Three of the most underrated guitarist in music history these guys were unbelievable the three guitar attack the fact they played in sync with one another amazing!
Sonny...They worked up arrangements and solos and practiced constantly playing them the same way every time.A lot of bands like to tell you they never do the same thing twice.Despite the hype a lot of them are just being lazy. Letting songs degenerate to sloppy jams etc. Too many bands are not good at improv and should emulate Skynyrd,and leave the improv for guys that really know how.
@@augiedoggie8814 While Ronnie was a hard task master, so to speak, in that he made the band put in ungodly hours of practice in order to play their songs every time the very best that they could, they did not perform every single note of every single song the same way every single time. He was the grandmaster of the songs to be sure & wanted them to sound the same for the fans, he did allow Allen, Gary & Ed (Stevie Gaines here) to improv on their solos within reason. He still controlled the songs though. If others haven't done so, I'd suggest watching many of their recorded performances & watch his unbelievable mastery of his band...and make no mistake, it was HIS band. What I find more refreshing than anything else than with most other bands, is that there are NO egos here! That whichever guitar lineup it was Allen, Gary, Ed or Allen, Gary, Stevie, none of them were ever jealous of the other(s)...everyone had moments to shine in each song including Billy (piano), Leon (bass), Artemis (drums) & they all enjoyed the hell out of each other's ability as much as they did playing WITH them!
Bands like Skynyrd were before the time when bands where "manufactured" by "Hollywood" , a time we'll NEVER see again, so glad I was able to be there at the time!
+Ken Gunter - Fortunately I had an older brother into Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, etc & he'd get their albums & I'd just listen, long time gone now, #Peace
+wingsofpegasus -I wished you'd covered their performance @ Oakland,CA '77, way better looking crowd of 60,000 at least, sunny,full of total honey's and the performance was off the charts! Thanks for what you do Fil,#Peace
I'm one of the people who wrote to Fil and suggested this video and I did it for several reasons. Firstly, this is a guitar related channel and Lynyrd Skynyrd are one of the truly great guitar bands of all time. Secondly, I find Fil's analysis videos are usually positive and enlightening and since Rossington, Collins, and Gaines are normally left off lists of guitar greats which I feel is unfair to their talents, I thought it would be nice to see Fil take a look at them. Thirdly, while I agree with some other commenters that the 1977 Oakland performance which is readily available on TH-cam may be a little better rendition, this Knebworth performance is not only awesome, in front of a mostly unsuspecting English audience, and closer to home for Fil, it also includes an up close sequence at around the 3:20 mark in which Gary Rossington can clearly be seen holding a lit cigarette in his pick hand while playing the slide part of Freebird! How does he make it sound so good while doing that? Finally, while Skynyrd had a great talent for songwriting and performance with many great tracks to choose from, Freebird is not only their anthem, but in my view is one of the most carefully constructed rock songs of all time, building slowly from a sweet ballad to a crescendo of high intensity rock and roll like few other songs of the genre, and to see something like this really pulled off live is a thing of beauty. Thanks for your review Fil, it was fun to watch as always!
Ronnie Van Zant was an amazing song writer. It’s a shame he’s not held in higher regard than he is because he was one of the great southern poets of all time. The consensus of the crowd that were at this festival was that Lynyrd Skynyrd blew the Stones off the stage here.
Free bird is Skynyrds’ Stairway; a crescendo of beautiful music ending with an iconic guitar solo. Out of the seven members that played on the album version, five have passed on😔
The reason they had so many great band members is simple they were family and friends that grew up in Jacksonville Florida and were the heart and soul of the South here , I would have to say the best band of all time and the secret to their great song writing is that it was from their life experiences I heard them say so I remember the night the plane crashed shocked me and broke my heart as I am also a Floridian.
That particular version is absolutely brilliant. Knebworth 1976. They blew the crowd away apparently. Great interplay between the 3 guitarists on stage
I'm a 62 year old from the south in America I saw these guys countless times back in the day and they rock your face off! Between them and The Allman Brothers " Southern Rock God's" we rocked with royalty! You should check out Green Grass & High Tides by the Outlaws you will dig it. Rock on! ❤✌☮️🎸
Went to all the concerts..jax fl..molly..RC..1970s....most gone now..but found UPCHURCH..damm that boy can sing..rap..southern rock..county..and he got that old school feel...its hell that my favs..are gone ..my they RIP🌀🌈🐊🐊🐊💯🇺🇸💝💝😎
Right you are! Strat Master Huey and the Outlaws, Hatchet, Skynyrd, Blackfoot, all had the multiple "guitar army" versions. Skynyrd set the bar but they were all great, no frills, balls to the wall rockers. I feel very blessed to have been a teen during that period and did appreciate what we were exposed to.
I guess I'm biased but I don't classify Skynyrd and The Brothers the same. The Brothers I consider more Blues and Skynyrd, Southern. Today they'd be considered Country. Granted, Country Radio wouldn't play them but still.
Probably my favorite live version of this song, I HIGHLY recommend it. It's noteworthy the vast majority of this crowd had never heard of Lynyrd Skynyrd and "Free Bird" until this day. Adore the reaction of the crowd as the performance builds and builds until a long, epic climax. It truly is a masterpiece. Pretty sure most of the audience weren't expecting this band from Jacksonville, Florida to blow them out of the stratosphere. We in Florida who grew up with them still miss our boys.
The Oakland 1977 live version is also outstanding, complete with the band playing in front of a giant Confederate flag. Tens of thousands of screaming fans provide a great illustration of the intensity of the original band’s live shows.
If I'm not mistaken, this was at the Knebworth Festival, where they totally blew the Stones off the stage. I learned to play guitar listening to Skynyrd. All 3 of these guys were monster performers. As mentioned in an earlier comment, Steve Gaines was kickass as well. I saw an interview with Gary Rossington where he was talking about Steve. He said he played with such an intensity...not just a fuck you intensity, but a FUCK YOU intensity. If you haven't already, get the CD from the 1988 tribute tour. They did one tour, kind of as a final farewell. It was so well received and got such tremendous feedback, they decided to keep playing. That CD is freaking awesome. The Freebird track still brings tears to my eyes.
I first heard of them when I saw a repeat of the 70s British music programme "The Old Grey Whistle Test". They did an awesome version of this on the show. It was around this time, I think from what another comment said. I love the extended guitar "solo", but don't like the lyrics. I still listen to this, though, just to hear those guitars :)
@@miaschu8175 Only problem with TOGWT show.. they had lost ed king and only had allen and gary at the time.. it would be another 4 or 5 months before steve came along.
Their recipe for success was rehearsing up to 15 hours a day, back when they were po' boys growing up in the poor side of Jacksonville FLA. Ronnie was like a rock Mark Twain, wrote the coolest stories and lyrics, that almost anyone can relate to. He was a stage general. Another great thing was NO gimmicks, just being real regular men t shirts and jeans just totally kicking ass. All the southern bands played great, all those boys could play the hell out of the guitar! The Allman Bros were the first big southern band and set the bar so high. Remember Skynyrd came out when David Bowie and all these sickening glammy bands came out.. I saw an old ad for Skynyrd that said "Hey kids, here is a REAL rock band"..kind of says it all..going against the shitty glam trend and just KICKIN it! SKYNYRD AND ALLMANS FOREVER!!
Yeah, they both wrote the coolest, wittiest, stories, in "just plain folks" language..sometimes that is more difficult, to take a brilliant idea, and make it relatable and user friendly so everyone can understand it.
Sure 'nuff.. thank you kindly. My 2 favorite guys in music I probably relate to the most are Duane Allman and Ronnie Van Zant..I really like the brilliance behind the friendly humble way of being. Another great one like that is Rory Gallagher, no image, all music! flannel shirt and blue jeans pure ROCKIN! I cant stand cocky, snobby, or glammy guys that are rude self centered ego jackoffs..the greatest players are usually cool laid back dudes, the ones I met.
Well let's not forget Artimus Pyle, Ronnie loved him. He wasnt on from beginning, but he was there at Ronnie's end. That in itself, says something. But to me that's also just as important because that is when that beautiful era of Ronnie's band ended.
@Satur9_ in_Capricorn Gary has battled on, working with what's left, including Ronnie's brother, Ed King while healthy, Medlocke, a killer guitarist who sat-in with Skynyrd at peak, so i don't know how you can say that, but ok
The lead stuff is all all Allen Collins at the culmination at the front. Rossington did the slide stuff on the intro, then backed off and did rhythm, plus on this SGaines totally takes a support role. The lead on Freebird was always Allen Collins showcase. Nice analysis and I still miss those guys.
# 1 band in my book every record they did every song on every record top notch. southern blue grass, swampy and just good old rock and roll. the diversity of the song writing unlike any other.
In 1973, my cousin opened a record store in my hometown and I helped him set up to open and worked there. His brother had just come back from seeing The Who on the Quadrophenia tour in Atlanta, and he was going on and on about this new band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, that opened for them. The first record played on the sound system in the new record store was Pronounced... 45 freakin' years ago. Remember it like yesterday. ::sigh::
At that show in Atlanta they basically shamed the Who...classic example of the opening act blowing the Headliner off the stage...A thing of beauty, and the Who never asked Skynyrd back...
Same thing happened when they opened for Eric Clapton on a tour of the States. Fans weren't too impressed with Claptons dabbling with Reggae. At one gig they all came back onstage for a bit of a jam and Skynyrd basically blew Clapton away!
I also saw them in Philly as the opening act for The Who in 1973. I don't know anyone who didn't go home absolutely stunned at how good they played and frankly, were not as interested in seeing The Who after the Skynryd set.
Ric, me too. I bought that album for work because the resident head honcho told me of this band that was coming in to record on Monday, and that he heard they were definitely a rowdy bunch and to handle them best I could. Never heard of them!!! Do you believe that?! I had never heard of Lynyrd Skynyrd, so went out over the weekend and purchased Pronounced. Well dreaded Monday shows up and that morning, I rang the buzzer to automatically unlock the door, and in walked the most polite, well mannered and hot looking guys! I was floored! They had come in to record Gimme Back My Bullets.
Brings back incredible memories of my childhood in panhandle of Florida . I have older brothers who caught me listening to another band while I was in middle school, they said no.. that is not real music and introduced me to Lynryd Skynyrd and I am so grateful they did. Molly Hatchet (Flirting With Disaster), Blackfoot (Train, Train) and Marshal Tucker Band (Cant You See) and I cannot hear Simple Man by Lynyrd without crying , reminds me of my oldest brother ( a kind heart and a generous spirit - a true Southern gentleman who died far too young). So many of the new music lacks the spirit and talent of bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd . Thank you for taking the time to share your insight to these wonderful gifted musicians, I truly enjoy listening to you break down each aspect of these recordings. I am looking forward to seeing your posts on others, I am gaining more knowledge of the music world with each one you share.
23theseeker Had a teacher in High School that got Allmans to play at our school. Funny it was a Catholic School in Buffalo, NY. Buffalo called SNOW CAPITAL OF USA because of all the snow we get from Lake Erie
My hometown guys! I went to the same high school as the original members several years later and their legacy was still felt in the hallways. And when they brought in the talented Ed King (who was replaced by the equally talented Steve Gaines - seen in this video) well...you see the results!! Such talent and feel between all of them! Make no mistake, those guys rehearsed their butts off to get that tight live!!! 🎸🤙🏻🙂
AvalonDreaming AvalonDreaming No myth. Leonard Skinner, along with another man who turned out to be my future father-in-law (crazy, right?) were teachers/coaches at Robert E. Lee high school who didn’t care for those “long-haired hippies!” By the time I went there, both had moved on to other ventures and were friends for many years. Jacksonville is a BIG CITY and a small town all rolled into one LOL! ✌🏻
Memories flood back so vividly listening to this awesome band !! I grew up on their music!!! Great southern rock! How each guitarist melted into the next one!!! Bloody brilliant!!! Great vid Fil, thank you!!
I always wondered how Lynyrd Skynrd was received outside of the South. Of course, growing up in North Carolina, they were just a part of my life. They're a band from the deep South, waving a Confederate flag, I can understand why anyone who saw them would judge them negatively. But, to hear Fil, from Britain, giving them love is pretty awesome.
They are one of the greatest selling bands of all time and one of the most recognizable worldwide. I'd say they are received very well in most places in the world where western music had strong presence.
Skynard blew even the rolling Stones offstage live In London The stones home town. Stones kept hearing Freebird and left the stage and congradulated Skynard. There about the best them and Zeppelin never can make up my mind in that note...Good intelligent input again ,nice to hear from a musician point if veiw..even better when We agree on that greatness
Love L S! Thanks Fil, great job explaining how they get that great sound. Have you heard their song called That Smell, I love it as much as Free Bird. Thanks again!
...the greatest southern rock ballad of all time...this particular makeup of Lynyrd Skynyrd and this song are like a fine wine that my wife and I have found only to improve with time...enjoyed it, Fil... Cutter
Great video! Skynyrd is one of my favorites. I love how on this song it goes back and forth between Ronnie and Gary on slide, slow and mournful sounding, then the outdo kicks it into high gear with Allen and Steve lighting the stage on fire... One of my great regrets is not being born in time to see Skynyrd back in their pre-1977 heyday. Guess there’s not much I can do about it though...
Saw Skynyrd with Molly Hatchet and the Outlaws at the Philadelphia Spectrum in about 1975...awesome show! Saw them again with Frampton in 1976...all before the plane crash. Saw the Johnny VanZant band in 1981 in a bar in Jacksonville NC, before he joined what was left of Skynyrd.
I had already bought tickets to see them when their plane went down. They were going to play near me in 3 weeks. They were an incredible band for sure. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane Fil. You have the best channel on the Tube IMO.
LOVE IT! Thanks for the 70’s props! Remember they wrote all their songs in about 7 years. Wow! I think were famous about 4 years of that. They’ve been their own cover band since, and always delivered. Now, even that’s gone. It’ll be a sad day in 20 years and you ask a young person what’s their favorite skynrd song.. and they never heard of em. It’s true now with MANY bands. the stones, Santana, Young, and even Clapton. The list is long. Thanks for doing your part to keep the music alive. We need your channel. People who don’t know it, need your channel. 🤘🏼 ROCK! 😁
I love the movie of that concert! That is the show that showed the world what Lynyrd Skynyrd was all about. They were on the cusp of taking the rock world by storm when the crash happened. All three of those guitarists were equally adept, and they could play together in a way that has never been duplicated.
OH my gosh! We gathered at a friends house, cried and "saluted" (wink), the loss of those in the crash......have all their works! Fast forward and last year, at 60, my friend and I went to the "Last of the Street Survivors: Farewell Tour" and What a great concert! Went live on Facebook for my friends....though not the original lineup they sounded true and WOW, what a concert!! Gary Rossington and Ricky Medlocke jammed it like the original! Chills!! We may not be young be we still ROCK!! 😎. Thanks Fil! Loving your videos ❤️
randand1 There was no stopping Ronnie, a fist fight would ensue with anyone who tried. And with Ronnie a person would know that in advance without words being exchanged. He had a "dont f**k with me" attitude that served as a warning that he took his band more than very seriously, he meant business. When he believed in something or someone he BELIEVED in it!
Wings of Pegasus love the bit wean he's pushing them down the tongue that was ment for the Rolling Stones and no one else watch the tv show roadies it was only on one season it tells the story of what happend on that day and the billed up to it in joy
Fil! I love your channel, man! I would like this played at my funeral...this song has it all: lyrics, highs and lows, multi-facets, just like my life!! Cheers to a GREAT channel and GREAT song!!
The audio version of Lynyrd Skynyrd “Free Bird” in Atlanta during the 1970’s, when Ronnie tells Billy “play it pretty for Atlanta”, is good😊.wado,Ann Benson.
A fan since the 1st album . I'm 59 yrs . old and still a big fan. The PRONOUNCE album kicked me in the ass. One of the best debut album's of all time .
Southern Rock ! My favorite genre of Rock Music ! Outlaws was the another phenomenon of this kind of fantastic epic guitar solo ! and Molly Hatchet too ! thanx Boy ! Keep on Rockin' !
You hit on my favorite all time band with this one, Lynyrd Skynyrd 🤘🏼 They are sacred where I come from 🎸🎸🎸 These guys were as amazing live as they were on any of their records ♥️ They were the 2nd band I ever saw in concert. Three Dog Night was my first ☮️ Anyone that was fortunate enough to see the original Skynyrd knows exactly what I mean. Some bands sound great in the studio but then when you go see them live it’s like, “ is this the same band?” Lynyrd Skynyrd was not one of those bands!! So lucky to have grown up in the 70’s ♥️ The music was just so awesome 🎤🔥🔥 You should react to more of their music! Where do I make suggestions?
The God Fathers of "Southern Rock" ! I know they carried on after the plane crash .. Just think what could have been if fate had not stepped in ... As always great commentary and analysis Fil ...
Aha! You have reviewed my favorite band, LS! I knew you’d love it. At this concert in Knebworth only The Rolling Stones were supposed to play on the tongue part of the stage. Everyone else was told to keep off! Skynyrd complied until this last song. One of the greatest FU’s in Rock and Roll history! Thanks
@@rhondafletchall5270 Have you seen the who live? I did twice because I couldn't believe they could be that bad. But they were. Stones sucked live too. At least in my experience. Never diappointed by Skynard.
Billy Powell on Pianny (piano) Gary Rossington on rhythm/slide Collins and Gaines on lead/rhythm Artimus Pyle drums Leon Wilkeson bass The "Boss" Ronnie Van Zant on vocals.
Freebird, what a classic. Many times it is still possible to pick out that one guy,girl,couple that are just not getting into it for some reason. I do not think you will find those 'someone's" watching 'Freebird" Good description about teaming up on the lead. Thanks Fil.
Ronnie never wrote down his lyrics... just memory from what I heard in an interview from Gary Rossington. The two guitarist didn't even know how to play guitar when they started.... ed king was originally Bass Player and was "fired" as a bass player by ronnie and given a guitarist role.... wow... first guitar part he played was D, C, and G.... aka Sweet Home Alabama...
I got to see these guys live in Southern Indiana shortly before the plane crash...I got chills up my spine then....and this brought tears to my eyes.....Incredible band....Very REAL band.....
Skynrd is my pick for THE #1 band of all time in the southern rock genre...freebird btw written by Vanzant & King Ronnie had much more music in him for him to be taken so soon...saw Ed King A few yrs back at a bluegrass festival still cool an laid back...
Rkk O'Tilley Allen Collins wrote the music for Freebird and kept telling him to play over and over . Then Ronnie came up with the words (per Gary Rossington )
Ricky Pierce Fun Skynyrd facts : The core members of Lynyrd Skynyrd first met in high school in Jacksonville, Florida. Van Zant, Allen Collins, and Gary Rossington formed the band "My Backyard" in 1965, eventually joined by Leon Wilkeson and Billy Powell. then went on to rename the Band "Lynyrd Skynyrd" in 69 .
I like your explanations! It's nice to hear someone analyzing the music professionally rather than "reacting" (which means just listening and saying you liked it...). This is indeed a fantastic song by this band.
These guys put the rock in Southern Rock. They were the first band from the South that I knew of that played as hard as they did. Allen wrote the basic track and Gary came up with the rest of it but, Ronnie at first didn't want to write lyrics for it because it had too many chords, but it finally came together bit by bit and of course people started to question the length of the song, but that kind of stuff always happens when greatness is about to be born. They're on their final/farewell tour because of Gary's heart issues.
Adrian Lee ummm excuse me it was Duane Allman and the ABB who not only created the genre but was the greatest southern rock band ever( skynyrd was continually compared to the ABB) who by the way Skynyrd opened many shows with the ABB in the early days . one note after Duanes death in 71 Ronnie would dedicate freebird to Duane . nuff said
Ricky Pierce Allmans were more jazzy and jammy, than straight up Southern Rock. Skynryd was a very rehearsed Rock Band from the South, fronted by a great country singer.
Adrian, Ronnie wrote songs as naturally as he breathed air. He never wrote them down but carried all of them up in his head! He was also quite prolific as a songwriter.
Absolutely, I didn't realize how great Leon was. They were all so good at what they played and then bamm in comes Stevie Gaines to raise the bar even higher. Maybe with Stevie, we gotta give the credits to Cassie instead of Ronnie on that one :)
I disagree …. most people who know good music know Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama at least. And most people know it is truly great music …. more understated appreciation than unappreciated.
It might sound strange but Free Bird became me and my brother's song about 3 months before he passed away. I makes me smile every time I hear it! I might be hearing it wrong but it has always sounded like Steve's playing is just behind Allen during the fast bit or is it the left right panning?
Was lucky to see 2 shows in 76, general admission, so we were able to work up to front row, I was 16... one concert they taped. Nice to watch it once in a while... Their stage presence was, well... phenomenal! The way they traded off leads and rhythm, as you said Fil... "such a guitar band". Great vid.
Freebird morphed from its original content when in 1972 the band played a prom at the Bolles School... during a break some of the band members heard Billy Powell playing a piano version of Free Bird... which led to Van Zandt simultaneously firing him as road crew (been with them in that role for two years) and hiring him to play with the band. His piano playing on a number of Skynyrd songs is mesmerizing... and arguably his piano intro to Free Bird is a case of divine intervention.
You know, I agree. I do think so! So many instances with them that seemed "predestined" somehow....but dont ask me how, they were just feelings I would get along the way.
Yes it was clear this was Ronnie's band and he called them "his mules" because he worked them hard and because of that their guitar solos hit as hard as a "stubborn mules kick" and that is what Ronnie was looking for.
This was the show the blew away the "Rolling Stones" ..they were told "Do not go onto the "tongue" haha, which they ignored for a bit, which you showed @the climax on Free Bird
File thanks for the L video. To me they were a top 3 band of all time. They had it all great guitarsts, awesome pionao, & the perfect ritham section. Top it off with the best lyrical singer of all time Ronnie v & there hard to beat. Oh yeah & the best song of all time freebird & there u go. One critec on ur video u said pilly powell was a guitar player but of course he played piano. Gary Rosington,Allen Collins & Steve Gaines were the guitar players. Love ur channel & again thanks for the L S video. Rock on bro.
Phil, you have such a passion for music you tend to draw us into your way of thinking more critically about the music. Thank you for the deeper inseight.
Great review as usual. Skynard rocks. Check out "Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven Live". It's from 1973 MSG in NY from "The Song Remains the Same" motion picture. Page really shines In an extended and melodic solo.
With Ed King as third guitarist this band was great. With Steve Gaines as third guitarist this band was very quickly heading for supersonic! Having seen them live in Nashville, Tn. in April, 1977 mere months before the crash, I still look back now and weep at what could've been if not for the tragedy of October 20, 1977.
Excellent video and critique! Those can can play! Perhaps you can take a look at 38 Special, focusing on Jeff Carlise...one of my favorite guitar players. I believe 38 Special has 3 guitar player as well, and they also had 2 drummers, up until the late 80s. I saw them in 1985, still one of the best concerts I have ever seen! BTW...I'm sure you know the connection between Skynyrd and 38 Special.
Yep Ronnie Van Zant was in Skynyrd. Johnny Van Zant was in the Austin Nichols band. And other brother, Donnie Van Zant was vocalist for .38 Special. I remember Donnie as being funny as hell. He had jokes. All of them were not very tall men, Donnie being the shortest and Johnny the tallest. Ronnie was somewhere around 5'6".
One of the great rock tracks, it never gets old - if you can sit still or ignore this guitar solo see a doctor! Great channel interesting observations thanks
Great analysis! I'm 50, grew up in Georgia. I saw many local bands in my day, without fail, someone would scream - "Play some Skynyrd!" Great memories! Thanks Fil!
How can you just there with a smile? Im banging my head and playing the air guitar all over my house with my computer speakers on 11... Yep. 11 !..... .
OMG...this is one of my top ten songs of all time! .. starts slow and builds and rocks your socks off! I get it because I lived it. So cool that you get it too. Thank you...
Thank you for those accolades you credited to them, they certainly are deserved. A gift of 'sweet chemistry" given to us for a treasured moment in time.
They had finished playing at a school. It was raining so hard they couldn't load up. There was a piano set up. While they were waiting for the rain to stop, Billie sat down at the piano and said, If there was a piano part for Free Bird here is how it would go. They fired him as roadie and hired him on piano. He was classically trained, but clearly jammed to rock. Then, the rest is history. ❤
![PASULOL รามเกียรติ์ ตอนที่ 4 นนทกพบรัก [Ramakien Ep.4: Nonthok in love]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tMUQgmZzf_A/mqdefault.jpg)
Three of the most underrated guitarist in music history these guys were unbelievable the three guitar attack the fact they played in sync with one another amazing!
👍
Sonny...They worked up arrangements and solos and practiced constantly playing them the same way every time.A lot of bands like to tell you they never do the same thing twice.Despite the hype a lot of them are just being lazy. Letting songs degenerate to sloppy jams etc. Too many bands are not good at improv and should emulate Skynyrd,and leave the improv for guys that really know how.
@@augiedoggie8814 While Ronnie was a hard task master, so to speak, in that he made the band put in ungodly hours of practice in order to play their songs every time the very best that they could, they did not perform every single note of every single song the same way every single time. He was the grandmaster of the songs to be sure & wanted them to sound the same for the fans, he did allow Allen, Gary & Ed (Stevie Gaines here) to improv on their solos within reason. He still controlled the songs though. If others haven't done so, I'd suggest watching many of their recorded performances & watch his unbelievable mastery of his band...and make no mistake, it was HIS band. What I find more refreshing than anything else than with most other bands, is that there are NO egos here! That whichever guitar lineup it was Allen, Gary, Ed or Allen, Gary, Stevie, none of them were ever jealous of the other(s)...everyone had moments to shine in each song including Billy (piano), Leon (bass), Artemis (drums) & they all enjoyed the hell out of each other's ability as much as they did playing WITH them!
@@msredstilettoscraftsshoesc5152 By "same way" I meant structure,not note for note.That would have been impossible anyway given the material.
Bands like Skynyrd were before the time when bands where "manufactured" by "Hollywood" , a time we'll NEVER see again, so glad I was able to be there at the time!
Cool!
James DeWeaver yeah u lucky bas....!!!
+Ken Gunter - Fortunately I had an older brother into Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, etc & he'd get their albums & I'd just listen, long time gone now, #Peace
+wingsofpegasus -I wished you'd covered their performance @ Oakland,CA '77, way better looking crowd of 60,000 at least, sunny,full of total honey's and the performance was off the charts! Thanks for what you do Fil,#Peace
James DeWeaver You said that right I was fortunate enough to be able to follow a few of them Skynyrd had the crash when I was 12.. Sad time in my town
I'm one of the people who wrote to Fil and suggested this video and I did it for several reasons. Firstly, this is a guitar related channel and Lynyrd Skynyrd are one of the truly great guitar bands of all time. Secondly, I find Fil's analysis videos are usually positive and enlightening and since Rossington, Collins, and Gaines are normally left off lists of guitar greats which I feel is unfair to their talents, I thought it would be nice to see Fil take a look at them. Thirdly, while I agree with some other commenters that the 1977 Oakland performance which is readily available on TH-cam may be a little better rendition, this Knebworth performance is not only awesome, in front of a mostly unsuspecting English audience, and closer to home for Fil, it also includes an up close sequence at around the 3:20 mark in which Gary Rossington can clearly be seen holding a lit cigarette in his pick hand while playing the slide part of Freebird! How does he make it sound so good while doing that? Finally, while Skynyrd had a great talent for songwriting and performance with many great tracks to choose from, Freebird is not only their anthem, but in my view is one of the most carefully constructed rock songs of all time, building slowly from a sweet ballad to a crescendo of high intensity rock and roll like few other songs of the genre, and to see something like this really pulled off live is a thing of beauty. Thanks for your review Fil, it was fun to watch as always!
No problem!
Right you are!
Ronnie Van Zant was an amazing song writer. It’s a shame he’s not held in higher regard than he is because he was one of the great southern poets of all time.
The consensus of the crowd that were at this festival was that Lynyrd Skynyrd blew the Stones off the stage here.
James hetfield said he’s one of the greatest in a list
Its a rule...
If you get somewhere and 'Freebird' is on the radio you can't get out the car till its over.
😂👍
I've driven around and around and around my block until it finishes.
jason moreno lol yeah thats about true .!
Ive gotten to moms and she asked "What were you doing".
Freebird was on.
"Oh" LOL
jason moreno you forgot about not only waiting, but you know you gotta play air guitar or drumming on your steering wheel. Lol
Thank You for doing these videos! Lynyard Skynyrd was one of the great bands of the 1970's.
No problem!
I would say Lynyrd Skynyrd is one of the greatest rock bands of all times. I would call them the greatest, but that is subjective.
@@williamlatimer9216 I agree!!! There will never ever be another Lynyrd Skynyrd.
What can you say? This is the Mother of all Rock Anthems!! Simply Extraordinary!!!
One of the top 3 bands ever in America and that says a lot!
Rock!!!
👍
Steve Gaines. Almost a forgotten guitar wizard from the past.
Yeah you don't hear his name too much unfortunately.
my favourite guitarist of all time.
Same here.
Not forgotten.. all the hippies and guitarists know of him, he is just not a household name like Van Halen or the Beatles..
Gaines was beast on guitar. It really sucks that so many of those waxing stars were taken from us way too early.
Free bird is Skynyrds’ Stairway; a crescendo of beautiful music ending with an iconic guitar solo. Out of the seven members that played on the album version, five have passed on😔
Yeah a lot has happened since. Gary's still around and rockin!
The reason they had so many great band members is simple they were family and friends that grew up in Jacksonville Florida and were the heart and soul of the South here , I would have to say the best band of all time and the secret to their great song writing is that it was from their life experiences I heard them say so I remember the night the plane crashed shocked me and broke my heart as I am also a Floridian.
Yeah it was such a tragedy.
That particular version is absolutely brilliant. Knebworth 1976. They blew the crowd away apparently. Great interplay between the 3 guitarists on stage
I'm a 62 year old from the south in America I saw these guys countless times back in the day and they rock your face off! Between them and The Allman Brothers " Southern Rock God's" we rocked with royalty! You should check out Green Grass & High Tides by the Outlaws you will dig it. Rock on! ❤✌☮️🎸
Thanks!
Went to all the concerts..jax fl..molly..RC..1970s....most gone now..but found UPCHURCH..damm that boy can sing..rap..southern rock..county..and he got that old school feel...its hell that my favs..are gone ..my they RIP🌀🌈🐊🐊🐊💯🇺🇸💝💝😎
don't forget the unforgettable southern ladies back then. wow. ya'all had it all
Right you are! Strat Master Huey and the Outlaws, Hatchet, Skynyrd, Blackfoot, all had the multiple "guitar army" versions. Skynyrd set the bar but they were all great, no frills, balls to the wall rockers. I feel very blessed to have been a teen during that period and did appreciate what we were exposed to.
You got that right!
There is no band, no song, no one, nothing to compare Lynyrd Skynyrd to.
I love Skynyrd however the Allman’s were way more musically inclined that Skynyrd and Duane Allman is the greatest guitar player to ever live.
What about led zeppelin?
@@joshg2350
You're right, Skynyrd is great but nothing touches the Allman brothers. Duane is without a doubt the best guitar player I've ever heard.
moreover, the Fox Theater version of this from Gold & Platinum is the greatest live version of any song ever, imvho...
I guess I'm biased but I don't classify Skynyrd and The Brothers the same. The Brothers I consider more Blues and Skynyrd, Southern. Today they'd be considered Country. Granted, Country Radio wouldn't play them but still.
As others have said, Gaines came late to the Skynyrd party, but he added a new dimension and would have in the future. RIP...
Amen.
Probably my favorite live version of this song, I HIGHLY recommend it. It's noteworthy the vast majority of this crowd had never heard of Lynyrd Skynyrd and "Free Bird" until this day. Adore the reaction of the crowd as the performance builds and builds until a long, epic climax. It truly is a masterpiece. Pretty sure most of the audience weren't expecting this band from Jacksonville, Florida to blow them out of the stratosphere. We in Florida who grew up with them still miss our boys.
The Oakland 1977 live version is also outstanding, complete with the band playing in front of a giant Confederate flag. Tens of thousands of screaming fans provide a great illustration of the intensity of the original band’s live shows.
If I'm not mistaken, this was at the Knebworth Festival, where they totally blew the Stones off the stage. I learned to play guitar listening to Skynyrd. All 3 of these guys were monster performers. As mentioned in an earlier comment, Steve Gaines was kickass as well. I saw an interview with Gary Rossington where he was talking about Steve. He said he played with such an intensity...not just a fuck you intensity, but a FUCK YOU intensity. If you haven't already, get the CD from the 1988 tribute tour. They did one tour, kind of as a final farewell. It was so well received and got such tremendous feedback, they decided to keep playing. That CD is freaking awesome. The Freebird track still brings tears to my eyes.
You are absolutely right on ! 100%. Thank You! I miss them ❤ more than I can say.
I first heard of them when I saw a repeat of the 70s British music programme "The Old Grey Whistle Test". They did an awesome version of this on the show. It was around this time, I think from what another comment said. I love the extended guitar "solo", but don't like the lyrics. I still listen to this, though, just to hear those guitars :)
@@miaschu8175 Only problem with TOGWT show.. they had lost ed king and only had allen and gary at the time.. it would be another 4 or 5 months before steve came along.
Love this band. Their songs take you on a journey.
👍
Their recipe for success was rehearsing up to 15 hours a day, back when they were po' boys growing up in the poor side of Jacksonville FLA. Ronnie was like a rock Mark Twain, wrote the coolest stories and lyrics, that almost anyone can relate to. He was a stage general. Another great thing was NO gimmicks, just being real regular men t shirts and jeans just totally kicking ass. All the southern bands played great, all those boys could play the hell out of the guitar! The Allman Bros were the first big southern band and set the bar so high. Remember Skynyrd came out when David Bowie and all these sickening glammy bands came out.. I saw an old ad for Skynyrd that said "Hey kids, here is a REAL rock band"..kind of says it all..going against the shitty glam trend and just KICKIN it! SKYNYRD AND ALLMANS FOREVER!!
👍
Yeah, they both wrote the coolest, wittiest, stories, in "just plain folks" language..sometimes that is more difficult, to take a brilliant idea, and make it relatable and user friendly so everyone can understand it.
Sure 'nuff.. thank you kindly. My 2 favorite guys in music I probably relate to the most are Duane Allman and Ronnie Van Zant..I really like the brilliance behind the friendly humble way of being. Another great one like that is Rory Gallagher, no image, all music! flannel shirt and blue jeans pure ROCKIN! I cant stand cocky, snobby, or glammy guys that are rude self centered ego jackoffs..the greatest players are usually cool laid back dudes, the ones I met.
A Rock Mark Twain 👍👍👍 Love it !!!
pete ziriaah he knocked billys teeth out in England before the old grey whistle show
Allen Collins flying on his Firebird supplies the wind beneath the wings of Freebird
Billy Powell was piano. Gary Rossington, the slide player here, is the only one who made it from the beginning to the end of the road.
Yeah it's been one of those days! I've put an edit in the description ☺
Well let's not forget Artimus Pyle, Ronnie loved him. He wasnt on from beginning, but he was there at Ronnie's end. That in itself, says something. But to me that's also just as important because that is when that beautiful era of Ronnie's band ended.
I caught that too
@Satur9_ in_Capricorn Gary has battled on, working with what's left, including Ronnie's brother, Ed King while healthy, Medlocke, a killer guitarist who sat-in with Skynyrd at peak, so i don't know how you can say that, but ok
avlisk...Leslie is still around.She wasn't there at the start,but given that all of them are gone except a banged up Gary Rossington,I'll count her.
The lead stuff is all all Allen Collins at the culmination at the front. Rossington did the slide stuff on the intro, then backed off and did rhythm, plus on this SGaines totally takes a support role. The lead on Freebird was always Allen Collins showcase.
Nice analysis and I still miss those guys.
Thanks, yeah what a band!
Allen wrote Firebird with Ronnie
Fil, Thank you SO much for doing this for me!!! ❤️
No problem!
# 1 band in my book every record they did every song on every record top notch. southern blue grass, swampy and just good old rock and roll. the diversity of the song writing unlike any other.
👍
In 1973, my cousin opened a record store in my hometown and I helped him set up to open and worked there. His brother had just come back from seeing The Who on the Quadrophenia tour in Atlanta, and he was going on and on about this new band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, that opened for them. The first record played on the sound system in the new record store was Pronounced...
45 freakin' years ago.
Remember it like yesterday.
::sigh::
Cool!
At that show in Atlanta they basically shamed the Who...classic example of the opening act blowing the Headliner off the stage...A thing of beauty, and the Who never asked Skynyrd back...
Same thing happened when they opened for Eric Clapton on a tour of the States. Fans weren't too impressed with Claptons dabbling with Reggae. At one gig they all came back onstage for a bit of a jam and Skynyrd basically blew Clapton away!
I also saw them in Philly as the opening act for The Who in 1973. I don't know anyone who didn't go home absolutely stunned at how good they played and frankly, were not as interested in seeing The Who after the Skynryd set.
Ric, me too. I bought that album for work because the resident head honcho told me of this band that was coming in to record on Monday, and that he heard they were definitely a rowdy bunch and to handle them best I could. Never heard of them!!! Do you believe that?! I had never heard of Lynyrd Skynyrd, so went out over the weekend and purchased Pronounced. Well dreaded Monday shows up and that morning, I rang the buzzer to automatically unlock the door, and in walked the most polite, well mannered and hot looking guys! I was floored! They had come in to record Gimme Back My Bullets.
Brings back incredible memories of my childhood in panhandle of Florida . I have older brothers who caught me listening to another band while I was in middle school, they said no.. that is not real music and introduced me to Lynryd Skynyrd and I am so grateful they did. Molly Hatchet (Flirting With Disaster), Blackfoot (Train, Train) and Marshal Tucker Band (Cant You See) and I cannot hear Simple Man by Lynyrd without crying , reminds me of my oldest brother ( a kind heart and a generous spirit - a true Southern gentleman who died far too young). So many of the new music lacks the spirit and talent of bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd . Thank you for taking the time to share your insight to these wonderful gifted musicians, I truly enjoy listening to you break down each aspect of these recordings. I am looking forward to seeing your posts on others, I am gaining more knowledge of the music world with each one you share.
The Allman Brothers Band another great southern rock band amazing talent there as well.
👍
Throw The Outlaws in there too. Green Grass & High Tides, baby!
@@vannacee26 or maybe hurry sundown
23theseeker Had a teacher in High School that got Allmans to play at our school. Funny it was a Catholic School in Buffalo, NY. Buffalo called SNOW CAPITAL OF USA because of all the snow we get from Lake Erie
@@jamesogrady6612 very cool
Skynyrd was one of the greatest American bands IMO. Tragic Ronnie died so young, as well as the others.
Amen.
Thanks Fil "They Call Me the Breeze" Skynyrd. Awesome music.
👍
JJ Cale. Another unrated singer songwriter guitarist.
My hometown guys! I went to the same high school as the original members several years later and their legacy was still felt in the hallways. And when they brought in the talented Ed King (who was replaced by the equally talented Steve Gaines - seen in this video) well...you see the results!! Such talent and feel between all of them! Make no mistake, those guys rehearsed their butts off to get that tight live!!! 🎸🤙🏻🙂
Awesome!
Craig Fussell So is the myth true, was your high school principal really named Leonard Skinner?
AvalonDreaming AvalonDreaming No myth. Leonard Skinner, along with another man who turned out to be my future father-in-law (crazy, right?) were teachers/coaches at Robert E. Lee high school who didn’t care for those “long-haired hippies!” By the time I went there, both had moved on to other ventures and were friends for many years. Jacksonville is a BIG CITY and a small town all rolled into one LOL! ✌🏻
@@avalondreaming1433 it was their gym teacher and football coach, Leonard Skinner who passed away in 2010, I think.
This is SO much cooler than Bohemian Rhapsody!
😂
Michael Craig Bless you!
Apples and oranges comparison
the song is awesome, but don't compare with bohemian rhapsody , is just long solo
This is Skynyrds Bohemian Rhapsody.
Memories flood back so vividly listening to this awesome band !! I grew up on their music!!! Great southern rock! How each guitarist melted into the next one!!! Bloody brilliant!!! Great vid Fil, thank you!!
No problem!
I always wondered how Lynyrd Skynrd was received outside of the South. Of course, growing up in North Carolina, they were just a part of my life. They're a band from the deep South, waving a Confederate flag, I can understand why anyone who saw them would judge them negatively. But, to hear Fil, from Britain, giving them love is pretty awesome.
Yeah it's all about the music 🤘
They are one of the greatest selling bands of all time and one of the most recognizable worldwide. I'd say they are received very well in most places in the world where western music had strong presence.
We were loving on them from the opposite coast in San Diego for sure!
Our music in the 70's ruled! 👍
Been a fan of LS since '78....from Singapore.
Collin Hurley Phil is the man
My older cousin John got me listening to Skynard and ZZ Top when I was just a preteen. Still love them today. ❤️🤘🏻🤘🏻
Masterpiece is exactly right-this work of art still gives me chills, no matter how many times I have heard it. Brilliant.
Absolutely one if their most haunting songs, pure southern magic. Thanks Fil.
👍☺
They had speed, they had control, but most of all they concentrated on the soul. Steve Gaines one HELL! of a player .
👍
Fucking A
Skynard blew even the rolling Stones offstage live In London The stones home town. Stones kept hearing Freebird and left the stage and congradulated Skynard. There about the best them and Zeppelin never can make up my mind in that note...Good intelligent input again ,nice to hear from a musician point if veiw..even better when We agree on that greatness
Thanks!
The third guitar player was Gary Rossington. Billy Powell was the keyboard player Lynyrd Skynyrd was such a talented band. Love the analysis
Saw them July 10, 1977 Soldier Field Chicago, IL. There will never be another!
Cool!
Love L S! Thanks Fil, great job explaining how they get that great sound. Have you heard their song called That Smell, I love it as much as Free Bird. Thanks again!
No problem!
...the greatest southern rock ballad of all time...this particular makeup of Lynyrd Skynyrd and this song are like a fine wine that my wife and I have found only to improve with time...enjoyed it, Fil...
Cutter
👍
Another great video! I look forward to these every day.
Cool!
Great video! Skynyrd is one of my favorites. I love how on this song it goes back and forth between Ronnie and Gary on slide, slow and mournful sounding, then the outdo kicks it into high gear with Allen and Steve lighting the stage on fire...
One of my great regrets is not being born in time to see Skynyrd back in their pre-1977 heyday. Guess there’s not much I can do about it though...
👍
Saw Skynyrd with Molly Hatchet and the Outlaws at the Philadelphia Spectrum in about 1975...awesome show! Saw them again with Frampton in 1976...all before the plane crash. Saw the Johnny VanZant band in 1981 in a bar in Jacksonville NC, before he joined what was left of Skynyrd.
Cool!
I had already bought tickets to see them when their plane went down. They were going to play near me in 3 weeks. They were an incredible band for sure. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane Fil. You have the best channel on the Tube IMO.
All 3 guitars were cranked up to eleven!!
😂👍
LOVE IT! Thanks for the 70’s props! Remember they wrote all their songs in about 7 years. Wow! I think were famous about 4 years of that. They’ve been their own cover band since, and always delivered. Now, even that’s gone. It’ll be a sad day in 20 years and you ask a young person what’s their favorite skynrd song.. and they never heard of em. It’s true now with MANY bands. the stones, Santana, Young, and even Clapton. The list is long.
Thanks for doing your part to keep the music alive. We need your channel. People who don’t know it, need your channel. 🤘🏼
ROCK! 😁
Haha thanks!
I love the movie of that concert! That is the show that showed the world what Lynyrd Skynyrd was all about. They were on the cusp of taking the rock world by storm when the crash happened. All three of those guitarists were equally adept, and they could play together in a way that has never been duplicated.
Amen!
OH my gosh! We gathered at a friends house, cried and "saluted" (wink), the loss of those in the crash......have all their works! Fast forward and last year, at 60, my friend and I went to the "Last of the Street Survivors: Farewell Tour" and What a great concert! Went live on Facebook for my friends....though not the original lineup they sounded true and WOW, what a concert!! Gary Rossington and Ricky Medlocke jammed it like the original! Chills!! We may not be young be we still ROCK!! 😎. Thanks Fil! Loving your videos ❤️
The tongue of the stage was reserved for the Stones...but seriously, who was going to stop them?
😂👍
Yep. They were told in no certain terms to go out onto the tongue. Watch how when the solo starts Van Zant leads the rest of the boys out there.
randand1 There was no stopping Ronnie, a fist fight would ensue with anyone who tried. And with Ronnie a person would know that in advance without words being exchanged. He had a "dont f**k with me" attitude that served as a warning that he took his band more than very seriously, he meant business. When he believed in something or someone he BELIEVED in it!
I know that it is impossible but this sounds better and better each time that you listen to this. Ronnie van Zant has such presence on stage!
This show truly let the Stones know they can never compete with this band.
Just now watching this episode after Gary's recent passing. That slide intro is iconic. They were part of the tapestry of my youth. Gone too soon~
And the stones had to follow that Hahahahah
😂
Wings of Pegasus love the bit wean he's pushing them down the tongue that was ment for the Rolling Stones and no one else watch the tv show roadies it was only on one season it tells the story of what happend on that day and the billed up to it in joy
Fil! I love your channel, man! I would like this played at my funeral...this song has it all: lyrics, highs and lows, multi-facets, just like my life!!
Cheers to a GREAT channel and GREAT song!!
Thanks!
The audio version of Lynyrd Skynyrd “Free Bird” in Atlanta during the 1970’s, when Ronnie tells Billy “play it pretty for Atlanta”, is good😊.wado,Ann Benson.
That crazy stunt plane is a strange foreshadow. Always loved this band. It was a magic time for music. Nice work Fil!
No problem!
Hey, great video Fil! I love Free Bird, such an amazing classic. I just noticed I'm an hour late on the video, but I still hope you notice my comment!
I see it! 👍
A fan since the 1st album . I'm 59 yrs . old and still a big fan. The PRONOUNCE album kicked me in the ass. One of the best debut album's of all time .
Cool!
Southern Rock ! My favorite genre of Rock Music ! Outlaws was the another phenomenon of this kind of fantastic epic guitar solo ! and Molly Hatchet too ! thanx Boy ! Keep on Rockin' !
All were Florida Bands too..
🤘
You hit on my favorite all time band with this one, Lynyrd Skynyrd 🤘🏼 They are sacred where I come from 🎸🎸🎸 These guys were as amazing live as they were on any of their records ♥️ They were the 2nd band I ever saw in concert. Three Dog Night was my first ☮️ Anyone that was fortunate enough to see the original Skynyrd knows exactly what I mean. Some bands sound great in the studio but then when you go see them live it’s like, “ is this the same band?” Lynyrd Skynyrd was not one of those bands!! So lucky to have grown up in the 70’s ♥️ The music was just so awesome 🎤🔥🔥 You should react to more of their music! Where do I make suggestions?
Although they did play it live in clubs before Ed joined the band . Ed also added the third guitar part
This band did their thing and put their heart and soul into their songs and they rocked!!!!
The God Fathers of "Southern Rock" ! I know they carried on after the plane crash .. Just think what could have been if fate had not stepped in ...
As always great commentary and analysis
Fil ...
Yeah helicopters and planes have a lot to answer for!
Aha! You have reviewed my favorite band, LS! I knew you’d love it. At this concert in Knebworth only The Rolling Stones were supposed to play on the tongue part of the stage. Everyone else was told to keep off! Skynyrd complied until this last song. One of the greatest FU’s in Rock and Roll history! Thanks
Yeah, I think Skynyrd owned The Stones at this show.
👍
That they did. Also owned the Who
They weren't supposed to go out on the portion of the stage that stuck out into the crowd.
Yeah, RVZ had other ideas, lol.
@@kahughes9349 BS! no band EVER owned the Who
@@rhondafletchall5270 Have you seen the who live? I did twice because I couldn't believe they could be that bad. But they were. Stones sucked live too. At least in my experience. Never diappointed by Skynard.
Saw them on their last tour! Man they were gr8..perfect guitar playing...
Billy Powell on Pianny (piano)
Gary Rossington on rhythm/slide
Collins and Gaines on lead/rhythm
Artimus Pyle drums
Leon Wilkeson bass
The "Boss" Ronnie Van Zant on vocals.
👍I put it in the description 😅
Love those guys. Played.a lot in my youth. How can you forget those guys!
great video 🎸🤘
70's dreamer's 🎸🎵🎼🎼👍🤘🇺🇸
👍
Freebird, what a classic. Many times it is still possible to pick out that one guy,girl,couple that are just not getting into it for some reason. I do not think you will find those 'someone's" watching 'Freebird" Good description about teaming up on the lead. Thanks Fil.
The best pound for pound band ever , in my opinion
Thumper doesn’t get his due in my opinion
John R. Shelton Thumper, the rabbit from Bambi? Lol
Ronnie never wrote down his lyrics... just memory from what I heard in an interview from Gary Rossington. The two guitarist didn't even know how to play guitar when they started.... ed king was originally Bass Player and was "fired" as a bass player by ronnie and given a guitarist role.... wow... first guitar part he played was D, C, and G.... aka Sweet Home Alabama...
I got to see these guys live in Southern Indiana shortly before the plane crash...I got chills up my spine then....and this brought tears to my eyes.....Incredible band....Very REAL band.....
Skynrd is my pick for THE #1 band of all time in the southern rock genre...freebird btw written by Vanzant & King
Ronnie had much more music in him for him to be taken so soon...saw Ed King A few yrs back at a bluegrass festival still cool an laid back...
👍
Black foot, Molly Hatchet and 38 special are great SR bands too .
Rkk O'Tilley Allen Collins wrote the music for Freebird and kept telling him to play over and over . Then Ronnie came up with the words (per Gary Rossington )
Ricky Pierce
Fun Skynyrd facts : The core members of Lynyrd Skynyrd first met in high school in Jacksonville, Florida. Van Zant, Allen Collins, and Gary Rossington formed the band "My Backyard" in 1965, eventually joined by Leon Wilkeson and Billy Powell. then went on to rename the Band "Lynyrd Skynyrd" in 69 .
dayum u r right...hadda giggle it...all these yrs...tyvm for making me hip
I like your explanations!
It's nice to hear someone analyzing the music professionally rather than "reacting" (which means just listening and saying you liked it...).
This is indeed a fantastic song by this band.
Thanks!
These guys put the rock in Southern Rock. They were the first band from the South that I knew of that played as hard as they did. Allen wrote the basic track and Gary came up with the rest of it but, Ronnie at first didn't want to write lyrics for it because it had too many chords, but it finally came together bit by bit and of course people started to question the length of the song, but that kind of stuff always happens when greatness is about to be born. They're on their final/farewell tour because of Gary's heart issues.
Yeah Gary has earned some time off!
Adrian Lee ummm excuse me it was Duane Allman and the ABB who not only created the genre but was the greatest southern rock band ever( skynyrd was continually compared to the ABB) who by the way Skynyrd opened many shows with the ABB in the early days . one note after Duanes death in 71 Ronnie would dedicate freebird to Duane . nuff said
Ricky Pierce Allmans were more jazzy and jammy, than straight up Southern Rock. Skynryd was a very rehearsed Rock Band from the South, fronted by a great country singer.
Adrian, Ronnie wrote songs as naturally as he breathed air. He never wrote them down but carried all of them up in his head! He was also quite prolific as a songwriter.
@@rickypierce8577 yep!
I love this song so much..I can't believe how many movies I've seen over the years that had this song in them..
Most underrated, and unappreciated bands of all time. Van Zandt just knew how to pick and put players together
Quad Condor I’m sure you’ve listened to T for Texas live. Nobody wanted to follow them then. They were tight tight
Quad Condor and they are definitely the most underrated. Thumper is hell on that bass
Absolutely, I didn't realize how great Leon was. They were all so good at what they played and then bamm in comes Stevie Gaines to raise the bar even higher. Maybe with Stevie, we gotta give the credits to Cassie instead of Ronnie on that one :)
HE DID INDEED
I disagree …. most people who know good music know Freebird and Sweet Home Alabama at least. And most people know it is truly great music …. more understated appreciation than unappreciated.
thanks for all your videos. love your comments and information
It might sound strange but Free Bird became me and my brother's song about 3 months before he passed away. I makes me smile every time I hear it!
I might be hearing it wrong but it has always sounded like Steve's playing is just behind Allen during the fast bit or is it the left right panning?
Yeah I think there is a slight different in speed between the two.
Correct Steve is playing a bit behind Allen just like the overdubbed Guitar on the studio version
dmike it seems to be a song that had an extra special meaning for some, in a spiritual sense. Almost seems pre-destined. Kind of strange, I know.
Was lucky to see 2 shows in 76, general admission, so we were able to work up to front row, I was 16... one concert they taped. Nice to watch it once in a while... Their stage presence was, well... phenomenal! The way they traded off leads and rhythm, as you said Fil... "such a guitar band". Great vid.
Cool!
Great video FIL , keep smiling !
Will do!
Freebird morphed from its original content when in 1972 the band played a prom at the Bolles School... during a break some of the band members heard Billy Powell playing a piano version of Free Bird... which led to Van Zandt simultaneously firing him as road crew (been with them in that role for two years) and hiring him to play with the band. His piano playing on a number of Skynyrd songs is mesmerizing... and arguably his piano intro to Free Bird is a case of divine intervention.
You know, I agree. I do think so! So many instances with them that seemed "predestined" somehow....but dont ask me how, they were just feelings I would get along the way.
And never forget, those boys were Ronnie's mules and he wrung em out every show. And they loved it.
Yes it was clear this was Ronnie's band and he called them "his mules" because he worked them hard and because of that their guitar solos hit as hard as a "stubborn mules kick" and that is what Ronnie was looking for.
Thank you so much for this. My all time favorite band.
This was the show the blew away the "Rolling Stones" ..they were told "Do not go onto the "tongue" haha, which they ignored for a bit, which you showed @the climax on Free Bird
Haha yeah that was cool!
They got the stage hook when they opened for Zeppelin by Zeps manager.
I read in a history of southern rock book when they opened for the Who on the Quadrophenia tour, they blew them off the stage too...
Skynyrd is from my hometown - Jacksonville, FL. Back in the early 70's almost everyone had a story about them!
File thanks for the L video. To me they were a top 3 band of all time. They had it all great guitarsts, awesome pionao, & the perfect ritham section. Top it off with the best lyrical singer of all time Ronnie v & there hard to beat. Oh yeah & the best song of all time freebird & there u go. One critec on ur video u said pilly powell was a guitar player but of course he played piano. Gary Rosington,Allen Collins & Steve Gaines were the guitar players. Love ur channel & again thanks for the L S video. Rock on bro.
Yeah I've put that in the description! It was one of those days! 😅
Phil, you have such a passion for music you tend to draw us into your way of thinking more critically about the music. Thank you for the deeper inseight.
No problem!
Great review as usual. Skynard rocks.
Check out "Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven Live". It's from 1973 MSG in NY from "The Song Remains the Same" motion picture. Page really shines In an extended and melodic solo.
Thanks for the suggestion!
With Ed King as third guitarist this band was great. With Steve Gaines as third guitarist this band was very quickly heading for supersonic! Having seen them live in Nashville, Tn. in April, 1977 mere months before the crash, I still look back now and weep at what could've been if not for the tragedy of October 20, 1977.
Excellent video and critique! Those can can play!
Perhaps you can take a look at 38 Special, focusing on Jeff Carlise...one of my favorite guitar players. I believe 38 Special has 3 guitar player as well, and they also had 2 drummers, up until the late 80s. I saw them in 1985, still one of the best concerts I have ever seen!
BTW...I'm sure you know the connection between Skynyrd and 38 Special.
The Van Zant brothers!
Billy Deskin Carlisi and RVZ did Four Walls of Raiford, brilliantly.
Cool...I'll have to look that up!
Yep Ronnie Van Zant was in Skynyrd. Johnny Van Zant was in the Austin Nichols band. And other brother, Donnie Van Zant was vocalist for .38 Special. I remember Donnie as being funny as hell. He had jokes. All of them were not very tall men, Donnie being the shortest and Johnny the tallest. Ronnie was somewhere around 5'6".
@@schnowtza lol!
I love this band and am very sad they are gone now, I saw them many times in the 70s and they where always good and sounded like there albums...
Amen.
One of the great rock tracks, it never gets old - if you can sit still or ignore this guitar solo see a doctor! Great channel interesting observations thanks
👍
Great analysis!
I'm 50, grew up in Georgia. I saw many local bands in my day, without fail, someone would scream - "Play some Skynyrd!"
Great memories! Thanks Fil!
Thanks! No problem!
How can you just there with a smile? Im banging my head and playing the air guitar all over my house with my computer speakers on 11...
Yep. 11 !..... .
😂👍
OMG...this is one of my top ten songs of all time! .. starts slow and builds and rocks your socks off! I get it because I lived it. So cool that you get it too. Thank you...
Great Band too R.I.P.
Amen.
Thank you for those accolades you credited to them, they certainly are deserved. A gift of 'sweet chemistry" given to us for a treasured moment in time.
👍
And Billy walks into the studio where LS was playing and said they need a piano player. The rest is history.
Wrong...Billy was a roadie for the band...someone heard he could play, Ronnie asked & the rest was history
They had finished playing at a school. It was raining so hard they couldn't load up. There was a piano set up. While they were waiting for the rain to stop, Billie sat down at the piano and said, If there was a piano part for Free Bird here is how it would go.
They fired him as roadie and hired him on piano. He was classically trained, but clearly jammed to rock.
Then, the rest is history. ❤
OH WOW!! What a phenomenal song. I love the 70's!!! Great analysis Fil. Loved it! 🎸🤘