I'm sorry but this ain't Lynyrd Skynyrd. This is a cover band. Gary Rossington is all that's left. He's good but they haven't put out anything new of value since Street Survivors.

I'd probably buy a ticket just to hear "I Need You", a classic never played Skynyrd tune and one of my all time faves.

I'm sorry but this ain't Lynyrd Skynyrd. This is a cover band. Gary Rossington is all that's left. He's good but they haven't put out anything new of value since Street Survivors.

Why people ignore this fact is beyond me. It's a freaking tribute band led by Gary Rossington.
This charade has been going on for 26 years now ?!?!? I'm really, really hoping Ronnie is patiently waiting to kick Gary's ass in the afterlife.

No offense meant to you Don...

I have to say, I wouldn't walk across the street to see what now calls itself Lynyrd Skynyrd, much less pay $100.

They seriously suck.

I Ain't the One
Things Goin' On
Poison Whiskey
Workin' for MCA
The Needle and the Spoon

I'm sorry but this ain't Lynyrd Skynyrd. This is a cover band. Gary Rossington is all that's left. He's good but they haven't put out anything new of value since Street Survivors.

Why people ignore this fact is beyond me. It's a freaking tribute band led by Gary Rossington.
This charade has been going on for 26 years now ?!?!? I'm really, really hoping Ronnie is patiently waiting to kick Gary's ass in the afterlife.

I love your last sentence!

I was going to post something similar, yet morbidly cynical. Your post will suffice.

On the other hand - has this incarnation actually been around for longer than the original band?

On the other hand - has this incarnation actually been around for longer than the original band?

You can look at that two ways. 1, they've been around longer but haven't put much of anything good out or 2, longevity.

It is hard to find good, classic Southern Rock played live these days, and I agree this current version of the band is nowhere near what the great Lynyrd Skynrd was, but I would go if this was in my neck of the woods.

sounds like a fun few nights would love to hear it.

The original Skynyrd were awesome live and really had something to say.

The original Skynyrd were awesome live and really had something to say.

Yeah they were, I was fortunate enough to have seen them twice @ Winterland in the mid 70s...

The original Skynyrd were awesome live and really had something to say.

I agree, I seen them once also. I also saw one of the earlier incarnations of Skynyrd that still included Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson and Gary Rossington. They Hughey Thommasson of the Outlaws, in addition to Rickey Medlocke.

That was a pretty kick ass Southern Rock lineup. Although it would have been nice to hear an Outlaws or Blackfoot tune thrown in.

Really, when you get down to it, you can't replace Ronnie VanZant. He was a once in a lifetime artist whose life was cut short too soon.

And yes, he's probably gonna kick Rossington's butt, as well as his little brother Johnny when he sees them.

I'm sorry but this ain't Lynyrd Skynyrd. This is a cover band. Gary Rossington is all that's left. He's good but they haven't put out anything new of value since Street Survivors.

Why people ignore this fact is beyond me. It's a freaking tribute band led by Gary Rossington.
This charade has been going on for 26 years now ?!?!? I'm really, really hoping Ronnie is patiently waiting to kick Gary's ass in the afterlife.

As opposed to the Greg Allman led Allman Brothers tribute band which, after Betts was sacked, only included him and a couple of original drummers? 😉

You think Duane and Berry will be waiting to kick Gregg's ass when he finally goes through the Pearly Gates? 😛

I'm sorry but this ain't Lynyrd Skynyrd. This is a cover band. Gary Rossington is all that's left. He's good but they haven't put out anything new of value since Street Survivors.

Why people ignore this fact is beyond me. It's a freaking tribute band led by Gary Rossington.
This charade has been going on for 26 years now ?!?!? I'm really, really hoping Ronnie is patiently waiting to kick Gary's ass in the afterlife.

As opposed to the Greg Allman led Allman Brothers tribute band which, after Betts was sacked, only included him and a couple of original drummers? 😉

You think Duane and Berry will be waiting to kick Gregg's ass when he finally goes through the Pearly Gates? 😛

Yeah Bill. I didn't really wanna go there with this being an ABB forum and such. The way Dickey acted though, I think he has some 'splainin' to do too.

I'm sorry but this ain't Lynyrd Skynyrd. This is a cover band. Gary Rossington is all that's left. He's good but they haven't put out anything new of value since Street Survivors.

Why people ignore this fact is beyond me. It's a freaking tribute band led by Gary Rossington.
This charade has been going on for 26 years now ?!?!? I'm really, really hoping Ronnie is patiently waiting to kick Gary's ass in the afterlife.

As opposed to the Greg Allman led Allman Brothers tribute band which, after Betts was sacked, only included him and a couple of original drummers? 😉

You think Duane and Berry will be waiting to kick Gregg's ass when he finally goes through the Pearly Gates? 😛

Yeah Bill. I didn't really wanna go there with this being an ABB forum and such. The way Dickey acted though, I think he has some 'splainin' to do too.

Not defending Betts, as it sounds like he was being a dick and making everyone in the band miserable, and I don't necessarily disagree with the poster calling LS a tribute band now but just saying if your going to throw rocks at another band you should take a good look in the mirror first. A little like the pot calling the kettle black in this case. Just saying.

[Edited on 12/19/2014 by Bill_Graham]

😛

Not slamming Dickey just stating what I have read in interviews with the band members from that time. Many of them state he was being unreliable and difficult to work with. I have no agenda against Mr. Betts, as I think the band would not have continued without his leadership back in the 70's and 80's, but that does not justify his behavior in the later years.

IMHO if several people say you are being a dick most likely you are a dick yes?

Back on topic I don't see the difference between the current Lynyrd Skynyrd and the last incarnation of the Allman Brothers. Both had very few original members and, IMHO, their new material was inferior to the original bands. That being said the latest incarnations of both bands put on very entertaining shows so I take it for what they are and not judge them on the past.

On the other hand - has this incarnation actually been around for longer than the original band?

At first I was going respond with "no" and point out that Johnny Colt joined in 2012 on bass (and the piano player in 2009 and newest guitarist in 2006) so this version of Skynyrd is a little over two years old. Since it's hard to pinpoint the "original" lineup of Skynyrd (started as a high school band with moving parts), I tend to go with the guys pictured on the first album....but they lasted maybe two years. Within a year of Artimus Pyle joining, Ed King quit; then Steve Gaines joined about a year after Ed left, but then tragedy struck within 18 months....so no lineup lasted that long.

However, if you mean the Johnny fronted version (compared to the Ronnie lineups)..he's been the singer for 27 year, so longer than his brother (but 27 years ago the band also included Artimus, Ed, Billy & Leon in addition to Gary).

Back on topic I don't see the difference between the current Lynyrd Skynyrd and the last incarnation of the Allman Brothers. Both had very few original members and, IMHO, their new material was inferior to the original bands. That being said the latest incarnations of both bands put on very entertaining shows so I take it for what they are and not judge them on the past.

I see a HUGE difference and so does the general public and reasonably good critics. The ABB of the final 13+ years were 3/6 of the original lineup. They included other members who had something like 75 years combined membership in the band. The material recorded by the final lineup and lineups that included Warren Haynes may not have touched Eat a Peach or At Fillmore East, but included some latter year classics....No One To Run With, High Cost of Low Living, Desdemona, End of the Line, Soulshine, True Gravity, Old Friend, Old Before My Time (haunting studio tune). They did stuff with old covers that made them their own (I'm thinking Who's Been Talking, Blind Willie McTell etc). Warren & Derek get listed on "best guitarists of all time" type lists, mostly due to their exposure and work in the Allman Brothers.

Skynyrd (love the '70s band and loved the '87 reunion) is Gary, Ronnie's brother, 3 guys who have joined since 2006 and a guy who made his name fronting a different '70s Southern Rock band who joined him in the mid '90s. I give them credit for having a long time drummer who joined 15 years ago. When I watched a couple of songs at Wanee, they did a hard rock type Sweet Home Alabama...every ounce of nuance that Ed King and later Steve Gaines played in that song was gone.....There is a reason they get called a "cover" band and that didn't stick with the ABB.

Back on topic I don't see the difference between the current Lynyrd Skynyrd and the last incarnation of the Allman Brothers. Both had very few original members and, IMHO, their new material was inferior to the original bands. That being said the latest incarnations of both bands put on very entertaining shows so I take it for what they are and not judge them on the past.

I see a HUGE difference and so does the general public and reasonably good critics. The ABB of the final 13+ years were 3/6 of the original lineup. They included other members who had something like 75 years combined membership in the band. The material recorded by the final lineup and lineups that included Warren Haynes may not have touched Eat a Peach or At Fillmore East, but included some latter year classics....No One To Run With, High Cost of Low Living, Desdemona, End of the Line, Soulshine, True Gravity, Old Friend, Old Before My Time (haunting studio tune). They did stuff with old covers that made them their own (I'm thinking Who's Been Talking, Blind Willie McTell etc). Warren & Derek get listed on "best guitarists of all time" type lists, mostly due to their exposure and work in the Allman Brothers.

Skynyrd (love the '70s band and loved the '87 reunion) is Gary, Ronnie's brother, 3 guys who have joined since 2006 and a guy who made his name fronting a different '70s Southern Rock band who joined him in the mid '90s. I give them credit for having a long time drummer who joined 15 years ago. When I watched a couple of songs at Wanee, they did a hard rock type Sweet Home Alabama...every ounce of nuance that Ed King and later Steve Gaines played in that song was gone.....There is a reason they get called a "cover" band and that didn't stick with the ABB.

You can spin it any way you want but the fact is neither band has many of the original members left and have had a number of lineup changes so calling one "cover " band and not the other seems a bit hypocritical to me.

[Edited on 12/19/2014 by Bill_Graham]

When I watched a couple of songs at Wanee, they did a hard rock type Sweet Home Alabama...every ounce of nuance that Ed King and later Steve Gaines played in that song was gone.....There is a reason they get called a "cover" band and that didn't stick with the ABB.

Ed King & RVZ were Lynyrd Skynyrd to this fan's ears...

Can we get north Korea to stop this band?

Can we get north Korea to stop this band?

I get Arreck Barwin and Dennis Rodman to totarry eff up Sony Records if anybody mess with my Skynnard! Sreet Home Arabama!

No offense meant to you Don...

I have to say, I wouldn't walk across the street to see what now calls itself Lynyrd Skynyrd, much less pay $100.

They seriously suck.

None taken, at all.

I've seen this incarnation of Skynyrd FOUR times, the funny part is each time it was only because they were on the same bill as the Allman Bros.

I wonder what it means to be a 'Tribute" band? How some are highly considered that, and others not. I know well seasoned concert goers have been known to throw that term around more loosely,at times. I know I've never considered the Allman Brothers Band to be a "Tribute Band"...even in their darkest days. Though they had a very weak writing period & performances were lacklustre at best,they were still the Allman Bros & eventually got their act together again to be as good as the original. Skynyrd is another I never considered a Tribute band though I'm greatly disappointed with the band lately (but I do have a fresh comparison point) & didn't know there's only 1 original left. I'd be inclined to call them that out of disappointment,though 'caricature' may be more appropriate. I think for those that saw the 'original' of these bands one can have very strong or derogatory opinions of the various bands from their hayday.

I think when a band loses members through tragedy & death it may change the concept of Tribute band,I'm not sure. I think the subject of 'Tribute' bands is probably worthy of a title post in itself,its certainly an interesting topic as the number of bands falling into this category is high & growing.

it would be nice if leon, ed, billy and rossington were still in the band plus johnny and medlocke and maybe randall hall. drums whoever. owen hale or custer? that would make the band more legit then what tours now but hey since 1995 the band has released 5 new albums plus an xmas album that contained new songs and toured pretty much every year

the ABB on the other hand have 1 new studio album since 1995 and the band hasn't seemed like a priority to any of the members for about the last 10 years doing a few shows here and there

it would be nice if leon, ed, billy and rossington were still in the band plus johnny and medlocke and maybe randall hall. drums whoever. owen hale or custer? that would make the band more legit then what tours now but hey since 1995 the band has released 5 new albums plus an xmas album that contained new songs and toured pretty much every year

the ABB on the other hand have 1 new studio album since 1995 and the band hasn't seemed like a priority to any of the members for about the last 10 years doing a few shows here and there

Leon Wilkeson (2001) and Billy Powell (Jan. 28, 2009) are both dead for many years. About 10 years ago i rapidly started loosing interest in Skynyrd. Since Billy Powell passed away there's no interest left at all. I really dislike their recent CD releases and i was actually dissapointed in the Hughie / Rickey line-up because those CD's were mediocre as well and both Hughie's and Rickey's talents were never fully utellised. For me Skynyrd is over and i wouldn't buy any of their new stuff and wouldn't pay anything to see them live. Put the name to rest and reform the Rossington Band with Dale singing.

No offense meant to you Don...

I have to say, I wouldn't walk across the street to see what now calls itself Lynyrd Skynyrd, much less pay $100.

They seriously suck.

None taken, at all.

I've seen this incarnation of Skynyrd FOUR times, the funny part is each time it was only because they were on the same bill as the Allman Bros.

Someone had to sell tickets. 😮