• From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Topic: For Those Who Were Around On October 20, 1977

Can't believe it's been 38 years since the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash. I was watching the Yankees/Dodgers World Series game on a business trip to Charlotte, North Carolina when the news bulletin interrupted the game. I was gutted to hear that news as they had become my favorite band in a short period after seeing them in SF in Nov. of '73. What are some of your memories if you were around in that period?

                                                                                  What Song Is It
                                                                                  You Wanna Hear???

                                                                                  J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint

2 Reply by Shredit (edited by Shredit 2015-10-20 14:55:47)

  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 3,742

Re: For Those Who Were Around On October 20, 1977

Dawgy I was too stoned and stupid at 19 to remember much......LS will always be one of my favs of southern rock as you well know.....TACOS.....TACOS....COME GET YOUR TACOS!!!.....oh never mind that was another gig Dawgy, that's right you were with me

3 Reply by ahsmith33 (edited by ahsmith33 2015-10-20 15:17:18)

  • Registered: 2008-06-16
  • Posts: 4,021

Re: For Those Who Were Around On October 20, 1977

and I was 23 at the time living in Birmingham. The plane went down late that night so we didn't find out about it until the next day. It was really very sad, was surprised though that only 3 died. They were not one of my fav groups at the time, still you couldn't help but like the music. I have never seen them in concert, although I did get to see the Rossington-Collins band open for Kansas at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, sort of the same thing. They were nice enough to let Leon sit in on bass on Sweet Home Alabama even though he was severely crippled from the plane crash. And to this day, prior to the start of UA home games in Tuscaloosa they always play Sweet Home Alabama, it is damn exciting especially if you're there in the stadium. RIP Ronnie, Steve, Cassie, Leon, and Billy.
Yeah, will crank up some Free Bird tonight.

As corn through a goose, so are the days of our lives
  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: For Those Who Were Around On October 20, 1977

Shredit wrote:

Dawgy I was too stoned and stupid at 19 to remember much......LS will always be one of my favs of southern rock as you well know.....TACOS.....TACOS....COME GET YOUR TACOS!!!.....oh never mind that was another gig Dawgy, that's right you were with me

Wasn't even Taco Tuesday, but Joe played! You still got that poster???

                                                                                         Feather Falls Casino!!!

                                                                                         J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint
  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: For Those Who Were Around On October 20, 1977

Ironically the Yankees were Ronnie and Gary's favorite baseball team. As some of you may know, Ronnie, Gary, and Bob Burns met as little league players in Jacksonville. A late friend of mine was Bill Grahams stage manager for years and Peter told me how much he liked Skynyrd and their crew cuz they were they best softball players that the BGP All Stars faced when they came to town.

                                                                                            Go Cubs!!!

                                                                                            J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint
  • From: Chesterville, Ohio
  • Registered: 2014-06-20
  • Posts: 188

Re: For Those Who Were Around On October 20, 1977

I think I was trying to get my parents to go see Star Wars, which they had to review before I could go as I was still to young for PG movies.  Amazing band.  Still getting airplay and impacting people's lives 40 years later.

  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 3,742

Re: For Those Who Were Around On October 20, 1977

I gave it to Michael when I went to London

ohiodawg13 wrote:
Shredit wrote:

Dawgy I was too stoned and stupid at 19 to remember much......LS will always be one of my favs of southern rock as you well know.....TACOS.....TACOS....COME GET YOUR TACOS!!!.....oh never mind that was another gig Dawgy, that's right you were with me

Wasn't even Taco Tuesday, but Joe played! You still got that poster???

                                                                                         Feather Falls Casino!!!

                                                                                         J Dawg

8 Reply by bigjeffjones (edited by bigjeffjones 2015-10-27 05:03:07)

  • From: Edgewater, FL
  • Registered: 2007-12-08
  • Posts: 5,046

Re: For Those Who Were Around On October 20, 1977

I had burnt out and left the road for awhile. Had met Cassie and we hit it off some time before that.  Went in to a local bucket of blood after a landscape job to drink my dinner and some other drunk had put on some Skynard tunes (jukebox) and I mumbled to nobody that I needed to call that girl.  She didn't know where I was.

One of the other hardheads told me the news.  I raged, scared the guy, and after it really hit, I sobbed out loud.  Some bikers sat me down and I got very, very drunk.  Somehow I made it home.  Steve helped change that band.

Not a good night.  "...the smell of death surrounds you..."

Rock On & Keep the FAITH
             It is
Blues From the Bottoms

bigjeffjones's Website

  • From: Benicia, Ca.
  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 5,828

Re: For Those Who Were Around On October 20, 1977

bigjeffjones wrote:

I had burnt out and left the road for awhile. Had met Cassie and we hit it off some time before that.  Went in to a local bucket of blood after a landscape job to drink my dinner and some other drunk had put on some Skynard tunes (jukebox) and I mumbled to nobody that I needed to call that girl.  She didn't know where I was.

One of the other hardheads told me the news.  I raged, scared the guy, and after it really hit, I sobbed out loud.  Some bikers sat me down and I got very, very drunk.  Somehow I made it home.  Steve helped change that band.

Not a good night.  "...the smell of death surrounds you..."

God bless her my funky Brother!

                                                           J Dawg

What is success? Is it do yo' own thang, or is it to join the rest?   -Allen Toussaint
  • gary
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Palatine Illinois by Chicago
  • Registered: 2006-08-25
  • Posts: 4,767

Re: For Those Who Were Around On October 20, 1977

Skynard part of the soundtrack of my youth.I was shocked like everyone else.
At the time I was really into the Street Survivors album.Just another rock  tragedy.So sad to think about even today.

Your rock candy baby
Your hard sweet and sticky

gary's Website

  • From: Seymour Duncan's Hometown, NJ
  • Registered: 2012-03-05
  • Posts: 2,309

Re: For Those Who Were Around On October 20, 1977

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Freebird - 7/2/1977 - Oakland Coliseum Stadium (Official)
https://youtu.be/QxIWDmmqZzY  (Lynyrd Skynyrd on MV)

"I was in Space for less than 2 weeks … and suddenly Jeaniene’s back … half the Band is off the gd wagon … we have comedians opening for us … and the nice kid that ran our website is now a kleptof’nmaniac.  Boy ... did you guys miss me!!"  Phil Valentine - Road Manager - Staton House Band

JBLP#251 (unaged) ... thank you Ron.
  • From: Crystal Lake, Il.
  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 5,120

Re: For Those Who Were Around On October 20, 1977

Shredit wrote:

I gave it to Michael when I went to London

ohiodawg13 wrote:
Shredit wrote:

Dawgy I was too stoned and stupid at 19 to remember much......LS will always be one of my favs of southern rock as you well know.....TACOS.....TACOS....COME GET YOUR TACOS!!!.....oh never mind that was another gig Dawgy, that's right you were with me

Wasn't even Taco Tuesday, but Joe played! You still got that poster???

                                                                                         Feather Falls Casino!!!

                                                                                         J Dawg

Shred, I remember the ceremony very clearly!! I think somewhere I have a pic of Michael with that poster and the smile on his face

"Rock ON & Keep the Faith"
  • From: East Lancashire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-06-24
  • Posts: 3,019

Re: For Those Who Were Around On October 20, 1977

The 70's. What a great time and sadly a style of living we probably won't see again. (or our kids sadly). sad

Come on the Blades (sorry Idolbone just had to borrow your line)