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The lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, the guitarist Steve Gaines, the singer, and Steve’s older sister Cassie Gaines alongside Lynyrd Skynyrd’s assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick lost their lives as a result of the plane crash while only 20 people, including the drummer Artimus Pyle, survived.
It was 43 years ago today ( October 20th, 1977 ), that a plane carrying Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed in a swamp near Gillsburg, Mississippi. At the time, the group was en route to its next show in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Singer and Guitarist Dead Those killed in addition to Mr. Van Zant were Cassie Gaines, 28, a singer and her brother Steve„ also 28, a guitarist Dean Kilpatrick, assistant tour manager; the pilot, Walter McCrearey; and the co‐pilot, John Grey, both of Dallas.
Steve Gaines | |
---|---|
Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
Years active | 1964–1977 |
Labels | MCA |
Associated acts | Lynyrd Skynyrd The Ravens Pink Peach Mob Manalive Rio Smokehouse Detroit Rusty Day Crawdad |
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. He recalled the plane crash and the effort afterwards to get help, which included him getting shot by the first person he found. October 20th, 1977.
Lynyrd Skynyrd; just one original member still alive.
Some airplane crashes happen with the plane colliding with a mountain at a couple of hundred miles per hour. In such an accident, everyone will likely die instantly. Other airplane crashes are of the variety where the pilot has some control and the plane slows down and hits the ground moving until it comes to a stop.
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.
February 3, 1959: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. ‘Big Bopper’ Richardson. The Day the Music Died – when Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson ( The Big Bopper ), and Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash.
The crash also killed Payton Chester, 13; Sarah Chester, 45; Alyssa Altobelli, 14; Keri Altobelli, 46; John Altobelli, 56; Christina Mauser, 38; and Ara Zobayan, 50.
On October 20, 1977, a plane crash killed three members of the group, including its guiding light, Ronnie Van Zant. Who died in the Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash? Of the 24 passengers who boarded the ill-fated flight from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, three members of the band were killed.
After playing the southern states during the late 60s they released a second single, ‘I’ve Been Your Fool’, in 1971, after recording demos in Sheffield, Alabama. The band was discovered in Atlanta by Al Kooper in 1972 while he was scouting for new talent for his Sounds Of The South label.
Although this video hit the YouTubes a few years ago, we thought you’d enjoy hearing the isolated guitar-solo track from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.” The solo on the song—which was played by Allen Collins and Gary Rossington —comes it at Number 3 on Guitar World’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time.
In addition to being a fantastic guitarist, he was also a strong songwriter and hell of a vocalist, and in fact was the only person other than Ronnie Van Zant to ever sing lead on a Skynyrd song — the sexy, bluesy beast that is “Ain’t No Good Life”, also penned by Gaines. Gaines was a great complement to them.
Table Of Contents Jimi Hendrix. Jimmy Page. Eddie Van Halen. Slash. Eric Clapton. Stevie Ray Vaughan. David Gilmour. Angus Young.