Ronnie Van Zant was the lead singer of the legendary Southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida in 1948 and grew up listening to traditional country music and the blues. In 1964, he formed a band with friends Allen Collins, Gary Rossington and Bob Burns that would eventually become Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The group released ther debut album, Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd in 1973, which featured two of Van Zant’s biggest hits: “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama”. The album catapulted Lynyrd Skynyrd to stardom and became an iconic part of Southern rock culture.
Tragically, on October 20th 1977, during a flight from Greenville, South Carolina to Baton Rouge Louisiana, Van Zant and six other members of the touring party were killed when their plane crashed in a heavily wooded area of southwestern Mississippi during a failed emergency landing attempt. Ronnie Van Zant died on impact along with guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray. The other members of the band and crew suffered devastating injuries but all survived.
Ronnie Van Zant is remembered as one of the most influential figures in Southern rock music history. His lyrics reflect his upbringing in rural Florida while his powerful vocals gave life to some of Southern Rock’s most iconic songs. While it is heartbreaking that Van Zant never got to experience the full success that he deserved due to his untimely death; his legacy continues to live on through Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music today.
The Tragic Death of Ronnie Van Zant
Ronnie Van Zant, lead singer of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, tragically died on October 20, 1977, when the band’s tour plane crashed in a heavily wooded area of southwestern Mississippi during a failed emergency landing attempt. All three surviving members of the band sustained serious injuries in the crash, but Van Zant and two other passengers were killed instantly upon impact. This tragedy brought an abrupt end to the life of one of Southern rock’s most beloved icons.
Source: wlbt.com
Survivors of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash
Twenty people survived the 1977 plane crash that killed three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd. These survivors included the band’s members Allen Collins, Billy Powell, Artimus Pyle, Gary Rossington, and Leon Wilkerson. Other survivors were flight attendants Deanie Kiomatia, Judy Van Zant, and Cassie Gaines; as well as passengers Ken Peden, Gene Odom, John Gray, Steve Gaines, Randy Babbitt, Jeff Adams, Andy Miller, Dean Kilpatrick Jr., Jim Melanson, and road manager Ron Eckerman. Miraculously no one on board was seriously injured.
The Tragic Deaths of Lynyrd Skynyrd Members
On October 20th, 1977, tragedy struck the Lynyrd Skynyrd family when their chartered plane crashed in Gillsburg, Mississippi. Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines (Steve’s sister), assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray all perished on impact. This tragedy had a profound impact on the band and their millions of fans around the world. The rest of the band and road crew suffered serious injuries as a result of the crash.
Number of Original Members of Lynyrd Skynyrd Still Alive
Currently, only one of the original members of Lynyrd Skynyrd is still alive. Gary Rossington is the only surviving member from the band’s founding lineup which included him, Ronnie Van Zandt and Allen Collins.
Ronnie Van Zant’s Last Words
Ronnie Van Zant’s last words were reportedly said to Gene Odom, who was a bodyguard for the band. According to Odom, Van Zant said “I love you, man” before departing on the ill-fated plane. Odom also revealed that the last song Van Zant heard was Rambling Fever by Merle Haggard.
Source: historycollection.com
Ronnie Van Zandt’s Injuries
Ronnie Van Zandt suffered fatal head injuries when the plane he was travelling in struck a tree. He died on impact. His bandmates Steve and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray also lost their lives in the accident. The remaining members of the band were seriously injured but survived.
The Impact of Plane Crashes on Human Pain Perception
Death in a high-impact plane crash is generally instantaneous, so it is unlikely that you would feel any pain. The extreme force of the impact would be too intense for your body to process, and your nervous system would not be able to send signals of pain to your brain. In addition, the air pressure within the cabin would become so low that your lungs could not take in enough oxygen for your body to function normally. This combination of extreme forces, along with lack of oxygen, means that death would occur before any pain signals can be sent.
Who Was ‘Freebird’ Written About?
The song “Freebird” was written by Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, and is dedicated to the memory of Duane Allman, the frmer lead guitarist for The Allman Brothers Band. Allman died in a motorcycle accident in 1971, and Lynyrd Skynyrd has honored his memory by dedicating this song to him during their live shows. During their 1975 performance on The Old Grey Whistle Test, Van Zant also paid tribute to Berry Oakley, who had died in a motorcycle accident just a year after Allman. The lyrics of the song speak of freedom and being untethered from all worldly concerns.
The Guitar Soloist on ‘Free Bird’
The guitar solo on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s iconic song “Free Bird” was played by two guitarists: Allen Collins and Gary Rossington. Both Collins and Rossington were founding members of the band, and their combined efforts created one of the most celebrated guitar solos in rock history, ranking at number 3 on Guitar World’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time.
The Final Resting Place of Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is buried at Riverside Memorial Park in Jacksonville, Florida. Ronnie Van Zant, Dave Hlubek, Forby Leonard Skinner, Allen Collins, Billy Powell, and Leon Wilkeson are all resting at Riverside Memorial Park. Ronnie Van Zant is the lead singer and founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and he was the first to be laid to rest there. Dave Hlublek is the founder of Molly Hatchet and was a close friend of Ronnie Van Zant. Forby Leonard Skinner was a teacher who inspired the band’s name. Allen Collins, Billy Powell and Leon Wilkeson were all members of Lynyrd Skynyrd who are now buried alongside ther beloved leader.
The Musicians Who Performed with Lynyrd Skynyrd After Ronnie Van Zant’s Death
After Ronnie Van Zant’s tragic death in a plane crash in 1977, Johnny Van Zant took over as the frontman of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Johnny, who is Ronnie’s younger brother, has been singing for Lynyrd Skynyrd since 1987 and continues to do so to this day.
The Tragic Consequences of Running Out of Fuel: Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Plane Crash
The Lynyrd Skynyrd plane ran out of fuel due to a combination of inadequate flight planning and an engine malfunction in the right engine. The engine malfunction caused increased fuel consumption, commonly referred to as “torching”. This led to the plane using more fuel than had been anticipated, and ultimately leading to fuel exhaustion.
The Controversy Surrounding Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Support of the Confederate Flag
Lynyrd Skynyrd has historically supported the Confederate flag, which is commonly referred to as the Rebel flag. The band has used the Confederate flag as part of their live performances since their inception in the 1970s. The band has also used the state flag of Alabama and the American flag in their shows, acknowledging that they are all Americans despite any differences. While Lynyrd Skynyrd does not explicitly state whether or not they support the Confederate flag, their continued use of it in their shows indicates that they are supportive of its symbolism.
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The Origin of the Name ‘Lynyrd Skynyrd’
The name Lynyrd Skynyrd originated from a gym teacher at Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida. His name was Leonard Skinner and he was knwn for being a strict, uncompromising basketball coach. His students affectionately referred to him as “Lynard Skynard” due to his famous crew cut hairstyle. This nickname inadvertently became the namesake of the iconic rock band when one of the founding members, Ronnie Van Zant, changed the spelling slightly and used it as the band’s official title. Thus, Leonard Skinner will forever be remembered as the inspiration behind one of the greatest Southern rock bands in history.
Conclusion
Ronnie Van Zant was a beloved and talented musician, lead singer and songwriter for the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He tragically passed away in 1977 at the age of 29 in a plane crash that killed six people and injured twenty others. His legacy lives on through his music and the other founding members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, who were deeply affected by his death. He is remembered as a symbol of the southern rock movement and will forever be remembered for his contributions to music.
