come together and start the band. He named it "Berniece" in honor of his mother (whom he was extremely close to after the death of his father). [11][12], On October 20, 1977 three days after the release of the band's fifth studio album Street Survivors a chartered plane on which the members and crew were travelling crashed in Gillsburg, Mississippi. On this day 39 years ago, a plane crash claimed the lives of three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd: lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Who Wrote Islands in the Stream (Hint: It Wasnt Dolly or Kenny). Years Active: 1965 through 1977 and 1987 to present The song Gimme Three Steps is based on a true story. Stairway to Heaven Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin (1971) Since its release in 1971, Stairway to Heaven has topped numerous lists as the best rock song and best guitar solo of all time, and its primarily thanks to the masterful architecture of Jimmy Pages guitar solo. Lynyrd Skynyrd is a Southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. We still love this fan-favorite show finale. After the release of Second Helping, Burns left the band and Artimus Pyle took over on the drums. By the end of 74 King would also leave and for a time Skynyrd would be a sextet. appreciated. After graduation in 1970, he enrolled at and briefly attended a community college, majoring in music theory. The bands fan base continued to grow throughout 1973, fueled in part by their performances as the opening act for The Whos U.S. Quadrophenia tour. [2] After performing live for several years, the band recorded for the first time in 1971, when Junstrom and Burns were replaced by Greg T. Walker and Rickey Medlocke, respectively. Lynyrd Skynyrd Three Guitar Army: Allen Collins, Gary Rosington, Leon Wilkeson, Steve Gaines. Cause. The band's iconic songs include "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird.". ", 'Our time is coming to an end':Lynyrd Skynyrd on new music, loss and farewell tour, Junstrom formedLynyrd Skynyrd with singer Ronnie Van Zant, drummer Bob Burns andguitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins in 1964, but left before the band recorded their 1973 debut album, "Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd. Through the 1960s, the band (comprised of Ronnie Van Zant, Bob Burns, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, and Larry Junstrom) went through many names, including The Noble Five, The One Percent, and My Backyard. Lynyrd Skynyrd (/lnrd sknrd/ LEN-rd SKIN-rd) is an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. Mote also refutes the claim of Pyle being shot, when interviewed at the crash scene for VH1s 2002 documentary Lynyrd Skynyrds Uncivil War. January 28, 2009, Orange Park, Florida), Leon Wilkeson (b. April 2, 1952d. Published What is the best guitar solo of all time? He wants everyone to know he is doing good and expects a full recovery, it said, adding Rossington encouraged the band to go perform in his absence., We wish Gary a speedy recovery and we will see the Skynyrd Nation very soon!. The bands statement said, Our thoughts and prayers are with Gary Rossington as he recovers from emergency heart surgery. The statement went on to say that Rossington is currently resting and recovering with his family at his home. USA TODAY. The young bands teenagers first started practicing in Burns garage. We love good old-fashioned southern rock and wondered who the original Lynyrd Skynyrd band members were. Although a tongue-in-cheek song, it would solidify their redneck image. A plane crash killed the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1977, and 40 years later, the drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Artimus Pyle, can still remember that day. The band then added that Gary Wants everyone to know he is doing good and expects a full recovery.. The first album version runs nine minutes and eight seconds, allowing original Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarists Collins, King, and Rossington to full-on jam. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Whats The Difference Between Dutch And French Braids? They added that those who want to leave a positive message for Gary can do so in the comments of the post and that he was looking forward to reading words from loyal fans. As of January 24, 2021, Rossington is the only original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd that is still alive. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. They made the joint decision to not alter any of the upcoming dates. They didnt land on the name that we all know until 1969. Gary Robert Rossington is an American guitarist. Original members Leon Wilkeson and Billy Powell passed away in 2001 and 2009, respectively. [18] Collins, who was unable to join the reunited group after a car accident the previous year left him paralyzed from the waist down, chose Randall Hall from his own eponymous band to take his place on guitar. Those members included: Gary Rossington Ronnie Van Zant Bob Burns Allen Collins Larry Junstorm When you think of southern rock, the first band to come to mind is Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was 44 years ago last month that a Convair CV-240 passenger plane with members of the Lynyrd Skynyrd southern rock band went down . They released their third album Nuthin Fancy in 1975 and it was a Top Ten hit. Shortly after they changed their name Leon Wilkeson joined the group on bass replacing Jungstrom and also around this time they added keyboardist Billy Powell. And maybe its our time to lift peoples spirits and lives and bring back some joy and happiness after so much turmoil this past year.. Are any of the original members of Lynyrd Skynyrd still alive? Rossington's mother recalled that he had a strong childhood interest in baseball and aspired as a child to one day play for the New York Yankees. The album features several of the band's most well-known songs, including "Gimme Three Steps", "Simple Man", "Tuesday's Gone" and "Free Bird". Junstrom performed with the group for nearly four decades, playing on hits songs "Hold On Loosely," "Caught Up in You" and "Rockin' Into the Night.". Like Van Zant says at the songs start, Turn it up! We agree. He credits Van Zant, who was three years his senior, with teaching him and his bandmates how to drive a car, as well as introducing them to "all that stuff you learn when you're 14, 15, 16". It was certified gold on December 18, 1974, platinum and 2x platinum on July 21, 1987 by . Rossington grew up in a single parent household and says that early in their relationship, Van Zant became somewhat of a father figure to him. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The remaining crew and band members were seriously injured. Kid Rock borrowed from the melody and lyrics in his 2008 hit, All Summer Long. His death inspired countless tributes, in and out of the Southern rock community and extending across the country-music world, where he had many friends and admirers. In 1987, the band returned for what was intended as a one-time tribute tour and album "Southern by the Grace of God: Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour 1987." 2. More:Cream drummer Ginger Baker dies at 80. Two years later, keyboardist Billy Powell died from heart problems. He still plays with the band today. Robert Kearns. Rossington co-founded the Rossington Collins Band with Collins in 1980. [10] He was replaced the following year by Steve Gaines, who was recommended by his sister Cassie Gaines after she had recently joined as one of the band's touring backing vocalists, The Honkettes. Drummer Artimus Pyle, right, and Collins party with a chimpanzee. With the death of original bassist Larry Junstrom in 2019 (via Rolling Stone ), Gary Rossington was left as the only surviving founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Which members of Lynyrd Skynyrd that died? In the summer of 1964, teenagersRonnie Van Zant, Bob Burns, andGary Rossingtonmet while playing on rival baseball teams in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2009, he became the last original member to remain in the band, and became the last surviving original member in 2019. [6] The band released two albums, but disbanded in 1982 after the death of Collins' wife, Kathy. The outlet noted that the guitarist previously underwent quintuple-bypass heart . At the time of his death, he and guitarist Gary Rossington were the only members from the classic lineup who were active in the band. In 1969, they became Leonard Skinnerd (soon to be Lynyrd Skynyrd) to mock Skinner, who used to give the boys trouble for their long hair. The original core of Lynyrd SkynyrdRonnie Van Zant, Bob Burns, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins and Larry Junstromfirst came together under the name "My Backyard" back in 1964, as. Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington, the only surviving original member of the Southern rock 'n' roll band, is recovering after emergency heart surgery, the band said in a social media. Copyright 2022 Great Oldies | Privacy Policy | Wisteria on Trellis Framework by Mediavine. Role in band: Guitarist. Although this video hit the YouTubes a few years ago, we thought youd enjoy hearing the isolated guitar-solo track from Lynyrd Skynyrds Free Bird. The solo on the songwhich was played by Allen Collins and Gary Rossingtoncomes it at Number 3 on Guitar Worlds list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Powell suffered severe facial lacerations, almost losing his nose, but was otherwise relatively uninjured. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. It was named after Leonard Skinner , the bands high school P.E. Most members have changed, but the classic, hard-living, hard-driving southern rock sound remains. Since then, the band tragically lost Allen Collins, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson and Hughie Thomasson, yet Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks on with original member Gary Rossington joined by In 2009, he became the last original member to remain in the band, and became the last surviving original member in 2019. Steve Gaines, Cassie's younger brother, was 28. Around 1970, Powell found work as a roadie for Lynyrd Skynyrd and remained a member of the crew for two years, during which the band secured a support role for the band Mountain. Rossington, the band's only original member still playing in . Guitarist Hughie Thomasson died from a heart attack in 2007. They said, Music is a powerful healer! The original core of Lynyrd SkynyrdRonnie Van Zant, Bob Burns, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins and Larry Junstromfirst came together under the name My Backyard back in 1964, as Jacksonville, Florida, teenagers. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Rossington has had heart problems in the past. Sweet Home Alabama, Free Bird and Simple Man. Van Zant snuck into a bar as a teenager. The name came as a mock against their high school gym teacher Leonard Skinner, who was notorious for punishing male students with long hair and proclaimed that Van Zant and his friends would never amount to anything good in life. Its down to Gary Rossington as the sole survivor now and his health is reported to be bad. |. 1976 Steve and his sister Cassie grew up in Miami and played in several bands before joining Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1976. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The bands second album, Second Helping, went multi-platinum and gave fans everywhere the ever-popular single, Sweet Home Alabama. From their humble Jacksonville beginnings, through tragedy, reunion, and redemption, the band has earned its place on Rolling Stones list of the100 Greatest Artists of All Time as well as a prominent spot in the hearts of generations. The other band members suffered serious injuries but survived. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. From left are Van Zant, Ed King, Rossington, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson, Pyle and Collins. To date, Rossington still plays in Lynyrd Skynyrd. The hit song Free Bird and an opening on The Whos Quadrophenia tour sent the original members into stardom. During a break at that event, Powell sat down at a piano and played a song. Years in band: 1964-1977, 1987-present. Hughie Thomasson guitar, backing vocals, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 22:35. The plane crashed in the woods five miles outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi, killing band members Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, as well as backup singer Cassie Gaines (Steves sister) and road manager Dean Kilpatrick. The band was formed by a bunch of high school friends in 1965, vocalist/songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, bassist Larry Jungstrom and drummer Bob Burns. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. They played the first few years under various different names (Noble Five, Wildcats, Sons Of Satan and My Backyard), after they released a single in 1968, they changed their name to Lynyrd Skynyrd. 6:18 PM EDT, Sat July 24, 2021. [3] The following year, Walker was replaced by the band's original choice of bassist Leon Wilkeson, and Medlocke moved to third guitarist as Burns returned on drums. During a break at that event, Powell sat down at a piano and played a song. Owen Hale. No matter where you are in the world, everyone is from Alabama when Sweet Home Alabama plays. Gary has survived quintuple bypass surgery. He is the only remaining original member of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, in which he plays lead and rhythm guitar. A play on his name brought the band to their iconic name, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Lynyrd Skynyrd (/lnrd sknrd/ LEN-rd SKIN-rd) is an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. Although intended as a one-off, the tribute tour was so successful it prompted a rebirth of the band. During the time between the plane crash and the Lynyrd Skynyrd reunion in 1987, Powell joined the Christian rock band Vision in 1984. He danced with a girl whose boyfriend didnt like it. Ean Evans. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Ed King makes Skynyrd a three-guitar band no small feat and Billy Powell joins on keyboards, solidifying the group that would make many of the enduring classic songs the band became known for. Are any of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd band still alive? Providing backup vocals for the band's live performances were, from left, Cassie Gaines, Leslie Hawkins and JoJo Billingsley. Mote realised the situation when Pyle shouted that there had been a plane crash, helped Pyle inside his house and was part of the initial rescue party. Which is correct poinsettia or poinsettia? We all grin at a concert when the band pauses, and someone yells out into the quiet auditorium, Free Bird!. Rolling Stone, according to a release on the bands website. The band was on tour and on their way to a show in Baton Rouge Louisiana when their plane crashed, killing Van Zant, Gaines, his sister Cassie (one of the three backing singers) and road manager Dean Kilpatrick. 1. The remainder of the band suffered mild to severe injuries. Yesterday, Lynyrd Skynyrd announced that Rossington was currently at home recovering from emergency heart surgery via Facebook. Their debut album, Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere, did well, but the group didnt last. 2023 Cable News Network. 7 Which members of Lynyrd Skynyrd that died? The story goes that the schoolmates liked their long hair and rebellious ways. Original Lynyrd Skynyrd members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Steve's sister Cassie (backup singer), assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray didn't survive. Before the man could act, Van Zant told him to gimme a few steps, and he would be gone. Photo . Rossington, Van Zandt, and Collins were the only founding members left in the band. [14] The group disbanded after the crash. The song was written in response to Neil Youngs Southern Man that was released in 1970 because it took the entire South to task for the bloody history of slavery and its aftermath. Van Zant is interviewed in Atlanta in 1976. Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington is recovering after undergoing emergency heart surgery, the band said on its Facebook page. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Lynyrd Skynyrd number 95 on their list of the100 Greatest Artists of All Time.". [13] Six people died in the accident, including band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines; many of the other passengers on board were seriously injured, including Wilkeson who was left in a critical condition and reportedly declared dead three times. As of last night, a man in Austin, Texas now holds the new world record for the longest guitar solo of all time. Before long, guitaristAllen Collinsand bassistLarry Junstromwere added to the mix, and the band began entertaining Jacksonville audiences first asMy Backyard, then asThe Noble Five, then asThe One Percent, before finally arriving on the nameLynyrd Skynyrdin 1969. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Rickey Medlocke played drums for Skynyrd in 1971-2. Required fields are marked *. Things were going great for the band in 1977 as they recorded their next studio album, Street Survivors, which would turn out to be one of the bands biggest hits. In 1980 The Rossington-Collins Band was formed, featuring four surviving Skynyrd members. The only two surviving original band members are still alive. COVID turned our world upside down. The next few years saw several changes in the lineup, including a major retooling of the bands guitar army with members Hughie Thomasson and Rickey Medlocke now contributing to the bands songwriting along with Van Zant and Rossington. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Forby Leonard Skinner (January 11, 1933 - September 20, 2010) was an American high school gym teacher, basketball coach, and businessman from Jacksonville, Florida.He is known in popular culture as the eponym of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd; Skinner was the band members' teacher.. Ronnie Van Zandt handled vocals, Allen Collins and Gary Rossington shared guitar duties, Larry Junstrom played bass and Bob Burns sat behind the drums. Van Zant, 59, has been the frontman for the Southern rock band since 1987, when he took over for his late brother, founder Ronnie Van Zant, who died in a 1977 plane crash along with guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines. The group originally formed as My Backyard in 1964 and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocalist), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom (bass guitar) and Bob Burns (drums). The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Your email address will not be published. Along with his wife, Dale Krantz-Rossington, he then formed The Rossington Band, which released two albums in 1986 and 1988, respectively. How Many Lynyrd Skynyrd Band-Mates are Original. One of those new additions was Steve Gaines, whose multiple talents were on full display in the bands fifth album, "Street Survivors." The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Along with Collins, Rossington also provided the guitar work for "Simple Man." The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted the band in 2006; Skynyrd's songs remain a staple of classic-rock radio; calling for "Free Bird" during a concert is still a rite of passage; 1973's . Rossington was also a founding member of the Rossington Collins Band, along with former bandmate Allen Collins. There will never be another like him. [22] Custer followed Hall out of the group the next year in order to focus on his solo career. ", "The Official Lynyrd Skynyrd History Website History Lessons", "Gary Rossington Biography & History AllMusic", "Life Beyond Skynyrd: Guitarist Gary Rossington and Wife Dale 'Take It On Faith' (Interview)", "Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Gary Rossington Suffers Heart Attack", "Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist recovering following emergency heart surgery", Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve: The Vicious Cycle Tour, Skynyrd's First: The Complete Muscle Shoals Album, 20th Century Masters: The Best of Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gary_Rossington&oldid=1142352938, Survivors of aviation accidents or incidents, Articles lacking reliable references from April 2021, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 23:11. Larry Junstrom, an originalmember oftheSouthern rockbandLynyrd Skynyrdand the longtime bassist for .38 Special, has died. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Forming in 1975, guitarist Don Barnes and singer Donnie Van Zant come together and start the band. How old was Lynyrd The following is a list of current and former musicians who have performed as members of the American hard rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd since the band's inception in 1964. Lynyrd Skynyrds Sweet Home Alabama meaning is often interpreted as being racist because of the the lyrics reference In Birmingham they love the governor who was a segregationist. What was the original purpose of a cupola? We are not making a sequel that I know of, but if Disney wants to call me, I would happily make a Sweet Home Alabama 2! When ET spoke to Lucas a few years later, the actor likewise expressed a willingness to reprise his role as Jake, as long as Witherspoon did so with her role of Melanie. Larry Junstrom, an original member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and the longtime bassist for .38 Special, has died. 0:00. Rossington has carried the Skynyrd torch all these years. Today, Lynyrd Skynyrd consists of: Garry Rossington on guitar; Johnny Van Zant , Ronnies brother, on vocals; Rickey Medlocke , guitar; Mark Majetka, guitar; Michael Cartellone , drums; Robert Kearns , bass and Peter Pisarczky, keyboards. Described as one of the bands only love songs, it tells the story of a guy explaining to a girl why he cant settle down. Gary and his family urged the band on, according to the statement. Skynyrd: The Reason The Band Survived Formed: 1965 in Jacksonville, Florida Years Active: 1965 through 1977 and 1987 to present Group's Main Members: Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Bob Burns, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson, Ed King, Artimus Pyle, Steve Gaines Before long, a second generation Lynyrd Skynyrd was adding new members and recording new music, despite legal battles with the widows of Van Zant and Gaines over the use of the name. Young is name-checked in Sweet Home Alabamas lyrics. Formed in 1964, the group originally included vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, bassist Larry Junstrom and drummer Bob Burns. Rickey Medlocke, Johnny Van Zant, Michael Cartellone, and Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd perform onstage during the 2018 iHeartRadio Music. Drummer Bob Burns died in 2015 due to a fatal car accident. Lynyrd Skynyrd is on tour right now and Rossingtons absence will not change that. [24] Hale left in late 1998 after the Twenty Tour;[26] he was replaced first by Jeff McAllister,[27] followed by Kenny Aronoff who played on Edge of Forever,[28] before Michael Cartellone took over in 1999 after the dissolution of the Damn Yankees. Three days after the release of Street Survivors, Skynyrd's chartered Convair CV-240 crashed into a forest near McComb, Mississippi. Many Southern Rock musicians were in attendance, including his Skynyrd and Vision bandmates, their families, Hank Williams Jr. and others. As great a song as Free Bird was, it would not turn out to become their biggest international hit. Original members Leon Wilkeson and Billy Powell passed away in 2001 and 2009, respectively. Members of the band party with friends in 1975. In 2023, with the 50th anniversary of their pioneering debut albumPronounced Lh-nrd Skin-nrdthe band continues to tour, record, and delight their hundreds of millions of global fans with an eye on both the future and their rich history. The sound got louder and louder until Rossington was knocked unconscious; he awoke some time later on the ground with the plane's door on top of him. He is known in popular culture as the eponym of the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd; Skinner was the band members teacher. How many of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd are still alive? Who is the last original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd? After Burnss death over the weekend, Rossington said he was at a loss for words.. Larry Junstrom also joined, completing the original lineup. Did you encounter any technical issues? Collins was paralyzed in 1986 after a car accident, and later died due to chronic pneumonia caused by his paralysis. The rest is history. By 1976, Lynyrd Skynyrd comprised ten members, including three female backup singers and new guitarist Steve Gaines. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable cause of this accident was fuel exhaustion and total loss of power from both engines due to crew inattention to fuel supply. Hughie Thomasson passed away from heart failure in 2007. The group was discovered in Atlanta by Al Kooper in 1972 while they were playing a gig and he signed them to his Sounds Of The South label. 2023 sees them teaming with fellow southern legends ZZ Top for the Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour, as well as playing several stand-alone concerts for their enthusiastic and generational fan base. 6 Are any of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd band still alive? Burns wasnt aboard the fatal 1977 plane crash. Junstrom retired from.38 Special in 2014 following a serious hand injury. Gary Rossington is the only original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd that is still alive Credit: Corbis - Getty Who are the original members of Lynyrd Skynyrd? Crew inattention to fuel supply was ultimately determined to be responsible for the crash. On January 28, 2009, Powell died at the age of 56 at his home in Orange Park, Florida.