LYNYRD SKYNYRD guitarist Gary Rossington has died.
The 71-year-old musician’s passing was introduced by his surviving bandmates earlier in the present day (Sunday, March 5). They wrote on social media:
“It’s with our deepest sympathy and unhappiness that we’ve to advise, that we misplaced our brother, good friend, member of the family, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington, in the present day.
“Gary is now along with his SKYNYRD brothers and household in heaven and enjoying it fairly, like he all the time does.
“Please preserve Dale, Mary, Annie and your complete Rossington household in your prayers and respect the household’s privateness at this tough time.”
The only remaining unique member of LYNYRD SKYNYRD, Rossington has handled quite a few well being points lately. Again in July 2021, he underwent emergency coronary heart surgical procedure. Six years earlier, he suffered a coronary heart assault, prompting a number of of the band’s concert events to be canceled. He additionally underwent quintuple bypass surgical procedure again in 2003 resulting from coronary artery illness. In 2019, he had an operation to repair a leaky coronary heart valve.
5 years in the past, Rossington informed the Tampa Bay Instances his docs had urged him for years to give up touring. “I’ve had coronary heart assaults on stage,” he mentioned. “That is why I used to be calling it a farewell tour. I do not know if I will be right here [much longer]. I do not need to simply say, ‘Nicely, we’re by no means going to finish,’ as a result of I do not need to die after which it finish that means — which is a heavy factor to speak about, however I’ve to.”
Rossington survived the 1977 aircraft crash that killed singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines. The band reunited with Ronnie‘s brother Johnny Van Zant as singer in 1987 and has been on the highway ever since.
Final December, Rossington informed Rolling Stone journal about LYNYRD SKYNYRD‘s enduring relevance: “It is a tribute band proper now, and everyone is aware of it isn’t the unique. Everyone who involves see us is informed that through the present, and doubtless is aware of earlier than they even get there. However individuals nonetheless come to listen to it stay.”
Rossington, whose well being woes had compelled him to overlook a lot of LYNYRD SKYNYRD‘s latest exhibits, with Damon Johnson filling in for him, admitted he went via “numerous completely different feelings” watching LYNYRD SKYNYRD from the aspect of the stage. “The notes are the identical, and the songs are the identical. It sounds good to me. It appears like our band,” he defined. “I look out and do not see the unique band — it is unusual. After which I look out and see a alternative for me, which is unusual. Simply listening to the songs with out me enjoying on ’em stay may be very unusual.”
Regardless of “101 unusual issues taking place,” Rossington mentioned that he was comfortable to know that LYNYRD SKYNYRD‘s music continues to be connecting with individuals. “To see the youthful individuals having fun with it makes your coronary heart heat.”
Rossington went on to say that his former bandmates can be equally glad with LYNYRD SKYNYRD‘s continued presence on the touring circuit. “Me, Allen [Collins] and Ronnie [Van Zant] began this band with a dream of constructing it huge, and that dream got here true,” he mentioned. “They’d like it if their music was nonetheless being performed once they’re gone.”
It’s with our deepest sympathy and unhappiness that we’ve to advise, that we misplaced our brother, good friend, member of the family,…
Posted by Lynyrd Skynyrd on Sunday, March 5, 2023
