Lynyrd Skynyrd

Arguably, it can be said that Lynyrd Skynyrd is the quintessential American rock band. The epitome of Southern rock music, Skynyrd does not offer high-concept gloss. Instead, since its emergence from the Jacksonville, Fla. music scene, Skynyrd has consistently spoken about the harsh humanity facing the American everyman. "We saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan like everybody else in our generation, and freaked out and wanted to start a rock'n'roll band," Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington told Billboard. "But then we got serious, and we really had this dream to become something, to make a mark. We just worked and sweated our way to it. We had that fire in our eyes." After over 30 years in the business and 26 million records sold worldwide, the fire has yet to burn out. Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame last March. It was a moment of recognition long-overdue. Original Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell told reporters upon receiving the honor, “Obviously this proves that the music is here to stay. It certainly completes a lifetime accomplishment for me.” Lynyrd Skynyrd continues to entertain audiences both young and old. In 2007 the band set sail on its first ever Gimme Three Days cruise to the Caribbean with three separate performances for a sold-out audience! Despite their intensive touring schedule that routinely includes nearly 100 dates a year, Skynyrd even now comes across as seamless road veterans. They have recently toured with their contemporaries the Allman Brothers as well as Kid Rock, Sammy Hagar and of course, 3 Doors Down, and of course current tour mate, Hank Williams Jr. It’s only fitting that the kings of modern rock music continue to shoulder on after all these years while touring with fresh-faced contenders to their crown. The resulting “Rowdy Frynds” tour has been years in the making, and is something Hank Williams Jr. is looking forward to as well. “Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr. on the stage together in the same night,” Hank Williams Jr. commented, “talk about a show! I can’t wait to see what happens in these cities!” “Hank played with Skynyrd years ago and it was one heck of a show. Since then, we’ve been looking for the opportunity to tour together,” said Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd, “because his fans are our fans, and vice versa.” Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd added, “We will be playing on Friday and Saturday nights to ensure all our ‘Rowdy Frynds’ can party with us all night long.”