Lynyrd Skynyrd 70年代美国出名的南方摇滚乐队，风格和Eagles比较接近。
提起LYNYRD SKYNYRD，估计知道这个乐队名字的人不会特别多，但是提起他们的很多著名的曲子估计很多人都有印象。这里弹琴的朋友有很多，我想以前国外的一个杂志评选的一百首最佳吉他solo歌曲大家一定知道，其中就有Lynyrd Skynyrd的著名歌曲Free Bird。在这首哥的开头有着一段很精彩的滑棒吉他演奏来模仿鸟叫的声音，歌曲旋律流畅动人，而且吉他演奏的非常精彩，可以说从音乐本身和演奏技术来看都是非常经典的作品。除此之外，像simple man和sweet home alabama都可以说是非常经典的歌曲。他们的作品往往有着很浓厚的美国南部的乡土气息，交织着blues、乡村的音乐风格。
“林纳德·斯金纳德”(Lynyrd Skynyrd)乐队的罗尼·范·赞特(Ronnie Van Zant，29岁)、史蒂夫·盖恩斯(Steve Gaines，28岁)与凯茜·盖恩斯(Cassie Gaines，29岁)
1977年10月20日星期二，就在距离专辑《街头幸存者》(Street Survivors)发行仅三天之际，“林纳德·斯金纳德”乐队包租的“康维尔240”飞机因燃料不足坠毁在密西西比州麦库姆附近的森林里。主唱罗尼·范·赞特、吉他手史蒂夫·盖恩斯和伴唱歌手凯茜·盖恩斯、助理巡演经理迪恩·基尔帕特里克(Dean Kilpatrick)以及飞机驾驶员与副驾驶员均在撞击中丧生。乐队其他成员受伤，一些受重伤。
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Lynyrd Skynyrd was the definitive Southern rock band, fusing the overdriven power of blues-rock with a rebellious Southern image and a hard rock swagger. Skynyrd never relied on the jazzy improvisations of the Allman Brothers. Instead, they were a hard-living, hard-driving rock & roll band — they may have jammed endlessly on-stage, but their music remained firmly entrenched in blues, rock, and country. For many, Lynyrd Skynyrds redneck image tended to obscure the songwriting skills of their leader, Ronnie Van Zant. Throughout the bands early records, Van Zant demonstrated a knack for lyrical detail and a down-to-earth honesty that had more in common with country than rock & roll. During the height of Skynyrds popularity in the mid-70s, however, Van Zants talents were overshadowed by the groups gritty, greasy blues-rock. Sadly, it wasnt until he was killed in a tragic plane crash in 1977 along with two other bandmembers that many listeners began to realize his talents. Skynyrd split up after the plane crash, but they reunited a decade later, becoming a popular concert act during the early 90s.
While in high school in Jacksonville, FL, Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Allen Collins (guitar), and Gary Rossington (guitar) formed My Backyard. Within a few months, the group added bassist Leon Wilkeson and keyboardist Billy Powell, and changed their name to Lynyrd Skynyrd, a mocking tribute to their gym teacher Leonard Skinner, who was notorious for punishing students with long hair. With drummer Bob Burns, Lynyrd Skynyrd began playing throughout the South. For the first few years, the group had little success, but producer Al Kooper signed the band to MCA after seeing them play at an Atlanta club called Funocchios in 1972. Kooper produced the groups 1973 debut, Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd, which was recorded after former Strawberry Alarm Clock guitarist Ed King joined the band. The group became notorious for their triple-guitar attack, which was showcased on Free Bird, a tribute to the recently deceased Duane Allman. Free Bird earned Lynyrd Skynyrd their first national exposure and it became one of the staples of album rock radio, still receiving airplay decades after its release.
Free Bird and an opening slot on the Whos 1973 Quadrophenia tour gave Lynyrd Skynyrd a devoted following, which helped their second album, 1974s Second Helping, become its breakthrough hit. Featuring the hit single Sweet Home Alabama — a response to Neil Youngs Southern Man — Second Helping reached number 12 and went multi-platinum. At the end of the year, Artimus Pyle replaced drummer Burns and King left the band shortly afterward. The new sextet released Nuthin Fancy in 1975, and it became the bands first Top Ten hit. The record was followed by the Tom Dowd-produced Gimme Back My Bullets in 1976, which failed to match the success of its two predecessors. However, the band retained their following through constant touring, which was documented on the double live album One More from the Road. Released in late 1976, the album featured the bands new guitarist, Steve Gaines, and a trio of female backup singers, and it became Skynyrds second Top Ten album.
Lynyrd Skynyrd released their sixth album, Street Survivors, on October 17, 1977. Three days later, a privately chartered plane carrying the band between shows in Greenville, SC, and Baton Rouge, LA, crashed outside of Gillsburg, MS. Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and his sister Cassie, one of the groups backing vocalists, died in the crash; the remaining members were injured. (The cause of the crash was either fuel shortage or a fault with the planes mechanics.) The cover for Street Survivors had pictured the band surrounded in flames; after the crash, the cover was changed. In the wake of the tragedy, the album became one of the bands biggest hits. Lynyrd Skynyrd broke up after the crash, releasing a collection of early demos called Skynyrds First and...Last in 1978; it had been scheduled for release before the crash. The double-album compilation Gold & Platinum was released in 1980.
Later in 1980, Rossington and Collins formed a new band that featured four surviving members. Two years later, Pyle formed the Artimus Pyle Band. Collins suffered a car crash in 1986 that killed his girlfriend and left him paralyzed; four years later, he died of respiratory failure. In 1987, Rossington, Powell, King, and Wilkeson reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd, adding vocalist Johnny Van Zant and guitarist Randall Hall. The band embarked on a reunion tour, which was captured on the 1988 double live album Southern by the Grace of God/Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour — 1987. The re-formed Skynyrd began recording in 1991, and for the remainder of the decade, the band toured frequently, putting out albums occasionally. The reunited Skynyrd frequently switched drummers, but it had little effect on their sound.
During the 90s, Lynyrd Skynyrd were made honorary colonels in the Alabama State Militia, due to their classic rock staple Sweet Home Alabama. During the mid-90s, Van Zant, Rossington, Wilkeson, and Powell regrouped by adding two Southern rock veterans to Skynyrds guitar stable: former Blackfoot frontman Rickey Medlocke and ex-Outlaw Hughie Thomasson. With ex-Damn Yankee Michael Cartellone bringing stability to the drum chair, the reconstituted band signed to CMC International for the 1997 album Twenty. This lineup went on to release Lyve from Steeltown in 1998, followed a year later by Edge of Forever. The seasonal effort Christmas Time Again was released in fall 2000. Although Wilkeson died one year later, Lynyrd Skynyrd regrouped and recorded Vicious Cycle for a 2003 release. The DVD/CD Lyve: The Vicious Cycle Tour followed a year later, 2006 saw the release of Face to Face, and 2007 brought Paper Sleeve Box and Lyve from Steel Town.