I dated Kenny’s sisters and he’s always been the coolest cat I heard the same story he told here in 1978 he’s a stand up guy and an old friend.His Mom and Daddy were very good to me as well , he is a hell Of a guy !
Wow, a great session with Ken Peden. Very interesting to hear his account of the plane crash. Thank you so much!! Griff does a great job of getting people to tell their stories. :-)
Wow thank you Griff and Craig for having Ken Peden on the show great interview this guy was amazing the story about Cassie really blew my mind and the fact he got on an airplane four days later after the crash I don’t know how he did it once again great interview can’t wait for the next show keep up the good work guys you’re doing great
That was awesome info just the way it was told to my brother and his friend that went and interviewed Johnny Moates shortly after the crash they were with the radio station in Hammond at college SLU and as far as when they ended up on Moates property everything Ken said was right on glad to hear it from someone with the straight story thank you Ken Pegen you and Gene are the only believable story's thanks for clearing up alot of the story's from the plane I've been a hardcore Skynyrd freak since the early 70s GOD BLESS YOU my friend ✌
People who criticize Artimus need to cool out - Artimus took charge , went for help and stayed behind - The man is a hero in my eyes - I know he may have said this or that but I wasn't there and the people who were there weren't exactly thinking straight +Catastrophic events will mess with the psych a little bit - I appreciate this man's perspective - he should get a piece of everything that band sells - all of the survivors should -
Exactly. Trauma and then all the meds and pain can play havoc with memories. All this happened fairly fast and I assume people did shift around as it went down. This story made me wonder if Cassie was trying to get to Steve…
@@jenniferrayhill2000 Wow,I bet you are correct;she was looking for little brother! Aw,heck. W'eve met Artimus a couple times and chatted a bit. He is still the same guy that would go for help again,stay till last. I truly like the man and proud as AF he signed the back of our One More From The Road album. Talk to him about anything but the crash,he's cool and will start sharing some epic stuff. His band has gotten very tight,their gig in Austin summer 2024 was a blast. Salute RVZ
This is absolutely the best explanation I've heard. The farmer, Johnny Mote, had thought there was a prison break because he saw the helicopter before the crash victims even got to his farm, so help was already on its way. In the movie, Artimus never shows he had two other survivors that went with him for help. And then there is the "getting hit by a gunshot" story he has told over and over, not mentioned by Ken. And then Ronnie walking around and giving Artimus the "hippy hand shake" right before the crash.. I thought Ronnie was passed out on sleeping pills (?) Too much embellishment by Mr. Pyle has hurt his already questionable reputation. Is he lying about his innocence pertaining to the child sex charge? He could have been a bit more humble which would have made him appear even more like a stand up guy, instead of spouting his tall tales. Maybe he is confused? Despite all of this he still come across as being a decent human being and I wish him all the best.
Thank you for your version of the plane crash. You had some details that were new...I hadn't heard them before. Thank you so much for sharing and God Bless you.❤
Thank you Mr Peden I was at the Hollywood Sportatorium show were Ronnie Vanzant came out and said turn on the lights I wanna see the people and then said we have just broke the Florida indoor attendance record. The sound that night was incredible.I am 61 now and that show was the best I ever saw. I was wondering if your guests remember this show it was on october 15 1977. I have a e-mail from Mr Franks he told me that he does. Thanks again for this pod cast.
Hey, I remember that show, I was there!!! 10/15/77 A GREAT SHOW!!! The house lights came on and there were people EVERYWHERE, even hanging on the walls. They had to stop the show at one point because a guy had climbed the rafters up over the stage. They finally talked him down and the roadies beat the Hell out of him! What a night. BEST SHOW EVER!!!
Thanks,guys-- Amazing perspective and narrative from Ken. His description of all events are devoid of added emotional color or wandering analysis. Just an honest recall and much appreciated by many,I'm sure. I am Texas-sized grateful to hear this exact account. The info regarding where Ronnie was sitting,what Cassie did at the last second,Ken's personal memories,all new to me-- Add this to Howie's and M Franks version of recall,it is intense. Sure appreciate Craig,Griff,everyone involved making this happen. Mark Howard's story about jumping up and throwing the poker chips is one of those made-for-Hollywood moments,funny and tragic like Shakespeare,but w a Texan-style twist. Go check his vids too,everyone! Any documentaries should have STARTED with these cats,(plus a few no longer with us). Salute',guys
Right on Ken, it definitely was a factual and matter-of-fact story. Ken seems a very intelligent and introspective person and to be able to give us the lowdown on Cassie Gaines and Artemis Pyles actions means a lot. Take care.
Thanks! Another great Show,learn something new in every video.Missing Craig.P.S. I noticed the Charlie Chips Can,We had them Delivered to us when I was a Kid...
Poor Cassie, she made a fatal error by standing up right before impact. Pilot error made things so much worse, not only did the landing gear being let down slow the plane down but it then caught in the trees and forced the plane to nose dive into the ground. With the open field just a quarter mile away they may not have even skimmed across the treetops if the landing gear had stayed up.
Wow that was a really great episode and I cant thank Ken enough for giving us his account of the crash. I really hope you have him back with some more lighthearted stories about being on the road with the band! Thanks a lot Griff your interviewing skills are top notch! Got those 6 under the belt.
@@GriffMartinReports I know it's been said before but I appreciate it and thank you very much as a boy that grew up just south of the band here in Central Florida that's always been a very emotional subject for me I guess nowhere near of what these people experienced but it's taken me a lot of my 61 years to finally be able to start being subjectively receptive to listening to these stories and I appreciate what it is that you do and thank you for investing your time getting info out to us and it means a lot for those of us who have always carried Lynyrd Skynyrd in our hearts. Craig's interview here with Ken Peder was great and so informational.. Take care Griff. Michael Greene down here in Eustis Florida. Peace
Me to. I got to my high school that morning late. My alarm clock woke me with "several members of the rock group lynyrd skynyrd wete killed last night"...... i couldn believe it. But i walked up to my high school late because i kept listening to the radio reports and 1st period was well under way but sbout a hundred kids were all outside talking about the crash and crying and street survivors was playing from car windows and a girl i walked up to had a portable 8 trak player with one more from the road blasting. A lot of us had seen them there in las vegas when they were there in august so it hit everyone hard.
There was no “Air Sea Rescue” in Gillsburg and McComb Mississippi in 1977. The only helicopters were the National Guard and the Sheriff’s office. As a matter of fact none of the Helicopters had the capability to use a drop line that would allow the rescue team to actually be lowered down to the ground or be able to raise a patient to the copter. The Helicopters had to actually land in a flat open area and hand load the victims into the chopper in order to fly them to the hospital.
A lot of people say she was cut ear to ear because Billy Powel claimed he held her in his arms when she died and her throat was cut ear to ear. Later it was found out that it was not true and he admitted it. Why he lied about something like that is beyond me. They say through research of commercial airline accidents the safest place to sit in a plane is as far back and to the middle as you can get. Reason is many times the tail gets cut lose from the rest of the plane and does not get blown up or burned with fuel.
odom has a few contrary memories gives artimus a real hard time but ken verifies that artimus did go for help but the shot was over the head seems everyone has varied opinions but if odim was hurt & trapped how could he know what went on outside plane?
Now in the last day, I've heard twice that artimus didn't seek help alone, there were three total going to the farm house. I think artimus is now full of shit.
In all of the videos I have watched, the story has been that 3 people went for help. There is a video out there from the actual (ex)wife of Motes. She says 3 people. She also says Motes shot up in the air and NOT at the guys. She was pregnant at the time. She gives Artimus the business on the YT clip. Pretty funny. 😅
So Gene Odom Lied when he said Ronnie was lying in the floor passed out because Ken Pedan said he had a back ache and Leslie Hawkins was massaging his back and when they said the plane was crashing that Ronnie got up and sat on the couch and buckled himself in.
I heard Artemus say that the he was grazed by the the farmers wife. Though that did not come out until years later when he was at an anniversary of some sort. Artemus said she was yelling at him that she shot him, and he walked away because he thought she was nuts and he didn't appreciate being yelled at (my words). It makes sense because I believe the farmer has always maintained he fired off a warning shot above their heads. Griff, would love to hear more backstage stories from Ken. Been a fan since 73.
@@jackiestahl7827 in the Skynyrd Uncivil War show that aired on VH-1 in 2002, Johnny Mote said it was him with the gun and that he fired a warning shot in the air. Nothing against Artimus, I do think he is a great story teller that embellishes things sometimes. He still had a lot to do with getting help for the survivors .
Artimus used the recreational one man helium balloon he carried in his luggage to fly over the swamp to a cow pasture looking for a steel fence post to use to pry open the jammed plane door so he could get the seven steel drums of cocaine out of the plane before police arrived. A man there who had been eating shrooms thought Artimus was a UFO trying to mutilate the cattle and shot at him 16 times, but he always wore an armored suit issued to him when he did seven tours in Vietnam and only one bullet went up the left sleeve and lodged in his shoulder. His balloon got stuck in some pine trees and he survived off pine cones for nearly a week before finally getting rescued. He broke at least four world records during this entire ordeal and it inspired Bob Sieger to write the song, "Like a Rock."
so Ken Peden said gene odom gave Ronnie a pain pill and a sleeping pill and Gene told on several interviews that one of the girls gave Ronnie two sleeping pills. Is Gene lieing or is Ken Peden Lieing.Ken also said Cassie was in the seat beside him and Gene said she was in another seat. This is confusing.
It was almost 50 years ago. You take any traumatic mass-casualty event like this, you're going to get variations of the story... that doesn't mean anybody is "lying". They just remember it differently.
Gene just doesn't want to admit he failed Ronnie. Gene let his emotions get the best of him. Instead of raging back and forth fighting with the pilots,he should have been focused on Ronnie....period. According to Gene,Ronnie was literally the last thing he was focused on. The LAST thing. Gene needs to stop grifting off of Ronnie and stop throwing shade at others.
@@shannonpatrick77 THAT I will never understand,too. That's straight up cluster B personality disorder stuff,or worse. Betrayal...Ronnie was always herding cats and was pretty good at it.
I dated Kenny’s sisters and he’s always been the coolest cat I heard the same story he told here in 1978 he’s a stand up guy and an old friend.His Mom and Daddy were very good to me as well , he is a hell Of a guy !
Looking forward to hearing more of Ken’s Skynyrd Stories.
Great show. Griff that was a great interview . Ken was a terrific guest.
Wow, a great session with Ken Peden. Very interesting to hear his account of the plane crash. Thank you so much!! Griff does a great job of getting people to tell their stories. :-)
Great Interview!!! Please have Ken back on as soon as you can I cannot wait to hear some of his stories about his time with LS. 👍🙏
Wow thank you Griff and Craig for having Ken Peden on the show great interview this guy was amazing the story about Cassie really blew my mind and the fact he got on an airplane four days later after the crash I don’t know how he did it once again great interview can’t wait for the next show keep up the good work guys you’re doing great
That was awesome info just the way it was told to my brother and his friend that went and interviewed Johnny Moates shortly after the crash they were with the radio station in Hammond at college SLU and as far as when they ended up on Moates property everything Ken said was right on glad to hear it from someone with the straight story thank you Ken Pegen you and Gene are the only believable story's thanks for clearing up alot of the story's from the plane I've been a hardcore Skynyrd freak since the early 70s GOD BLESS YOU my friend ✌
Craig, I really like hearing more " behind the scenes" takes on here.
Thank you,Ken, Craig, and Griff.
Thank you Ken for the story from your perspective.
This is absolutely the best explanation I've heard of what happened before, during, and after the crash...thank you Ken!
Great to hear these stories directly from the people that lived it. Thanks Craig and Griff
Thanks for sharing.
People who criticize Artimus need to cool out - Artimus took charge , went for help and stayed behind - The man is a hero in my eyes - I know he may have said this or that but I wasn't there and the people who were there weren't exactly thinking straight +Catastrophic events will mess with the psych a little bit - I appreciate this man's perspective - he should get a piece of everything that band sells - all of the survivors should -
Exactly. Trauma and then all the meds and pain can play havoc with memories. All this happened fairly fast and I assume people did shift around as it went down. This story made me wonder if Cassie was trying to get to Steve…
@@jenniferrayhill2000 Wow,I bet you are correct;she was looking for little brother! Aw,heck. W'eve met Artimus a couple times and chatted a bit. He is still the same guy that would go for help again,stay till last. I truly like the man and proud as AF he signed the back of our One More From The Road album. Talk to him about anything but the crash,he's cool and will start sharing some epic stuff. His band has gotten very tight,their gig in Austin summer 2024 was a blast. Salute RVZ
This is absolutely the best explanation I've heard. The farmer, Johnny Mote, had thought there was a prison break because he saw the helicopter before the crash victims even got to his farm, so help was already on its way. In the movie, Artimus never shows he had two other survivors that went with him for help. And then there is the "getting hit by a gunshot" story he has told over and over, not mentioned by Ken. And then Ronnie walking around and giving Artimus the "hippy hand shake" right before the crash.. I thought Ronnie was passed out on sleeping pills (?) Too much embellishment by Mr. Pyle has hurt his already questionable reputation. Is he lying about his innocence pertaining to the child sex charge? He could have been a bit more humble which would have made him appear even more like a stand up guy, instead of spouting his tall tales. Maybe he is confused? Despite all of this he still come across as being a decent human being and I wish him all the best.
Thank you for your version of the plane crash. You had some details that were new...I hadn't heard them before. Thank you so much for sharing and God Bless you.❤
Thank you Mr Peden I was at the Hollywood Sportatorium show were Ronnie Vanzant came out and said turn on the lights I wanna see the people and then said we have just broke the Florida indoor attendance record. The sound that night was incredible.I am 61 now and that show was the best I ever saw. I was wondering if your guests remember this show it was on october 15 1977. I have a e-mail from Mr Franks he told me that he does. Thanks again for this pod cast.
Hey, I remember that show, I was there!!! 10/15/77 A GREAT SHOW!!! The house lights came on and there were people EVERYWHERE, even hanging on the walls. They had to stop the show at one point because a guy had climbed the rafters up over the stage. They finally talked him down and the roadies beat the Hell out of him! What a night. BEST SHOW EVER!!!
Also, after Ronnie announced that they had broken the Fla. indoor record attendance he said, This is one we're gonna remember awhile.
I always wondered if their regular pilot hadn't retired if that had made a difference.
Thanks,guys-- Amazing perspective and narrative from Ken. His description of all events are devoid of added emotional color or wandering analysis. Just an honest recall and much appreciated by many,I'm sure. I am Texas-sized grateful to hear this exact account. The info regarding where Ronnie was sitting,what Cassie did at the last second,Ken's personal memories,all new to me--
Add this to Howie's and M Franks version of recall,it is intense. Sure appreciate Craig,Griff,everyone involved making this happen. Mark Howard's story about jumping up and throwing the poker chips is one of those made-for-Hollywood moments,funny and tragic like Shakespeare,but w a Texan-style twist. Go check his vids too,everyone! Any documentaries should have STARTED with these cats,(plus a few no longer with us). Salute',guys
Right on Ken, it definitely was a factual and matter-of-fact story.
Ken seems a very intelligent and introspective person and to be able to give us the lowdown on Cassie Gaines and Artemis Pyles actions means a lot. Take care.
Thanks! Another great Show,learn something new in every video.Missing Craig.P.S. I noticed the Charlie Chips Can,We had them Delivered to us when I was a Kid...
Poor Cassie, she made a fatal error by standing up right before impact. Pilot error made things so much worse, not only did the landing gear being let down slow the plane down but it then caught in the trees and forced the plane to nose dive into the ground. With the open field just a quarter mile away they may not have even skimmed across the treetops if the landing gear had stayed up.
Excellent interview!
Great to hear all the survivors stories❤️🎶
Wow that was a really great episode and I cant thank Ken enough for giving us his account of the crash. I really hope you have him back with some more lighthearted stories about being on the road with the band! Thanks a lot Griff your interviewing skills are top notch! Got those 6 under the belt.
Thanks so much. Its an honor to get to speak with all of these guys and my pleasure
@@GriffMartinReports I know it's been said before but I appreciate it and thank you very much as a boy that grew up just south of the band here in Central Florida that's always been a very emotional subject for me I guess nowhere near of what these people experienced but it's taken me a lot of my 61 years to finally be able to start being subjectively receptive to listening to these stories and I appreciate what it is that you do and thank you for investing your time getting info out to us and it means a lot for those of us who have always carried Lynyrd Skynyrd in our hearts.
Craig's interview here with Ken Peder was great and so informational..
Take care Griff.
Michael Greene down here in Eustis Florida.
Peace
Awesome thanks!! Miss ya Craig!
Rest in peace cuz
Amazing interview
Always interesting stories.Thanks, You can see Mr. Peden interviewed when he's in the hospital, after the crash, it's on youtube,from news4jax
never never knew that about Cassie-My God -that is remarkable
Thank you Ken
Ken thanks for sharing your story. I was 14 and heard about the crash on my way to school. I cried for days!
Me to. I got to my high school that morning late. My alarm clock woke me with "several members of the rock group lynyrd skynyrd wete killed last night"...... i couldn believe it. But i walked up to my high school late because i kept listening to the radio reports and 1st period was well under way but sbout a hundred kids were all outside talking about the crash and crying and street survivors was playing from car windows and a girl i walked up to had a portable 8 trak player with one more from the road blasting. A lot of us had seen them there in las vegas when they were there in august so it hit everyone hard.
There was no “Air Sea Rescue” in Gillsburg and McComb Mississippi in 1977. The only helicopters were the National Guard and the Sheriff’s office. As a matter of fact none of the Helicopters had the capability to use a drop line that would allow the rescue team to actually be lowered down to the ground or be able to raise a patient to the copter. The Helicopters had to actually land in a flat open area and hand load the victims into the chopper in order to fly them to the hospital.
Ken talks just like how Billy Powell did!
Another good guest.
So he said Johnny Mote did shoot over Artimus and ken and the other guy thinking they were exscaped convicts.
A lot of people say she was cut ear to ear because Billy Powel claimed he held her in his arms when she died and her throat was cut ear to ear. Later it was found out that it was not true and he admitted it. Why he lied about something like that is beyond me. They say through research of commercial airline accidents the safest place to sit in a plane is as far back and to the middle as you can get. Reason is many times the tail gets cut lose from the rest of the plane and does not get blown up or burned with fuel.
RIP
HE SAID gene Odom gave Ronnie a sleeping pill and Gene said one of the girls gave Ronnie a sleeping pill.
odom has a few contrary memories gives artimus a real hard time but ken verifies that artimus did go for help but the shot was over the head seems everyone has varied opinions but if odim was hurt & trapped how could he know what went on outside plane?
Oden was thrown from the plane upon impact. He was outside the plane.
Unfortunately I believe we'll never know exactly how it went down. They are all prone to embellishments.
Now in the last day, I've heard twice that artimus didn't seek help alone, there were three total going to the farm house. I think artimus is now full of shit.
Not All
Just as a side note, the Jim Croce place crashed into some Pecan trees at the end of the runway. They weren’t pine trees. 🌳 🌲
Your still dead either way.
I'm curious why in the Lynyrd Skynyrd movies its was just Artimus who went and got help? There was no mention of this guy Ken?
In all of the videos I have watched, the story has been that 3 people went for help. There is a video out there from the actual (ex)wife of Motes. She says 3 people. She also says Motes shot up in the air and NOT at the guys. She was pregnant at the time. She gives Artimus the business on the YT clip. Pretty funny. 😅
So Gene Odom Lied when he said Ronnie was lying in the floor passed out because Ken Pedan said he had a back ache and Leslie Hawkins was massaging his back and when they said the plane was crashing that Ronnie got up and sat on the couch and buckled himself in.
Did he? th-cam.com/video/30IhcjUlvI8/w-d-xo.html
So stupid, why couldn't they all tell the truth?, were they hiding something idk, but I just focus on the music, not all the lies
Were divorce papers found in Ronnie’s luggage or did somebody just start a rumor ? This keeps popping up here and there .
made up BS
At least Ken didn't lie as Tommy did.
my bad Mr Peden not Pegen
So Artimus didn’t go through the woods on his own after the crash? Did he really get shot by the Motes like what was in his movie?
I heard Artemus say that the he was grazed by the the farmers wife. Though that did not come out until years later when he was at an anniversary of some sort. Artemus said she was yelling at him that she shot him, and he walked away because he thought she was nuts and he didn't appreciate being yelled at (my words). It makes sense because I believe the farmer has always maintained he fired off a warning shot above their heads.
Griff, would love to hear more backstage stories from Ken. Been a fan since 73.
@@jackiestahl7827 in the Skynyrd Uncivil War show that aired on VH-1 in 2002, Johnny Mote said it was him with the gun and that he fired a warning shot in the air. Nothing against Artimus, I do think he is a great story teller that embellishes things sometimes. He still had a lot to do with getting help for the survivors .
He's always been a great drummer but just a strange lunatic of a person.
He was a huge help to the effort of going for help. We love Artie and all those on the plane are all in our best wishes
Artimus used the recreational one man helium balloon he carried in his luggage to fly over the swamp to a cow pasture looking for a steel fence post to use to pry open the jammed plane door so he could get the seven steel drums of cocaine out of the plane before police arrived. A man there who had been eating shrooms thought Artimus was a UFO trying to mutilate the cattle and shot at him 16 times, but he always wore an armored suit issued to him when he did seven tours in Vietnam and only one bullet went up the left sleeve and lodged in his shoulder. His balloon got stuck in some pine trees and he survived off pine cones for nearly a week before finally getting rescued. He broke at least four world records during this entire ordeal and it inspired Bob Sieger to write the song, "Like a Rock."
so Ken Peden said gene odom gave Ronnie a pain pill and a sleeping pill and Gene told on several interviews that one of the girls gave Ronnie two sleeping pills. Is Gene lieing or is Ken Peden Lieing.Ken also said Cassie was in the seat beside him and Gene said she was in another seat. This is confusing.
It was almost 50 years ago. You take any traumatic mass-casualty event like this, you're going to get variations of the story... that doesn't mean anybody is "lying". They just remember it differently.
Maybe the group just knew that Ronnie took 2 sleeping and assumed Gene gave them to him. Perhaps no one lying, just incorrect assumptions made.
Gene just doesn't want to admit he failed Ronnie. Gene let his emotions get the best of him. Instead of raging back and forth fighting with the pilots,he should have been focused on Ronnie....period. According to Gene,Ronnie was literally the last thing he was focused on. The LAST thing. Gene needs to stop grifting off of Ronnie and stop throwing shade at others.
Agreed he has said some shameful things too while standing on Gary Rossingtons grave.
@@shannonpatrick77 THAT I will never understand,too. That's straight up cluster B personality disorder stuff,or worse. Betrayal...Ronnie was always herding cats and was pretty good at it.
I'm glad he got a decent haircut.