1964
Ronnie Van Zant hits a line drive that strikes Bob Burns in the head, who was watching the
game with Gary Rossington. Burns is knocked unconscious but the three became friends and
have a common interest in music. They soon form a band along with Allen Collins and Larry
Junstrom. That fall 'The Noble Five' plays their first gig for $10.
1965
The core of Lynyrd Skynyrd- singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Gary Rossington, guitarist Allen
Collins, bassist Leon Wilkeson, and drummer Bob Burns- is formed at a high school in
Jacksonville, FL, initially as the group, 'My Backyard.' The name is later changed to Lynyrd
Skynyrd to immortalize school gym teacher Leonard Skinner, a legendary antagonist of
longhaired students. Ronnie Van Zant enters into a brief marriage with Nadine.
1966
Ronnie and Nadine's daughter, Tammy Michelle is born.
1968
Lynyrd Skynyrd records “Michelle” and “Need All My Friends.” The latter is released as their
debut single on Shade Tree Records, a label based in their hometown.
1969
Lynyrd Skynyrd wins a battle of the bands contest in Hemming Park located in Jacksonville, FL.
Lacy Van Zant (Ronnie's father) drives the band to Atlanta to record two songs as the prize. They
record “Spoonful” and “Michelle.” Lacy also gives them $120 for a Bogan PA for vocals.
1970
Allen Collins marries Kathy Johns. The band starts rehearsing at Hell House. By this time all the
members have dropped out of Robert E. Lee High School. Before a gig at Jay's Forest Inn, Ronnie
Van Zant introduces the band as Leonard Skinner, a high school gym teacher who tormented
them for their long hair. They later change the spelling to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Roadie Billy Powell
joins the band as keyboardist. The band asks to be let out of their contract with Shade Tree
Records.
1971
Bob Burns leaves the band and is replaced by Rickey Medlocke. In January Lynyrd Skynyrd
record their demo album at Quinvy Studios in Muscle Shoals. Larry Junstrom leaves the band.
1972
On November 18th Ronnie Van Zant marries Judy Seymour Rickey Medlocke leaves the band and
Bob Burns returns. Leon Wilkeson replaces Larry Junstrom.
1973
The debut album Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd is released and goes Gold. The album
features the instant classics “Freebird,” “Simple Man,” “Tuesday’s Gone” and “Gimme Three
Steps.” In November they open for The Who on their 'Quadrophenia' tour. At Funochios, an
Atlanta club, Al Kooper notices Lynyrd Skynyrd and signs them to his Sounds Of The South label.
Rickey Medlocke rejoins the band giving them two drummers, but leaves the band soon after.
Leon Wilkeson leaves the band but soon rejoins. Ed King joins the band as bass player but later
switches to guitar.
1974
The band releases their second effort, Second Helping, which spawns their first charting U.S.
single “Sweet Home Alabama.” The song is seen as a southerner's response to Neil Young's 1971
song “Southern Man.” The single reaches #8 on the charts, with the album itself hitting #12,
earning the band yet another Gold disc.
1975
The band releases their third album, Nuthin’ Fancy, and it goes Gold. The single from the
album is “Saturday Night Special.” “Freebird” is re-released as a single, and garners notable
national airplay, reaching the Top 20 in the charts. The band embarks on 'The Torture Tour.' Bob
Burns leaves the band. Ed King leaves the band. Artimus Pyle joins the band. The Honkettes,
comprised of Leslie Hawkins, JoJo Billingsley and Cassie Gaines become a part of the
band. The band tours the UK for the first time in support of the group Golden Earring.
1976
In September, Gary Rossington is injured in a car accident in Jacksonville, which inspires “That
Smell.” Steve Gaines joins the band. The new effort, Gimme Back My Bullets- produced by
Tom Dowd- will reach Top 20 and become the band's fourth consecutive Gold record. One More
For The Road release becomes the group's largest-selling album of their career thus far with
over 1 million copies sold. The live version of “Freebird” will once again chart. The response in the
UK is such that the band will perform alongside the Rolling Stones, amongst others, at the
Knebworth Festival. The band tours with The Rolling Stones.
1977
Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins present a Platinum album awarded them for One More For
The Road to the Mayor of Atlanta, in appreciation of the band's Atlanta fans. Another album
would be presented to the Fox Theatre in Atlanta where the album was recorded. Street
Survivors, the band's second Platinum selling record is released. On October 20th, tragedy
would strike the band as Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines (Steve's sister and one of
Skynyrd's back-up singers), and road manager Dean Kilpatrick are killed when the band's rented
plane (short on fuel) crashes into a swamp in Gillsburg, Mississippi, while en route to a gig at
Louisiana University. Rossington, Collins, Powell, Wilkeson and Leslie Hawkins, are all seriously
injured but survive the crash. Out of courtesy and good judgment MCA Records withdraws the
sleeve of the just released album Street Survivors, which pictures the group standing in flames.
The album will become the band's second Platinum selling album, reaching #5 on the U.S. album
chart.
1978
The single, “What's Your Name,” from the album Street Survivors escalates up the charts to the
#13 position, while another single, “You Got That Right” follows suit by also charting. The band
will release another album; Skynyrd's First and Last, which is comprised of previously
unreleased recordings from 1970-1972. It will also go Platinum, marking the third consecutive
album to do so for the band.
1979
MCA releases a double compilation album Gold and Platinum. Surviving members of the
band, with the exception of Artimus Pyle, form the Rossington-Collins Band, fronted by Dale
Krantz.
1980
The debut album by the Rossington-Collins band, Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere will feature the
single “Don't Misunderstand Me,” and will achieve gold status. Lynyrd Skynyrd's double
compilation, Gold and Platinum ascends into the Top 15 and also becomes double Platinum. This
will total four consecutive Platinum albums for the band. Allen Collins' wife Kathy dies.
1981
The Rossington-Collins Band releases their second album, This Is The Way, which is dedicated to
Allen Collin's wife, Kathy, who died a year earlier. Although garnering considerable acclaim the
album will be the last by the band.
1982
Gary Rossington and Dale Krantz marry in July. In December, Lynyrd Skynyrd release Best Of
The Rest, a compilation of rare tracks and outtakes.
1984
The remaining members of The Rossington-Collins Band begin planning a band of their own
which becomes the Allen Collins Band.
1986
Gary and Dale Rossington form a band called Rossington. Their album Returned To The Scene Of
The Crime is released on Atlantic Records. Allen Collins runs his car off the road in a crash that
will leave him paralyzed from the waist down. The crash took the life of his girlfriend.
1987
MCA Records would release the album Legend. The compilation-produced by Tom Dowd- will
contain previous B-sides, as well as unreleased and uncompleted songs by the original Lynyrd
Skynyrd. A new Lynyrd Skynyrd is formed in September comprised of Rossington, Powell, Pyle,
Wilkeson, King, Johnny Van Zant (vocals), Randall Hall (a long-time friend of the band and
member of The Allen Collins Band), along with Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Bristow
on background vocals. The band makes their first public appearance at the Charlie Daniel's
Volunteer Jam XIII and will eventually perform more than 30 dates on a reunion tour, marking
the tenth anniversary of the fatal plane crash.
1988
Southern By Grace Of God, a double live album featuring tracks recorded on the recent tour,
would be released on MCA Records.
1989
MCA releases a Lynyrd Skynyrd greatest hits package titled Skynyrds Innyrds.
1990
Allen Collins dies of respiratory failure caused by pneumonia, a complication of his paralysis.
1991
The band releases Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 marking their return to the recording studio, the first
new material in over 14 years. Again produced by Tom Dowd, it left no doubt that one of rock and
rolls greatest bands was back with a vengeance. It featured the tracks, “Smokestack Lightning,”
“Keeping The Faith,” “Southern Women” and “Pure and Simple.”
1992
Artimus Pyle leaves the band, citing personal differences.
1993
Atlantic Records releases the album, Last Rebel, which comes out twenty years after their first
album. Kurt Custer joins the band as drummer. Leon's good friend and former bassist of The
Rossington Band, Timmy Lindsey, stood in for Leon from June thru the end of that year,
during the Last Rebel Tour. Leon was unable to be with the band for health reasons during that
time.
1994
Lynyrd Skynyrd releases their first completely acoustic album, Endangered Species, on
Capricorn Records.
1995
Ed King becomes ill with congestive heart failure and leaves the band. Freebird: The Movie
premieres in Atlanta.
1996
The band signs a multi-album agreement with CMC International Records. Rickey Medlocke of
Blackfoot rejoins the band, this time as guitarist. Hughie Thomasson of the Outlaws is also
added as guitarist.
1997
Twenty, the debut for CMC, is released on April 29th to be followed by a world tour.
1998
Johnny Van Zant teams up with brother Donnie Van Zant of .38 Special for Brother to Brother,
a long awaited collaboration of these two surviving members of one of American rock's royal
families. CMC Records releases Lyve From Steeltown a double CD of newly recorded Skynyrd
classics and recent Skynyrd hits along with its accompanying home video. The enhanced CD
includes interviews as well as music, an extra bonus for their fans. Michale Cartellone replaces
Owen Hale as drummer.
1999
Edge of Forever (CMC) and 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The
Best Of Lynyrd Skynyrd (MCA) are released. Lynyrd Skynyrd hit the road for the summer on
the heels of the past summer's hugely successful tour. The band ends the 20th century on a
national tour with ZZ Top.
2000
Then And Now (CMC) is released. Lynyrd Skynyrd headlines a summer tour as well as
embarking on their first European tour in three and a half years. Their first Christmas album,
Christmas Time Again (CMC), is completed in July and hit the stores in November.
2001
Lynyrd Skynyrd hit the road again on a North American tour with Deep Purple and Ted Nugent.
On July 27th, bassist Leon Wilkeson passes away in his sleep in a hotel room near Jacksonville,
FL. Ean Evans, a long time friend of the band, joins as the new bass player. RIAA certifies that
the band has sold more than 23 million records.
2002
CMC Records International (now Sanctuary Records) releases Turn It Up, a compilation of
Lynyrd Skynyrd tunes.
2003
Lynyrd Skynyrd celebrates their 30th anniversary by releasing Vicious Cycle (Sanctuary) on
May 6th, their first studio album in three years. Gibson Custom Art and Historic Division release
the Limited Edition Gary Rossington Les Paul guitar. UTV Records releases the compilation,
Thyrty.
2004
The band tours heavily to celebrate 30 years of hard rockin'. Lynyrd Skynyrd LYVE: The
Vicious Cycle Tour is released by Sanctuary. Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers Band
join forces for the first time to co-headline 10 shows. In August of 2004 Lacy Van Zant, often
referred to as the 'Father Of Southern Rock,' passes away at the age of 89.
2006
The band is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame! Mark "Sparky" Matejka, formerly of
the country music band Hot Apple Pie, joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2006. Lynyrd Skynyrd perform
"Sweet Home Alabama" at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards with Dickey Betts, Tim McGraw, and
Gretchen Wilson as part of a tribute to Southern Rock.
2007
On September 9, former Skynyrd guitarist Hughie Thomasson died of a heart attack at his home
in Florida. On November 2, the band performed at Gator Growl, the world's largest student-run
pep rally, in Ben Hill Griffen Stadium- also known as "The Swamp."
2008
The band joins a star-studded line up as a very special guest at VH1’s Fashion Rock. In July the
band plays to their largest crowd to date at Bama Jam in Enterprise, Alabama where more than
111,000 people were in attendance. Lynyrd Skynyrd and Kid Rock co-headline the inagural Rock
& Rebels Tour.
2009
Lynyrd Skynyrd sign a worldwide deal with Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records! The band
gears up to release their first set of new studio material since 2003’s Vicious Cycle this fall. On
January 28, 2009, longtime keyboardist Billy Powell died at age 56 at his home near Jacksonville,
Florida. Once again, Lynyrd Skynyrd will join their pal Kid Rock on the second annual Rock &
Rebels Tour.
2012
Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records announce the release of Last Of A Dyin’ Breed, the band’s
first studio album since the September 29, 2009 release of God & Guns which debuted at #18 on
the Billboard Top 20 and gave the band their highest debut since 1977. Last Of A Dying Breed
reunites the band with producer Bob Marlette who produced God & Guns. Joining Lynyrd
Skynyrd for the new recording will be bass player Johnny Colt, an original member of the Black
Crowes who has also played with Train and Rockstar Supernova.