In gentle of guitarist Gary Rossington‘s passing final month, LYNYRD SKYNYRD launched an announcement affirming their dedication to proceed performing reside and preserving the music of the famend Southern Rock group, regardless of dropping their remaining founding member.
The assertion from the band reads: “The present members of the band, led by Johnny Van Zant, the singer for the previous 36 years, have been not sure if they might proceed following Gary’s premature passing. After a lot dialogue with the band, the households of Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins, and Dale Rossington, the collective has reached unified assist, and really feel that persevering with to carry out LIVE, and retaining the music alive, is in the most effective curiosity of the followers and everybody concerned.”
Rossington’s spouse of 41 years, Dale Krantz-Rossington, who performs backing vocals for the band, added: “I not too long ago misplaced my husband and associate of over 41 years. He was a tremendous father, grandfather, brother and pal, however most significantly was a world class musician and songwriter. It’s been my honor and privilege to share the stage with him for all these years. His music touched so many tens of millions of individuals round The World, and Gary was all the time the primary to say how, ‘SKYNYRD’s music is larger than me or anyone particular person.’”
“Gary made it recognized at each likelihood to precise how timeless the music was, and it was all the time his aim to maintain the music alive for his brothers as a result of that was all the time their dream. He spent his whole life making an attempt to hold on that dream for Ronnie, Allen, Steve and all of the others through the years. Whereas he was not capable of bodily be on stage with the present lineup during the last couple years, he supported them in each method. His dream will proceed because of Johnny, Rickey and the remainder of our band mates to proceed to hold his legacy and music on for future generations.”
Johnny Van Zant, the youthful brother of the group’s unique lead singer, the late Ronnie Van Zant, mentioned: “Gary was not solely my brother, bandmate and pal. I feel he beloved me as a lot as I beloved him. We might do something for one another. We laughed, we fell, we cried and made up, and shared the stage for the final 36 years. Gary, together with my brother Ronnie and Allen began this band and left us all a legacy of music that has stood the take a look at of time, and crossed three generations of followers. The music they created, and the music we created, collectively since 1987, was all the time meant to be skilled LIVE. We’ve got come along with the founding band member estates, and everybody concerned, and really feel the music ought to proceed for everybody to like and revel in. So we’ll proceed to carry out for the Skynyrd Nation.”
Ronnie‘s widow Judy Van Zant Jenness added, “LYNYRD SKYNYRD has been part of my life for 50+ years. The journey has been stuffed with love, pleasure, friendship and tragedy. Ronnie, Gary and Allen’s dream was to put in writing music that may join with folks and to play that music reside. I can not say with certainty what those that have handed on would need us to do, however I do know what Gary needed. And I do know what the followers need. To point out our timeless love for many who are now not with us and to pay tribute to them, the music will proceed. The LYNYRD SKYNYRD household is unified on this choice.”
LYNYRD SKYNYRD is about to renew their fiftieth anniversary festivities with a efficiency on April 29. Following this, the group will be part of forces with ZZ TOP for a joint summer season US tour referred to as “The Sharp Dressed Easy Man Tour.”
