According to this Steve was in Crawdad when LS wanted him to join. After the plane crash some critics I remember reading thought Gaines was the best guitarist the band ever had. 

Steve sounds like an old blues master here. 

I never got to see and hear Steve. I saw LS before Ed King left a few times and they would smoke Free Bird. Once before ZZ Top and another before the Allman Brothers played they really turned on the afterburners on Free Bird and it was next to impossible for ZZ and ABB to keep that level of energy going after 15 minutes of THREE LEAD GUITARS blasting at 110 miles an hour on the last part of Free Bird. 

The longest Free Birds I ever saw. I even wondered if LS was actually trying to blow ZZ Top and the Allman Brothers Band off the stage. Both shows were in 1974. 

Ronnie did dedicate Free Bird to Duane Allman and Berry Oakley both times though. Maybe they were just trying to do their best and not trying to upstage the headliner. 

I can't remember what ZZ Top opened with but it was a big come down after 10 minutes of Free Bird wide open. The ABB opened with Wasted Words. 

I stopped going to LS and avoided other Southern Rock bands when the Confederate Flag was so much a part of the show and audience. I was never into jumping up and down for Dixie. 

I was still in FL when I heard original LS in St. Pete, then the Rossington/Collins version in Tampa - a bit weak TBH* - and the final version at Lakeland Civic Center.

That was interesting because the show was supposed to be Stills-Young Band with Poco opening but Stills-Young broke up.  LS filled in.

My first exposure to Gaines and he really injected some life into them.

I later heard Waylon Jennings there and changed my direction.  Soon after moved to New Jersey, met a great pedal steel player and finished out my full time playing days in a couple outlaw country bands.

You never know.

*not “bad” just an off day maybe.

Thanks for the thread!  I've always enjoyed Steve's playing.  I have two of his cds and they're a kick.  Heck of a player and seems like a down-to-earth guy.  IMO, the band was at a new level with him and the proverbial, "what could have been".

Rock In Peace Steve and Cassie 🌹 

Looks as if Gary Rossington took over Ed King's solo on Sweet Home Alabama. And of course playing it with his usual Les Paul. Ed King used a Strat even on the album. I saw the band with Ed King three times and thought he was a fine guitar player. Butch Trucks despised Ed King for some reason. Trash talked Ed several times. Anybody remember why? I can't.  

Steve Gaines solos at the end of the song and turns on the afterburners but I don't know. Ed King may have been more tasty to me. 

Lynyrd Skynyrd wouldn't be allowed to play anywhere today with that darn Confederate Flag back there. If they tried, Antifa would storm the stage and burn it down and kick Ronnie's behind:) 

Here is Steve Gaines. 

I bought this CD many moons ago when I ran across it in a used music store.

It did nothing for me. But I should dig it out a give it another chance. I know he was very talented.