Crowds flock to hear rock legends

The group is co-headlining on tour with 3 Doors Down.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Next year marks the 30th anniversary of the plane crash that took the lives of Lynyrd Skynyrd members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines.
While the tragedy forever changed the band, it didn't define it. This is a tribute to both its rich catalog and the determination of its surviving members. Less than a decade after the crash, which reportedly was due to mechanical malfunction, Skynyrd re-formed with original players Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Ed King and Leon Wilkeson joined by Van Zant's kid brother Johnny on vocals.
Since the late '80s, Skynyrd has been flying high on the touring circuit that finds the Southern rock legends seemingly playing to larger crowds every summer. During a recent call to his tour bus, The Vindicator caught up with Van Zant to discuss the band's recent and much overdue induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, its current co-headlining tour with 3 Doors Down (Friday at Post-Gazette Pavilion in Pittsburgh) and the phenomenon of fans at one time or another having awkwardly yelled "Free Bird" to seemingly every artist under the sun.
Rock hall induction
Q: First of all, congratulations on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nod. It's about time, don't you think?
A: Yeah, I think it was way too long. For me, I think it was great for my brother who passed on in 1977 and for [Allen] Collins, Stevie Gaines, and for Gary Rossington and Billy Powell who are still here. I think that's a great honor for those guys and I'm glad the rock 'n' roll community finally wised up and gave Skynyrd its just due.
Q: What is it about Lynyrd Skynyrd's music that not only helped forge the Southern rock sound but also stands the test of time?
A: What the cool thing about Skynyrd is you'll get people in the rock world that will say they were influenced by Skynyrd, you get people in the country field saying they were influenced by Lynyrd Skynyrd and hell, you got people who are a little bit of both like Kid Rock, who has rock, country and hip hop, saying he was influenced by Skynyrd. So that's a pretty amazing thing when you get down to it. I think good music stays around forever. When the history books of music are written that's going to be a cool thing to go back and read.
Q: Granted it's hypothetical, but what would your brother have said about the induction?
A: I think he would have said, "I don't think it's going to pay my light bill next month but it's pretty cool to be in there. Now let's go play some gigs."
Q: As far as playing gigs, Skynyrd has become a summer tradition for many families. This year is definitely special with the Rock Hall publicity and the fact you guys are co-headlining with 3 Doors Down. How did that bill come about?
A: It's great, man. It's a good combination. Those guys came down to Jacksonville when the Super Bowl was there (a few years ago). We did a pre-show party thing for CMT and they were on that with us. We said, "Hey this kind of works out good. Our crowds like them, we like them and they like us. We ought to try to put something together." Some people were like, "Ah, that won't work." But man, we've been having some awesome crowds. You wouldn't believe how big they've been. It's unbelievable. We're hoping Pittsburgh is going to be a hell of a show. We have a platinum record from Pittsburgh, "Live from Steel Town," so we love that area.
Q: With such heritage in the band, what's the one clich & eacute; that Lynyrd Skynyrd will never escape?
A: Probably the "Free Bird" thing. We always get asked that question. How does it feel to have people holler "Free Bird" all of the time? They even do it to us too. It's a great song and somebody started that. Hell, I even went to a Cher show and yelled it out just to say I did it.
Q.: Did she hear you?
A.: (laughing) I hope not.