Britt, you just opened the gates for responces from my generation that grew up with Skynyrd. This is the latest version of the band, you should have been given the link to the July 2nd 1977 live version from Oakland. We just lost the man playing the slide guitar, Gary Rossington the last surviving original member of the band. Freebird is the anthem of my high school years. The band originated in Jacksonville Fla. when high school friends formed it. The greatest garage band in history. I think you would like Simple Man a song about a mother talking to her son. Be sure to use the video with the lyrics so you don't miss the meaning. Okay everyone, we need to get her to come back with a reaction to Oakland 1977. If this version blew her away the Oakland performance will leave her needing EMS.
As many people have already said, Lynard Skynard is a legendary Southern Rock band and you need to react to videos prior to 77 when the full original band performed prior to the crash that killed many of their members.
@@chicochi3 Yeah, I have sent her a link to a very young George Jones with his first hit White Lightning several times but sadly, she only knows him as an older man. Same with a lot of these performers like George Strait. I don't feel like you can really understand them at all unless you see them in their Heyday, because that's what we all listen to on the radio and on the albums and saw in concert and on television.
Lynyrd skynyrd and Allman brothers were pioneers of southern rock. Paved the way for Marshall tucker, outlaws,molly hatchet, 38 special and a host of other bands. The heart and soul of the band died in the plane crash crash.
The original pianist for this band was a member of the roadie crew moving the band. During a break, other members of the band overheard this classically trained musician "playing around" on a piano in the back of the theater. From that day on, he was an integral part of the band's sound.
If you watch the Muscle shoals documentary, they said they went to lunch and when they came back and walked in he was playing what became the beginning of freebird on the piano. They they had no idea that he was concert pianist. On sweet home alabama they mention the stompers which was the studio muscians in muscle shoals.
Great southern rock band from the 60's-80's. It is very sad what happened to this band in losing so many members in a plane crash in 1977. My favorite songs are "Simple Man", "Free Bird" & "Sweet Home Alabama". They had lots of great songs such as "Call Me The Breeze", "Tuesday's Gone", "That Smell", "The Ballad Of Curtis Loew", "What's Your Name", "Gimme Three Steps", "Saturday Night Special" etc.
The glass bottle is simply called a "slide" they can be made of brass which George Thourogood uses like "Bad to the Bone". Duane Allman used glass. Where this first started was a bluesman in the 1920's thru the 40's named Elmore James and was known as "The King of the Slide" He also toured with Blues Legend Robert Johnson who wrote Crossroad Blues, which was later covered by Eric Clapton and called simply "Crossroads"
Back in the really old days, like when the great original blues players were figuring this stuff out like Robert Johnson and Leadbelly, they would actually use the neck of a beer bottle!
Lowell George used a Sears & Roebuck Craftsman 11/16" socket wrench, aka a spark plug puller. These were all indeed called "bottleneck" because the original slides were cut from wine bottles.
I love both iterations of Lynyrd Skynyrd. My late wife and I saw Johnny VanZandt, Billy Powell, Ricky Medlock and Gary Rossington at The Target Center and loved the vibe. Billy Powell and Gary Rossington are both passed away now. God Bless all the folks who have ever played "Freebird."
I'm a 63 year old rock guitarist! You are correct! We do not age when we play!!!!!! It's something in the Music! I feel 18 again, every time I play!!!!!
It's like a live-action meme that someone at a concert will always shout, "Play Freebird, man!" -- even if it isn't Lynyrd Skynyrd playing. It's like the one song always requested that other folks cover. And yes, it's an anthem and it goes on FOREVER - which is why most bands don't like to cover it!
No disrespect to the surviving members but that isn’t Skynyrd. But after the plane crash in ‘77 resulting in multiple deaths including founder and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant it wasn’t ever the same.
Yes, there was no Skynyrd after the crash. All the modern version did was make money off the name, play redneck dress up and made music that was a disgrace to the band’s legacy.
@@AMPR45 I wouldn’t necessarily say it was a disgrace. But it surely wasn’t the same. I’ve seen the “new” Skynyrd in concert and truthfully they weren’t bad but they definitely didn’t have the same sound or soul as the original.
The story of Lynyrd Skynyrd is a interesting and tragic one. They reached peak stardom in the mid '70s but were involved in a preventable plane crash in 77 which killed most of the band members. The surviving members eventually got new bandmates and carried on the band, but never reached the level of fame they had before the plane crash. There is a youtube vid called The Tragic Real Life Story Of Lynyrd Skynyrd, definitely worth a watch.
My heart smiles each time I see a new admirer of the greatest Southern band of all time. As a Georgia girl (on my husband's account) who treasures the memories made to the brilliance of Skynyrd's music, it took me many years to accept Johnny in Ronnie's shoes. I finally saw them in Valdosta and within a heartbeat of Johnny opening the mic I had tears streaming and my hand in the air. The love riding the night air was a tangible presence. None of this makes sense without knowing the tragic history of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the world's loss on October 22, 1977. That was the night that the plane crash took guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister Cassie and the heart of the band... Ronnie Van Zant. The surviving members, Allen Collins (Guitar), Gary Rossington (Guitar), Billy Powell (Piano) and Artimus Pyle (Drums) reformed and asked Johnny to front the band. Johnny initially refused out of respect for his big brother. Now Gary is gone, and the last original Freebird has flown. I urge you, as a fellow Southerner, to dig deep into the wealth of meaningful lyrics and brilliant music of Lynyrd Skynyrd! The albums Pronounced, Second Helping, One More From the Road are loaded with vibes! I recommend 'Ballad of Curtis Leow' and 'Tuesday's Gone' as great songs to consider. There isn't a bad choice with anything Ronnie and the boys gave us! For a great live video try Live in Atlanta at The Fox Theatre 1975 AND the Oakland, CA Concert in 77 (?). ❤ ~ Lesa on my husband's account
Britt. Please browse thru' these comments and see how so many are directing you to the original, iconic line up of this Band and their incredible gig at OAKLAND, California in 1977. There is a reason for that,as you will see...
To get the full furious and tragic beauty of this all time classic, you need to listen to the original lineup at their peak in the Oakland Coliseum in 1977, a few months before the tragic plane crash that took the lives of several members of the group. It's summertime in the 7o's. The song was sweet with a sharp swagger. And for anyone wanting to understand the appeal of Lynyrd Skynyrd, this is the beginning and the end of the discussion. Andbto be respectful, you never interrupt a guitar solo. It is considered sacrilege to do so. It is THE unwritten rule of reaction channels. You might also want to listen to, GIMME THREE STEPS, CALL ME THE BREEZE, & TUESDAYS GONE. Enjoy
100% support all the people saying listen to the original band, either live in Oakland or a studio version. This is ok, but the OG band is so much better. The original opening line, “If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?” Was asked to one of the band members by his gf. They got married a few months later, so I guess he gave the right answer! But Ronnie Van Zandt heard the story the next day, worked out some lyrics, the band had some riffs and…. There are 14 lines and in some versions in lasts over 14 minutes!
Billy Powell (on the keyboards) was a roadie with the band before they had a keyboard player. He was noodling on a practice piano one day and Ronnie heard him. His virtuosity was at that moment for him to decide that they needed a pianist in the band, and Billy changed overnight from a roadie to a full fledged member. Pure talent throughout this band.
Gary rossington passed away on March 5th this year who played the slide on guitar... Go to 1977 Free Bird Lynyrd Skynyrd Oakland Coliseum. The original Lynyrd Skynyrd Band before their plane crashed on Oct 20th 1977 the original band just ripped it no other words to explain it.
Fox Theater in 1976, live album One More From The Road. Steve Gaines just joined the band. It is a better version than Oakland. Better sound than an open air stadium.
That "thing" on the guitar player's finger is called a "bottleneck slide," lots of blues players have used different versions of them down through the years. This is Skynard's signature song, BTW. This is vintage Southern rock by an iconic band, with a huge following for about 50 years.
Hey Britt. You are spot on with the "glass bottle", it is a "slide" and gives a unique sound. The genre is often referred to as Southern Rock. Other groups of similar style are: The Marshall Tucker Band, The Allman Brothers Band, Black Oak Arkansas and the Atlanta Rhythm Section.
With a "slide" you can go up and down the neck of the guitar without hitting each fret individually. They can be glass or metal. Old blues players would use a broken - off top of a high neck beer bottle. Sometimes they would play so frantically that their finger would be bleeding. So I'm told.
The slide playing is more common in Blues and country rock styles. If you really wanna hear good rock slide try early foghat with Rod Pricel he was phenomenal, preferrably from the Foghat live album.
How can you not have heard of them? Sweet Home Alabama is their best known song - they are a national treasure. And I am saying this as a German who has listened to them since 1978. They hail from Jacksonville, Fl I have seen them live in Germany at least 3 times albeit in their post-crash incarnations. RIP Gary Rossington
Britt hadn't even been born by the time much of the band perished in that plane crash in October 1977. She probably didn't listen to the Oldies stations when she was growing up.
the only original founding members are the piano guy and the slide guitar guy, Gary, the last member who just passed away in the last few days. You should hear the original member doing a live version of this. It's a mind blowing.
The singer, Johnny Van Zant was born in Jacksonville, Florida Some of the original members of the group attended Robert E. Lee High School and named themselves after the gym teacher, Leonard Skinner. Skinner was very military and was notorious for strictly enforcing the school's rules against boys with long hair. The song is actually a tribute to the late Duane Allman, who played with the Allman Brothers Band and Derek & the Dominoes and was killed in a motorcycle accident.
The mood changes in the song that evolve with the lyrics are one of the things that make this song a classic. You have the pensive, unsure beginning, where he's figuring it out. Then there's a monster chorusy section, making the declaration of freedom. Finally, he spreads his wings and soars for the solo.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, whew takes me back to my rattlesnake days in high school !! My favorite Skynyrd songs is Tuesday's gone , and simple man ! Once again your reaction is spot on !!!!
For at least a decade, Freebird was the ultimate encore song. Bands from every genre would hear chants for “Freebird!” at the ends of almost every concert. Saw them in ‘77 at Anaheim, smokin’!
Awesome southern rock band!! They had so many hits. Tragically, a plane crash took three of them from us and injured others. Their song Simple Man is my favorite. Nice message!! Btw, the glass bottle is called a slide!! 😊
I am sure that the upload date is NOT the date of this concert video release date. I'm gonna assume the other 700 plus comments answered all your questions. All I can add is that this is a very dope song and it takes me back. WAY BACK. I've been rocking out to this song since 9 months before I was born. I am so happy to have grown up with parents that loved music. Music literally saved my life, more than once.
I would love to see your first reaction to live in Oakland… Sweet home Alabama. Starts with one of the most famous guitar riffs in history… Can’t believe you haven’t encountered Lynyrd Skynyrd before this. I love your reacts…This is an old group many of them gone now but one of the coolest guitar players I’ve ever seen is standing on top of the stage in front of this wild crowd in Oakland California.
This performance is really great, but to really appreciate this song, watch the video of the original line up playing at the Oakland Coliseum in 1977. Please, in your own time look into the history of the band from the beginning. VH-1 has an excellent episode of Behind the Music that you can start with.
The 3 shows they did at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta in July 1976 was the best shows I ever saw them do. I was there all 3 nights. Those 3 nights were thiér live double album One more from the road was the best.
Britt, you had the right idea of the song being about someone that has places to go things to do; also, as touring musicians, it shows the struggle of wanting to be with loved ones but having to go out on tour to promote their music. But, especially with the first couple of lines of the song, I saw a somewhat deeper meaning of wanting to be remembered for our deeds, hopefully positive ones, when we are no longer here.
Along with Molly Hatchet (who like Lynrd Skynyrd, came out of Jacksonville, FL), the Allman Brothers, and ZZ Top, Lynrd Skynyrd popularized "Southern Rock", which later morphed into "Outlaw Rock". You may have never heard of Lynrd Skynyrd, but, I know you've heard some of their most popular songs, among them "Sweet Home Alabama", "Simple Man", "That Smell", "What's Your Name", "Gimme Three Steps" and the song you just reacted to..."Freebird" the "Stairway to Heaven" of "Southern Rock".
the " tiny glass bottle " is a piece of clear tubing , which makes it possible to get that smooth glide from one note to the next . The man playing that slide guitar was Gary Rossington , who just died a few days back .
PS , the band died in 1977 , in a plane wreck in Mississippi . Ten years later the survivors put it back together , with the lead singer's ( Ronnie VanZant ) younger brother Johnnie on vocals . They still had Gary on guitar , but had to find some new pickers . From there on , they kept on playing until recently .
The glass bottle is a guitar slide used to slide over the fretboard instead of pushing on the frets. They come in glass, steel and brass. There are different tone aspects to the different materials. There are specifically slide players you can hear it a lot on older blues on acoustics as well. I have a glass slide but I never was really good with one. Skynyrd is a southern rock band and this was always one of their most requested songs. "Join a band and you won't age" tell that to my arthritis...
The little thing on his finger is a “slide” and yeah it does make the sound different than regular playing! It sounds like a one long note plus its has been used by a lot of old blues players for a long time. Great song and great reaction!
It’s really sad. So many years after some of the OGs were killed in a tragic plane crash, this line up can’t get the respect for taking time to mourn their brothers, then pick up and carry on the legend for the last almost 40 years. Those lost were an enormously talented and the tragedy was a gut punch to fans. But guys…. This line up is amazing. That guitar solo is legendary. Gary and Rickey just wreak Lynard Skynard. And Johnny? Come on, he lost his brother in that crash. He does not have Ronnie’s vocals but every note pays tribute to his brother. I despise COVERS. But after all this time to call them a cover band is almost criminal. RIP Gary Rossington. My regards to Dale and family. I remember her shopping for a wedding dress for their 25th anniversary. Determined to wear a black wedding gown because it’s rock n roll. But she crumbled into a pile of gooo when she tried on that white dress. She was stunning. God bless.
This is not the version to react to. Go to the '77 show at the Oakland Coliseum. This is the cruise ship version of the band not the greatness of the original.
That is called a slide. That is Gary Rossington, he died just last week. He was the last surviving member of the original band that was decimated by the plane crash.
I'm amazed that you haven't at least heard of them or particularly this song. LS is an iconic Southern Rock band with a long storied career. You should check their story out. Free Bird is their signature song. But they have a large catalog of good albums and songs. It would be a rabbit hole worth taking a dive into for sure. Gary Rossington, playing with the glass slide, just passed away a few days ago. You should check out their 1977 performance in Oakland stadium of Free Bird.
Billy Powell, the piano player, died in 2009, so this is probably around 2007. The tall gray-haired guitar player is Ricky Medlocke of Blackfoot fame........and Skynryd. He first sat in with the original crew back in around 74'. Great player; great man.
Southern rock was huge in the 70's It had a great flavor of rock, country and blues still some of my favorite songs come from this style. Skynyrd were the kings. Even us northern city boys loved the realness and rawness of it. Even to this day nothing has that flavor.
You are wonderful ❤your reactions alas I could not finish watching this one. I was fortunate to have seen the original band in 1976 1 year before the plane crash that took the lives of Ronnie Van Zant and most of the members. These guys are posers.
This was the last song the original band played in 1977 in Greenville SC. Before the plane crash. I was there. Yep Southern Rock from Jacksonville FL. My home town. Nice reaction. Welcome to Southern Rock
A Southern Rock classic! I was waiting for the tempo change. :) Sadly, the last original member died just days ago. FYI - They named their band after a no nonsense high school gym teacher named Leonard Skinner. My guess is he wasn't amused...but they were!!! :) Be well, sweet lady, Duke
Mr Skinner did NOT like long hair! The boys were starting a rock band and short hair in the late 60s wasn't gonna cut it. Later on, he was ok with it. They even introduced him at a concert.
"In the air tonight" by Phil Collins (the live version) is one of the greatest songs done live. The "buildup" leading into the performance is unforgettable. Glad you are doing some southern rock.
Dear Miss Britt, I just your reaction to Freebird by LS and I love the way you analyze and get so excited listening to the band. This was my generation along with many other bands. It’s so nice to see a young person get so into these great bands. God bless and keep up the good work!!
I have seen this in concert 7 times throught the 90's and early 00's... 2nd generation Skynyrd of course. Absolutely insane and actually drew emotion. One of my top 10 bands, all time.
One Of The Last Surviving Members, Gary Rossington, The Lead Guitarist Just Oassed Away Recently. The Singer Is The Younger Brother Of The Original Vocalist Ronnie Van Zandt. Check Out The Oakland Concert From July 1977 With The Original Lineup
Please Please react to the same song live at Oakland Coliseum with all the original members….They have been my favorite band since they came out, and Ive seen many concerts with all the various lineups, and they are all good, but you really really need to see the original line up to fully appreciate their music BTW the opening line of this song came from guitarist Allen Collins wife, when she dropped him off at practice.. she asked him If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?..Ronnie Van Zant heard it, and put it in this song
This is a good version but the original members were iconic. The lead singer in this one is the younger brother of the original singer. Check out the 7/2/1977 Oakland Coliseum live version of this song - Spectacular!!!!
If you want the real band experience you should react to anything 1977 or earlier. At this point they are basically a cover band. They still sound good but it's just not as good as the original. You should check out Free Bird live from Oakland colloseum 1977.
Yes, do yourself a favor, even if you do not react to it... live footage of Freebird, I think in Oakland Ca, 1977.... even nearly 50 years later, the energy is INSANE.... music just struck different back then.
Music is definitely the greatest thing humans have ever created. Music can revive parts of you that you once thought were lost. Absolutely a beautiful thing.
I'm almost 40 years old, and being from western Kansas, I heard an obnoxious amount of Skynyrd growing up. To the point I'm kinda tired of it. That being said, I still always have time for Free Bird. Easily one of the greatest songs ever written. Sadly, we just recently lost guitarist Gary Rossington. RIP to a brilliant guitarist.
As mentioned by earlier comments, Lynyrd Skynyrd ended in 1977. The only original member in the version you reacted to was Gary Rossington who recently passed. He was the guy playing slide guitar with the bottle. The original singer Ronnie Van Zant was killed in the airplane crash with other members Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines. Ronnie was the keystone of the band as the major songwriter and the voice of LS. His brother Johnny Van Zant replaced him in this tribute band. Some would say that Rickey Medlocke was an original member. He was with them early on as their drummer but for a short period of time but went on to form Blackfoot another great band.
When you see them live “Freebird” can go on forever. They just keep jamming 🎸🎶💜☮️ Bonnie Raitt also plays guitar with the glass slide on her finger. You should check her out “Let’s Give Them Something To Talk About” 💜
A few months ago, I visited the Lynyrd Skynyrd Memorial in Magnolia, Mississippi. It's where their plane crashed and it has some beautiful marble monuments with their story and, of course, the line from Free Bird .... If I leave here tomorrow, will you still remember me?!!!!! As the other commenters said, though, there's nothing like the live version from Oakland, CA!!! I'm so blessed to have seen them many, many years ago when all the original band members were there!!!!!
This song is awesome and I feel like reacting to a post 1977 version of it is doing a disservice to yourself because no matter how similar they sound,no one can replace Ronnie van Zant,if you do react to another live version,I would suggest Oakland
RiP Gary Rosaington- the last survivor of the band. He just passes away about a week ago or so... 71 years old . Most of their original band members died in a plane crash
I did my first line of coke as a teen in 1996 in Pennsylvania watching this band haha. With New Jersey state troopers haha. Life was different back then! BTW I never did coke again !
As Britt keeps growing (almost 80K now), I'm sure she's taking suggestions from her subs, donations & such. IF you submit a song, I think it's a really good idea to let her know good spots to pause it. She won't know since she hasn't heard/saw the vid before. This way songs aren't paused at awkward times or break the rhythm. Just know that she has to pause several times just for copyright, so try to pick spots every minute or so apart. Even if she doesn't use it, at least it gives her a solid guideline. Same would go for comedy vids. Try finding that spot where there's 5-10 seconds of downtime and target that for a pause. For Britt, I think it would be a great idea to maybe put songs and such that are recommended to a poll. I'm sure this version of this song wouldn't be the one you'd watch after a poll. Everybody appreciates your reaction for the first time on any of these vids, but I think they'd all be happiest if you actually watched what's considered the "best" version. Just something to maybe consider. Keep up the great content!
Johnny Van Zant was the younger brother of the original vocalist Ronnie Van Zant who was killed in the plane crash in 1977. Another brother, Donny Van Zant started 38 special.
Yes, what everyone has said below is true, the 1977 version from Oakland summer concert was the version that will put you into the proper perspective and time zone of the late 70's. It was a great time for good music and you will also gain a better understanding of this band and how they made a whole lot of young people feel. The spanning of the crowd is something to behold all in itself. But this most recent ensemble of band players are very good, but nothing is ever better than the original.
Think of them as Southern Rock, a blend of country, soul, and rock. They also are known for the song " Sweet Home Alabama". The glass bottle is used as a slide, usually used in jass and blues
That glass thing on the guitar players finger is called a slide. They come in all kinds of materials ranging from glass to different types of metal and even stone. They were more popular in the 70's than they are today.
That's a slide on his finger Gary Rossington was one of the best slide guitar players. Gary Rossington passed away about a week ago 😢 I have tears down my face through the whole song being a guitar player that looked up to Gary and the entire band old and new for years. Great reaction
Gary Rossington (may he rest in peace) is using a slide (sometimes called a 'bottleneck slide" because early adopters would actually take the narrow neck off pop or beer bottles to use as a slide.) Today they're usually made of metal or acrylic although glass ones are still made. The purpose is to play notes along the string in a continuous range or spectrum instead of being "stepped" when you press your finger on one of the raised ridges on a neck, called "frets." As others have mentioned, this is a much later incarnation of the band. You deserve to hear the song as originally conceived by the original band. This is a noble tribute to that great lineup, but it will always pale in comparison to the original. The definitive live performance is the 1977 Oakland show. There are others that are nearly as good as well, but Oakland is reckoned to be "THE" live version that really takes the leash off and lets them go all out.
Their live album One More from the Road is classic. Skynryd and the Allman Brothers Band introduced this suburban white kid to the blues and its progeny. As Muddy Waters said, “the blues had a baby and they named it rock and roll”. The slide was a staple of some blues pickers, and various types of slide were used, including bottles.
Gary Rosington just died recently. The last remaining original Skynyrd band member. This is their flagship song. They are a southern rock band, from Gainesville Fl.FL. P.S. Johnny Van Zant being the brother of Ronnie Van Zant the original lead vocalist. Johnny is also the lead vocalist to a band called 38 special. Which is another great southern rock band.
If you get the chance, watch the documentary "Muscle Shoals". Some of the greatest black musicians as well as some of the white ones recorded in Muscle Shoals Alabama. The studio musicians were a bunch of dorky white kids at the time, but had the most soulful sound and were named The Swampers. Lynard Skynard references them in Sweet Home Alamba "Muscle Shoals has the Swampers". Brit, you'd be blown away by this documentary to know who's recorded there with them, Chuck Berry and Etta James to just name two.
Britt, you just opened the gates for responces from my generation that grew up with Skynyrd. This is the latest version of the band, you should have been given the link to the July 2nd 1977 live version from Oakland. We just lost the man playing the slide guitar, Gary Rossington the last surviving original member of the band. Freebird is the anthem of my high school years. The band originated in Jacksonville Fla. when high school friends formed it. The greatest garage band in history. I think you would like Simple Man a song about a mother talking to her son. Be sure to use the video with the lyrics so you don't miss the meaning.
Okay everyone, we need to get her to come back with a reaction to Oakland 1977. If this version blew her away the Oakland performance will leave her needing EMS.
2ndTHAT BROTHER !
@@margaretsargent1084 3rd that!
AMEN!!!
Hear hear!!
Truth!
Rip Gary Rossington the last founding member of the band thanks for giving us your talent 🙏🎸
Yes! Rip Gary!!!🙏🙏
As many people have already said, Lynard Skynard is a legendary Southern Rock band and you need to react to videos prior to 77 when the full original band performed prior to the crash that killed many of their members.
Good luck. I don't know where she gets her links from, but they're often like this with the performers that have been around for a while.
@@chicochi3 Yeah, I have sent her a link to a very young George Jones with his first hit White Lightning several times but sadly, she only knows him as an older man. Same with a lot of these performers like George Strait. I don't feel like you can really understand them at all unless you see them in their Heyday, because that's what we all listen to on the radio and on the albums and saw in concert and on television.
To be fair, Britt looks mid-20s to me. Those of us who really recall the classic versions are … uh, older. 60s and 70s, older.
@@chicochi3 There are plenty of pre1977 videos of Free Bird.
@@beedeegee9374 and the studio cut from their first album is also wonderful.
Lynyrd skynyrd and Allman brothers were pioneers of southern rock. Paved the way for Marshall tucker, outlaws,molly hatchet, 38 special and a host of other bands. The heart and soul of the band died in the plane crash crash.
Totally forgot about Molly Hatchet - thank you for bringing them up - have a wonderful day!
And most of them were formed in Jacksonville Fl
The original pianist for this band was a member of the roadie crew moving the band. During a break, other members of the band overheard this classically trained musician "playing around" on a piano in the back of the theater. From that day on, he was an integral part of the band's sound.
That was Billy Powell (according to the member list at end ) in this video but with long hair.
@@bella-xp7qd The Oakland 1977 video shows Billy with a Budweiser sitting on top of the piano.
If you watch the Muscle shoals documentary, they said they went to lunch and when they came back and walked in he was playing what became the beginning of freebird on the piano. They they had no idea that he was concert pianist. On sweet home alabama they mention the stompers which was the studio muscians in muscle shoals.
This is a true story. I grew up in Muscle Shoals and Billy was my great Uncle.
@@brianadams429 Small correction.... *swampers :) The record company also wanted this song cut.
Great southern rock band from the 60's-80's. It is very sad what happened to this band in losing so many members in a plane crash in 1977. My favorite songs are "Simple Man", "Free Bird" & "Sweet Home Alabama". They had lots of great songs such as "Call Me The Breeze", "Tuesday's Gone", "That Smell", "The Ballad Of Curtis Loew", "What's Your Name", "Gimme Three Steps", "Saturday Night Special" etc.
The glass bottle is simply called a "slide" they can be made of brass which George Thourogood uses like "Bad to the Bone". Duane Allman used glass. Where this first started was a bluesman in the 1920's thru the 40's named Elmore James and was known as "The King of the Slide" He also toured with Blues Legend Robert Johnson who wrote Crossroad Blues, which was later covered by Eric Clapton and called simply "Crossroads"
Back in the really old days, like when the great original blues players were figuring this stuff out like Robert Johnson and Leadbelly, they would actually use the neck of a beer bottle!
@@RonPower I've seen Roy Clark do that with a bottle! He used all kinds of "accessories" in his guitar playing.
I've even heard it being called "bottleneck".
Lowell George used a Sears & Roebuck Craftsman 11/16" socket wrench, aka a spark plug puller. These were all indeed called "bottleneck" because the original slides were cut from wine bottles.
@@davidhunter801 Hahah, I had heard of all sorts of things being used for slides but a socket is brilliant. The ingenuity of guitar players 🤣
I love both iterations of Lynyrd Skynyrd. My late wife and I saw Johnny VanZandt, Billy Powell, Ricky Medlock and Gary Rossington at The Target Center and loved the vibe. Billy Powell and Gary Rossington are both passed away now. God Bless all the folks who have ever played "Freebird."
I'm a 63 year old rock guitarist! You are correct! We do not age when we play!!!!!! It's something in the Music! I feel 18 again, every time I play!!!!!
Im 65 me too
It's like a live-action meme that someone at a concert will always shout, "Play Freebird, man!" -- even if it isn't Lynyrd Skynyrd playing. It's like the one song always requested that other folks cover. And yes, it's an anthem and it goes on FOREVER - which is why most bands don't like to cover it!
Hello christy
How are you doing today?
No disrespect to the surviving members but that isn’t Skynyrd. But after the plane crash in ‘77 resulting in multiple deaths including founder and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant it wasn’t ever the same.
Yes, there was no Skynyrd after the crash. All the modern version did was make money off the name, play redneck dress up and made music that was a disgrace to the band’s legacy.
Totally agree!! They are all politically correct sell outs now
@@AMPR45 I wouldn’t necessarily say it was a disgrace. But it surely wasn’t the same. I’ve seen the “new” Skynyrd in concert and truthfully they weren’t bad but they definitely didn’t have the same sound or soul as the original.
Yeah, after gary died it wasn't skynyrd anymore but it was a tribute band.
Truth
Rumor has it the original performance of this song is still playing..............they never stopped
The story of Lynyrd Skynyrd is a interesting and tragic one. They reached peak stardom in the mid '70s but were involved in a preventable plane crash in 77 which killed most of the band members. The surviving members eventually got new bandmates and carried on the band, but never reached the level of fame they had before the plane crash. There is a youtube vid called The Tragic Real Life Story Of Lynyrd Skynyrd, definitely worth a watch.
And they got their name from their gym teacher, Leonard Skinner :) They even became friends with him after they got famous.
It was only two band members and one backup singer that were killed along with a road manager and the two pilots.
There's a good documentary on Netflix called If I Leave Here Tomorrow that's originally from Showtime.
My heart smiles each time I see a new admirer of the greatest Southern band of all time. As a Georgia girl (on my husband's account) who treasures the memories made to the brilliance of Skynyrd's music, it took me many years to accept Johnny in Ronnie's shoes. I finally saw them in Valdosta and within a heartbeat of Johnny opening the mic I had tears streaming and my hand in the air. The love riding the night air was a tangible presence. None of this makes sense without knowing the tragic history of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the world's loss on October 22, 1977. That was the night that the plane crash took guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister Cassie and the heart of the band... Ronnie Van Zant. The surviving members, Allen Collins (Guitar), Gary Rossington (Guitar), Billy Powell (Piano) and Artimus Pyle (Drums) reformed and asked Johnny to front the band. Johnny initially refused out of respect for his big brother. Now Gary is gone, and the last original Freebird has flown.
I urge you, as a fellow Southerner, to dig deep into the wealth of meaningful lyrics and brilliant music of Lynyrd Skynyrd! The albums Pronounced, Second Helping, One More From the Road are loaded with vibes! I recommend 'Ballad of Curtis Leow' and 'Tuesday's Gone' as great songs to consider. There isn't a bad choice with anything Ronnie and the boys gave us! For a great live video try Live in Atlanta at The Fox Theatre 1975 AND the Oakland, CA Concert in 77 (?). ❤
~ Lesa on my husband's account
Britt. Please browse thru' these comments and see how so many are directing you to the original, iconic line up of this Band and their incredible gig at OAKLAND, California in 1977.
There is a reason for that,as you will see...
Fox Theatre. Atlanta, Ga. July 5,6 7, 1976. Those 3 nights became their live album One more from the road. The greatest 3 nights I ever saw them play.
@@billwalker7556 Agreed. Steve Gaines had just joined the band. A better version than in Oakland.
LS was the Greatest Southern Rock Band! To really appreciate and do reactions justice, one must know the history of.
RIP Gary!
To get the full furious and tragic beauty of this all time classic, you need to listen to the original lineup at their peak in the Oakland Coliseum in 1977, a few months before the tragic plane crash that took the lives of several members of the group.
It's summertime in the 7o's. The song was sweet with a sharp swagger. And for anyone wanting to understand the appeal of Lynyrd Skynyrd, this is the beginning and the end of the discussion. Andbto be respectful, you never interrupt a guitar solo. It is considered sacrilege to do so. It is THE unwritten rule of reaction channels.
You might also want to listen to,
GIMME THREE STEPS,
CALL ME THE BREEZE,
& TUESDAYS GONE. Enjoy
I also think the Oakland concert has the best live version of this song. Great choice.
Great reaction, Great performance. The version they did in Oakland is Epic!!!
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Open air stadium can't compare to the sound from the Fox theater in Atlanta in '76.
100% support all the people saying listen to the original band, either live in Oakland or a studio version. This is ok, but the OG band is so much better.
The original opening line, “If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?” Was asked to one of the band members by his gf. They got married a few months later, so I guess he gave the right answer! But Ronnie Van Zandt heard the story the next day, worked out some lyrics, the band had some riffs and….
There are 14 lines and in some versions in lasts over 14 minutes!
Billy Powell (on the keyboards) was a roadie with the band before they had a keyboard player. He was noodling on a practice piano one day and Ronnie heard him. His virtuosity was at that moment for him to decide that they needed a pianist in the band, and Billy changed overnight from a roadie to a full fledged member. Pure talent throughout this band.
You're so entertaining, genuine and cute, please never stop giving us great content, RIP to these legends though
Agree 1000%!!!!!
💯👍
Gary rossington passed away on March 5th this year who played the slide on guitar... Go to 1977 Free Bird Lynyrd Skynyrd Oakland Coliseum. The original Lynyrd Skynyrd Band before their plane crashed on Oct 20th 1977 the original band just ripped it no other words to explain it.
Fox Theater in 1976, live album One More From The Road. Steve Gaines just joined the band. It is a better version than Oakland. Better sound than an open air stadium.
one of the most iconic American bands of all time if not the most iconic. Everyone knows a Skynyrd song.
That "thing" on the guitar player's finger is called a "bottleneck slide," lots of blues players have used different versions of them down through the years. This is Skynard's signature song, BTW. This is vintage Southern rock by an iconic band, with a huge following for about 50 years.
Oakland 1977 Live.
The REAL Skynard.
these guys are musical heroes to untold MILLIONS , legit musical legends in their own right
Hey Britt. You are spot on with the "glass bottle", it is a "slide" and gives a unique sound. The genre is often referred to as Southern Rock. Other groups of similar style are: The Marshall Tucker Band, The Allman Brothers Band, Black Oak Arkansas and the Atlanta Rhythm Section.
And Molly Hatchett :)
With a "slide" you can go up and down the neck of the guitar without hitting each fret individually. They can be glass or metal. Old blues players would use a broken - off top of a high neck beer bottle. Sometimes they would play so frantically that their finger would be bleeding. So I'm told.
The slide playing is more common in Blues and country rock styles. If you really wanna hear good rock slide try early foghat with Rod Pricel he was phenomenal, preferrably from the Foghat live album.
How can you not have heard of them? Sweet Home Alabama is their best known song - they are a national treasure. And I am saying this as a German who has listened to them since 1978.
They hail from Jacksonville, Fl
I have seen them live in Germany at least 3 times albeit in their post-crash incarnations. RIP Gary Rossington
Britt hadn't even been born by the time much of the band perished in that plane crash in October 1977. She probably didn't listen to the Oldies stations when she was growing up.
the only original founding members are the piano guy and the slide guitar guy, Gary, the last member who just passed away in the last few days. You should hear the original member doing a live version of this. It's a mind blowing.
Billy Powell died in 2009. That's Peter Keys he's been with LS since then
The singer, Johnny Van Zant was born in Jacksonville, Florida Some of the original members of the group attended Robert E. Lee High School and named themselves after the gym teacher, Leonard Skinner. Skinner was very military and was notorious for strictly enforcing the school's rules against boys with long hair.
The song is actually a tribute to the late Duane Allman, who played with the Allman Brothers Band and Derek & the Dominoes and was killed in a motorcycle accident.
The mood changes in the song that evolve with the lyrics are one of the things that make this song a classic.
You have the pensive, unsure beginning, where he's figuring it out. Then there's a monster chorusy section, making the declaration of freedom. Finally, he spreads his wings and soars for the solo.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, whew takes me back to my rattlesnake days in high school !! My favorite Skynyrd songs is Tuesday's gone , and simple man ! Once again your reaction is spot on !!!!
For at least a decade, Freebird was the ultimate encore song. Bands from every genre would hear chants for “Freebird!” at the ends of almost every concert. Saw them in ‘77 at Anaheim, smokin’!
I love Freebird reactions. People have NO CLUE what is in store for them.
The live version you need to watch is the original band taking over the rolling stones stage at Knebworth. :)
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It's the best performance of Free Bird in my opinion.
Most Definitely
Jacksonville Florida listen to the original
Or the band out in California.
Live version at the Oakland Collesium (sp.) is the one most people react to. 1977.
The best ever
Awesome southern rock band!! They had so many hits. Tragically, a plane crash took three of them from us and injured others. Their song Simple Man is my favorite. Nice message!! Btw, the glass bottle is called a slide!! 😊
I am sure that the upload date is NOT the date of this concert video release date. I'm gonna assume the other 700 plus comments answered all your questions. All I can add is that this is a very dope song and it takes me back. WAY BACK. I've been rocking out to this song since 9 months before I was born. I am so happy to have grown up with parents that loved music. Music literally saved my life, more than once.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video and found your passion in your love for music !!
I would love to see your first reaction to live in Oakland… Sweet home Alabama. Starts with one of the most famous guitar riffs in history… Can’t believe you haven’t encountered Lynyrd Skynyrd before this. I love your reacts…This is an old group many of them gone now but one of the coolest guitar players I’ve ever seen is standing on top of the stage in front of this wild crowd in Oakland California.
Skynyrd is one of the best southern rock bands alive! Thanks for your reaction!!
This performance is really great, but to really appreciate this song, watch the video of the original line up playing at the Oakland Coliseum in 1977. Please, in your own time look into the history of the band from the beginning. VH-1 has an excellent episode of Behind the Music that you can start with.
What firedoc5 said. To really appreciate what us old guys got to experience watch their live performance in Oakland in 1977.
The 3 shows they did at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta in July 1976 was the best shows I ever saw them do. I was there all 3 nights. Those 3 nights were thiér live double album One more from the road was the best.
Britt, you had the right idea of the song being about someone that has places to go things to do; also, as touring musicians, it shows the struggle of wanting to be with loved ones but having to go out on tour to promote their music. But, especially with the first couple of lines of the song, I saw a somewhat deeper meaning of wanting to be remembered for our deeds, hopefully positive ones, when we are no longer here.
Along with Molly Hatchet (who like Lynrd Skynyrd, came out of Jacksonville, FL), the Allman Brothers, and ZZ Top, Lynrd Skynyrd popularized "Southern Rock", which later morphed into "Outlaw Rock". You may have never heard of Lynrd Skynyrd, but, I know you've heard some of their most popular songs, among them "Sweet Home Alabama", "Simple Man", "That Smell", "What's Your Name", "Gimme Three Steps" and the song you just reacted to..."Freebird" the "Stairway to Heaven" of "Southern Rock".
Welcome to 70's rock an roll.
As a person who lived thru this time.
I feel some of the best music was produced back then.
the " tiny glass bottle " is a piece of clear tubing , which makes it possible to get that smooth glide from one note to the next . The man playing that slide guitar was Gary Rossington , who just died a few days back .
PS , the band died in 1977 , in a plane wreck in Mississippi . Ten years later the survivors put it back together , with the lead singer's ( Ronnie VanZant ) younger brother Johnnie on vocals . They still had Gary on guitar , but had to find some new pickers . From there on , they kept on playing until recently .
The glass bottle is a guitar slide used to slide over the fretboard instead of pushing on the frets. They come in glass, steel and brass. There are different tone aspects to the different materials. There are specifically slide players you can hear it a lot on older blues on acoustics as well. I have a glass slide but I never was really good with one. Skynyrd is a southern rock band and this was always one of their most requested songs.
"Join a band and you won't age" tell that to my arthritis...
- - - - - OAKLAND, 1977 - - - - - For the BEST experience - - - - -
Fox Theater 1976 is better.
The little thing on his finger is a “slide” and yeah it does make the sound different than regular playing! It sounds like a one long note plus its has been used by a lot of old blues players for a long time. Great song and great reaction!
It’s really sad. So many years after some of the OGs were killed in a tragic plane crash, this line up can’t get the respect for taking time to mourn their brothers, then pick up and carry on the legend for the last almost 40 years. Those lost were an enormously talented and the tragedy was a gut punch to fans. But guys…. This line up is amazing. That guitar solo is legendary. Gary and Rickey just wreak Lynard Skynard. And Johnny? Come on, he lost his brother in that crash. He does not have Ronnie’s vocals but every note pays tribute to his brother.
I despise COVERS. But after all this time to call them a cover band is almost criminal.
RIP Gary Rossington. My regards to Dale and family. I remember her shopping for a wedding dress for their 25th anniversary. Determined to wear a black wedding gown because it’s rock n roll. But she crumbled into a pile of gooo when she tried on that white dress. She was stunning. God bless.
Mainecoonlady, Amen! I totally agree. They should be given more credit for carrying on the legend!
What they are making you feel is called , MERICA !!🇺🇸
This is not the version to react to. Go to the '77 show at the Oakland Coliseum. This is the cruise ship version of the band not the greatness of the original.
That is called a slide. That is Gary Rossington, he died just last week. He was the last surviving member of the original band that was decimated by the plane crash.
I never wanted to see this band until my friend gave me a free ticket: They are awesome.. ❤❤❤❤
Saw them 4 times all in the 90s except 2003. When they played this song it went on forever.
I'm amazed that you haven't at least heard of them or particularly this song. LS is an iconic Southern Rock band with a long storied career. You should check their story out. Free Bird is their signature song. But they have a large catalog of good albums and songs. It would be a rabbit hole worth taking a dive into for sure.
Gary Rossington, playing with the glass slide, just passed away a few days ago. You should check out their 1977 performance in Oakland stadium of Free Bird.
Billy Powell, the piano player, died in 2009, so this is probably around 2007. The tall gray-haired guitar player is Ricky Medlocke of Blackfoot fame........and Skynryd. He first sat in with the original crew back in around 74'. Great player; great man.
need to watch the OG live version with original band members
Southern rock was huge in the 70's It had a great flavor of rock, country and blues still some of my favorite songs come from this style. Skynyrd were the kings. Even us northern city boys loved the realness and rawness of it. Even to this day nothing has that flavor.
You are wonderful ❤your reactions alas I could not finish watching this one. I was fortunate to have seen the original band in 1976 1 year before the plane crash that took the lives of Ronnie Van Zant and most of the members. These guys are posers.
This is basically a tribute band.
This was the last song the original band played in 1977 in Greenville SC. Before the plane crash. I was there. Yep Southern Rock from Jacksonville FL. My home town. Nice reaction. Welcome to Southern Rock
A Southern Rock classic! I was waiting for the tempo change. :) Sadly, the last original member died just days ago. FYI - They named their band after a no nonsense high school gym teacher named Leonard Skinner. My guess is he wasn't amused...but they were!!! :) Be well, sweet lady, Duke
Mr Skinner did NOT like long hair! The boys were starting a rock band and short hair in the late 60s wasn't gonna cut it. Later on, he was ok with it. They even introduced him at a concert.
You got it! They were such incredible musicians! The glass tube on his finger is called a slide. It created that wavy sound from the guitar!
"In the air tonight" by Phil Collins (the live version) is one of the greatest songs done live. The "buildup" leading into the performance is unforgettable. Glad you are doing some southern rock.
Yes, yes, yes, Britt!
Dear Miss Britt, I just your reaction to Freebird by LS and I love the way you analyze and get so excited listening to the band. This was my generation along with many other bands. It’s so nice to see a young person get so into these great bands. God bless and keep up the good work!!
I have seen this in concert 7 times throught the 90's and early 00's... 2nd generation Skynyrd of course. Absolutely insane and actually drew emotion. One of my top 10 bands, all time.
One Of The Last Surviving Members, Gary Rossington, The Lead Guitarist Just Oassed Away Recently. The Singer Is The Younger Brother Of The Original Vocalist Ronnie Van Zandt.
Check Out The Oakland Concert From July 1977 With The Original Lineup
Please Please react to the same song live at Oakland Coliseum with all the original members….They have been my favorite band since they came out, and Ive seen many concerts with all the various lineups, and they are all good, but you really really need to see the original line up to fully appreciate their music
BTW the opening line of this song came from guitarist Allen Collins wife, when she dropped him off at practice.. she asked him If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?..Ronnie Van Zant heard it, and put it in this song
This is a good version but the original members were iconic. The lead singer in this one is the younger brother of the original singer. Check out the 7/2/1977 Oakland Coliseum live version of this song - Spectacular!!!!
If you want the real band experience you should react to anything 1977 or earlier. At this point they are basically a cover band. They still sound good but it's just not as good as the original. You should check out Free Bird live from Oakland colloseum 1977.
Yes, do yourself a favor, even if you do not react to it... live footage of Freebird, I think in Oakland Ca, 1977.... even nearly 50 years later, the energy is INSANE.... music just struck different back then.
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Music is definitely the greatest thing humans have ever created. Music can revive parts of you that you once thought were lost. Absolutely a beautiful thing.
DUDE! NEVER pause during a solo!
To be a teenager in the 70's growing up with all this great music. Great time to be alive.
I'm almost 40 years old, and being from western Kansas, I heard an obnoxious amount of Skynyrd growing up. To the point I'm kinda tired of it. That being said, I still always have time for Free Bird. Easily one of the greatest songs ever written. Sadly, we just recently lost guitarist Gary Rossington. RIP to a brilliant guitarist.
Then you're not living the words written. Go back.
@@jackiegoodspeed1849 👍👍
As mentioned by earlier comments, Lynyrd Skynyrd ended in 1977. The only original member in the version you reacted to was Gary Rossington who recently passed. He was the guy playing slide guitar with the bottle. The original singer Ronnie Van Zant was killed in the airplane crash with other members Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines. Ronnie was the keystone of the band as the major songwriter and the voice of LS. His brother Johnny Van Zant replaced him in this tribute band. Some would say that Rickey Medlocke was an original member. He was with them early on as their drummer but for a short period of time but went on to form Blackfoot another great band.
When you see them live “Freebird” can go on forever. They just keep jamming 🎸🎶💜☮️
Bonnie Raitt also plays guitar with the glass slide on her finger. You should check her out “Let’s Give Them Something To Talk About” 💜
My first concert before the plane crash. Original band I was a teenager showing my age now.😃🎵
You'll never go to a bar or hear a cover band in the South that doesn't end the set with this classic. It's usually followed by, "Y'all go home now!"
A few months ago, I visited the Lynyrd Skynyrd Memorial in Magnolia, Mississippi. It's where their plane crashed and it has some beautiful marble monuments with their story and, of course, the line from Free Bird .... If I leave here tomorrow, will you still remember me?!!!!! As the other commenters said, though, there's nothing like the live version from Oakland, CA!!! I'm so blessed to have seen them many, many years ago when all the original band members were there!!!!!
This song is awesome and I feel like reacting to a post 1977 version of it is doing a disservice to yourself because no matter how similar they sound,no one can replace Ronnie van Zant,if you do react to another live version,I would suggest Oakland
RiP Gary Rosaington- the last survivor of the band. He just passes away about a week ago or so... 71 years old . Most of their original band members died in a plane crash
Live in Oakland was better and the original group
I did my first line of coke as a teen in 1996 in Pennsylvania watching this band haha. With New Jersey state troopers haha. Life was different back then! BTW I never did coke again !
Please Please react to the original band
Also, the piano player, Billy Powell,was their roady,until they heard him play and asked him to join the band - which he was glad to do.
As Britt keeps growing (almost 80K now), I'm sure she's taking suggestions from her subs, donations & such. IF you submit a song, I think it's a really good idea to let her know good spots to pause it. She won't know since she hasn't heard/saw the vid before. This way songs aren't paused at awkward times or break the rhythm. Just know that she has to pause several times just for copyright, so try to pick spots every minute or so apart. Even if she doesn't use it, at least it gives her a solid guideline. Same would go for comedy vids. Try finding that spot where there's 5-10 seconds of downtime and target that for a pause.
For Britt, I think it would be a great idea to maybe put songs and such that are recommended to a poll. I'm sure this version of this song wouldn't be the one you'd watch after a poll. Everybody appreciates your reaction for the first time on any of these vids, but I think they'd all be happiest if you actually watched what's considered the "best" version. Just something to maybe consider. Keep up the great content!
Johnny Van Zant was the younger brother of the original vocalist Ronnie Van Zant who was killed in the plane crash in 1977. Another brother, Donny Van Zant started 38 special.
Yes, what everyone has said below is true, the 1977 version from Oakland summer concert was the version that will put you into the proper perspective and time zone of the late 70's. It was a great time for good music and you will also gain a better understanding of this band and how they made a whole lot of young people feel. The spanning of the crowd is something to behold all in itself. But this most recent ensemble of band players are very good, but nothing is ever better than the original.
I been here since 19,000 subscribers and enjoy watching your subscribers climb. You are awesome!
Think of them as Southern Rock, a blend of country, soul, and rock. They also are known for the song " Sweet Home Alabama". The glass bottle is used as a slide, usually used in jass and blues
Go down the Skynyrd rabbit hole. Tuesday gone, simple man, whiskey rock and Rolla, that smell.four Walls, so many more.
Oh girl you have no idea, it's a deep rabbithole to jump in but full of greatness!!
That glass thing on the guitar players finger is called a slide. They come in all kinds of materials ranging from glass to different types of metal and even stone. They were more popular in the 70's than they are today.
If you like it, you don’t want it to end!!! That’s the point feel it no matter age💜
I saw them live in Atlanta in the early 70’s. They were awesome!
That's a slide on his finger Gary Rossington was one of the best slide guitar players. Gary Rossington passed away about a week ago 😢 I have tears down my face through the whole song being a guitar player that looked up to Gary and the entire band old and new for years. Great reaction
Though released in 2018 this was recorded in 2007. Thus the razor's you observed.
Gary Rossington (may he rest in peace) is using a slide (sometimes called a 'bottleneck slide" because early adopters would actually take the narrow neck off pop or beer bottles to use as a slide.) Today they're usually made of metal or acrylic although glass ones are still made. The purpose is to play notes along the string in a continuous range or spectrum instead of being "stepped" when you press your finger on one of the raised ridges on a neck, called "frets."
As others have mentioned, this is a much later incarnation of the band. You deserve to hear the song as originally conceived by the original band. This is a noble tribute to that great lineup, but it will always pale in comparison to the original. The definitive live performance is the 1977 Oakland show. There are others that are nearly as good as well, but Oakland is reckoned to be "THE" live version that really takes the leash off and lets them go all out.
Their live album One More from the Road is classic. Skynryd and the Allman Brothers Band introduced this suburban white kid to the blues and its progeny. As Muddy Waters said, “the blues had a baby and they named it rock and roll”. The slide was a staple of some blues pickers, and various types of slide were used, including bottles.
Gary Rosington just died recently. The last remaining original Skynyrd band member. This is their flagship song. They are a southern rock band, from Gainesville Fl.FL.
P.S. Johnny Van Zant being the brother of Ronnie Van Zant the original lead vocalist. Johnny is also the lead vocalist to a band called 38 special. Which is another great southern rock band.
If you get the chance, watch the documentary "Muscle Shoals".
Some of the greatest black musicians as well as some of the white ones recorded in Muscle Shoals Alabama. The studio musicians were a bunch of dorky white kids at the time, but had the most soulful sound and were named The Swampers. Lynard Skynard references them in Sweet Home Alamba "Muscle Shoals has the Swampers".
Brit, you'd be blown away by this documentary to know who's recorded there with them, Chuck Berry and Etta James to just name two.