Gary Rossington, the final surviving founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, passed away at the age of 71. He played guitar for the group. Almost four months before the group was scheduled to embark on their next tour, Rossington passed away on Sunday. The reason of death was not disclosed.
The musician had been ill for a while. He suffered a heart attack in 2015, and he needed urgent heart surgery in 2021.
“It is with our sincerest grief and sadness that we have to advise that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter, and guitarist, Gary Rossington, today,” Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote in an official statement. Gary is currently playing it in heaven with his Skynyrd brothers and family.
Rossington stated in a 2016 interview with Billboard that he will continue performing despite being ill.
You know, it’s simply in my blood, he added.
“I’m just an elderly guitar player, and to learn how to play and perform it, we put in 10,000 hours of practise. As a result, I believe that you should maintain your good fortune and continue honing your craft. When you get older, what do you do? Although I enjoy fishing, there are only so many hours in the day.
1951 saw the birth of Rossington in Jacksonville, Florida. He has been a member of the group since 1964, when it was known as Me, You, and Him and featured drummer Bob Burns and bassist Larry Junstrom. When Rossington heard the Rolling Stones, he originally intended to play baseball, but he quickly changed his mind and began writing music instead.
But Lynyrd Skynyrd was a result of baseball. Singer Ronnie Van Zant, a baseball player on an opposing team, was introduced to Rossington, Burns, and Junstrom at a game. In the carport of Burns’ parents’ house, they huddled close together.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd was chosen after a strict teacher Rossington had at his high school when he was 16 years old after they went through a number of name changes. Rossington and other boys with long hair were not tolerated by Skinner. Rossington left school shortly after being suspended.
In 1973, the group’s debut album was released. On that album was the nine-minute tune “Free Bird,” which went on to become one of their most well-known tracks. On their second album, Rossington contributed to the song “Sweet Home Alabama,” a smash hit. He also composed “I Ain’t The One,” “Things Goin’ On,” “Don’t Ask Me No Questions,” and “Gimme Back My Bullets,” among other songs by Skynyrd.
Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister Cassie Gaines, who sang backup, assistant tour manager Dean Kilpatrick, and both pilots perished in the Mississippi crash of a plane carrying the band in 1977. One of the 20 individuals aboard the plane who survived was Rossington, who was knocked unconscious and woke up with the jet door on top of him.
Despite breaking both of his arms, both of his legs, both of his wrists, both of his ankles, and his pelvis, Rossington made a full recovery. He used a lot of pills when he was recovering, which caused him to develop a drug habit that lasted for many years.
We couldn’t imagine continuing after something like that, he once said. We were brothers, and losing your brothers doesn’t allow you to carry on as normal.
In 1987, Skynyrd broke up and then reformed. Rossington was the lone original member of the band; nevertheless, the band’s roster has seen numerous changes since then. Gary Rossington is essential for Lynyrd Skynyrd, according to Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie’s brother and Skynyrd’s main singer since 1977.
Allen Collins, Ed King, Hughie Thomasson, and Rickey Medlocke—all guitarists with Skynyrd—lived shorter lives than Rossington. On Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 greatest musicians of all time in 2004, Lynyrd Skynyrd came in at number 95. The group was admitted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top still have plans to tour the US together despite Rossington’s passing. The only people who will remember Rossington are his wife, Dale Krantz-Rossington, his two daughters, and a number of grandchildren.
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