Free Bird - The Charlie Daniels Band & Lynyrd Skynyrd - Volunteer Jam V

Members of the CDB and Lynyrd Skynyrd perform an instrumental of the Skynyrd anthem, "Free Bird" at Volunteer Jam V at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN on January 13, 1979. The Jam was the first time the surviving members of Skynyrd had performed together since before the tragic crash that claimed the lives of both pilots, guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister (and Honkette) Cassie, roadie Dean Kilpatrick and lead singer, and dear friend of Charlie's, Ronnie Van Zant.

[@johnny-r]

This is one of the most important and emotional performances in the history of rock. Thank God it's preserved.

[@georgemartin7717]

Extremely well put👍!

[@NathanSmith-xf7rk]

So so right 👍 this is history

[@ronbertka7023]

I cried today. This is the part of getting old that sucks.

[@kathygerulaitis]

I was born in North Carolina in Wilmington....where Charlie was born...and spent most of my life in the state below it, South Carolina

[@kathygerulaitis]

And, yes, I live in New Zealand now....have for 24 years in September....came here building fiberglass boats in 1996

[@jbielaski]

I did too Ron, what a heart felt moment.

[@gagator859]

I saw this after my mom died in October of 2020 and I don't know why, but it reminds me of her everytime I hear it. As a man, I don't cry a lot, but this version of Freebird almost always brings me to tears or the brink of tears. Not afraid or ashamed to say it either

[@kathyrais574]

@@gagator859 so sorry abt your mom, my mom died Aug 8, 1977, then plane crash 2 mos later. I have always thought of the two together.

[@justsue2530]

For all us old skynyrd fan's still alive out there. Hope you enjoy.

[@BullseyeForever24]

Susan Ford What am awesome video that was !

[@davidterry1513]

Susan Ford Thank you for posting this I remember it very well,and I hate to admit it bit your are right us old skynryd fans.

[@robertgarrett3683]

I seen The Rossington Collins Band in Orlado Florida at The Tangerine Bowl in 1980 first time they performed out live with Dale Krantz ! Johnny VanZant Band opened the show !

[@philrodriguez704]

always do they so changed my life with their music.........

[@tommymaxfield4216]

I am in that group and this shit is pretty cool

[@97warlock]

You can tell Gary is Feeling it, he isnt playing to perform for the audience as much as he is self morning I believe. Watch his eyes. He is Feeling that guitar sound in his soul.

[@BJazz19]

RIP Billy, Ronnie, Stevie, Cassie and now Charlie.

[@lmb1962]

An era gone by, never to return again. Thank you, God, for putting me on this earth when You did.

[@dennisperin2989]

You forgot Bob Burns, Artimus ,Ed King., Allen C,...But Yes RIP ALL...

[@Care960]

Leon Wilkinson is gone also

[@claytencosten7805]

And Allen

[@brennanwright1887]

@@dennisperin2989 artimus is alive

[@QuesoSlushy]

It is freaky, not having Van Zant there to sing. It's beautiful, too, in a way. A perfect tribute to the heritage of southern rock we all love. Thank you.

[@andyford8359]

Ronnie and skynyrd had no better friend than Charlie! RIP Charlie!

[@derail6996]

Today Charlie is a Free Bird with Ronnie! RIP Charlie!!!

[@joekane3585]

RIP Charlie you will be missed God bless you and see you at the top

[@johnnynbk]

@SouthVA 757 I'd love to have seen Allen play

[@bertram_oredrock]

May God Bless Charlie and Ronnie.

[@juangomez-mo6wl]

🙏 Amen

[@ElzevereBlock]

...and we still appreciate both don't we?"

[@JohnnyB-vq4vf]

😔😥...God bless Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ronnie, Cassie, Steve, Dean, Allen, Leon, Billy, JoJo, Bob, n Ed 💔⭐️🦅🎸🎤

[@SQUIRRELGUY3ybENrT]

Larry junstorm R.I.P

[@logansmith3143]

7:35 that's two brothers grieving for their lost brothers. Long lyve lynyrd skynyrd!!!! Best in the world!

[@derrlllrhodes3143]

1gki i play that video every. Mornaug 21 1976 thats the bestthey ever played no mistakes they tore freebird up it. Always brings tears to my eyesi guess god wanted the best he got em. Still miss yall later

[@glennkemp6565]

Best in the world. Yup.

[@williamlewiswebdevelopment6624]

Six of us traveled two days in a rented mobile home for this concert. We waited for hours in line to be able to stand in front of stage.There I was a young man of twenty-two totally in awe as I watched this performance..

[@johnkarcher2321]

Rest easy, Gary Rossington. Thanks for the epic music

[@richardlovett4958]

This is the first time I’ve heard free bird without Ronnie. Beautiful and sad, like a whole in your gut

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

RIP Charlie and all of the members of Skynyrd who passed, God Bless all of you! 🙏

[@concravens5515]

I will never get tired of Lynyrd Skynyrd!! Fly on Free Bird RIP!!! To all the members in Rock-n-Roll Heaven....

[@totc6196]

I can’t imagine the courage it took for them to get up there and perform freebird so soon boys were determined respect.

[@bhsoutdoors1328]

I love how energetic Allen was when he played free bird it sucked that he couldn’t play in the tribute tour in ‘87

[@dpd2k105]

Would been so cool for have Allen playing with Gary and Ed on the tribute tour

[@reneeschwartzman9180]

I was extremely lucky to have seen them 2 days before the crash, in Hollywood Florida,October, 1977. Best concert ever, and I've seen many. It felt like someone ripped a big chunk of my soul, that fateful day the music died. Thanks to youtube, Skynyrd's music will live on and on!

[@zolemica]

+Renee Schwartzman I was also there--great concert. But I will never understand why they didn't have it in a larger venue like the Baseball Stadium. RIP, Ronnie, Cassie, and Steve...

[@diegozoramirez3805]

you have any audio from that night?

[@brianfarkas9941]

I was there it was my 18th birthday i know how you feel!

[@TheGator460]

I was at that show!!!

[@graydendough6356]

I was 12 went with some older boys from across the street. General Admission show.

[@larryrobinson1954]

Yeah. I cried to, And every time I play it. THERE MUSIC WILL NEVER. DIE!

[@jamesgaddis29]

Man it brings tears to my eyes these guys was my weekend running the roads going to concerts never again will there be times like this

[@gunsknives5395]

This still gives me chills. I was in Nashville listening to VJ-V on the radio live. We had no idea this was going to happen. We had some guys from Jacksonville with us and when LS came on, we ran outside and turned on all the radios in our cars and listened to Free Bird as loud as it would go. Once in a lifetime event.

[@dougharris8328]

Southern Rock lives on forever

[@rexbernard2805]

It's cool to see Allen Collins doing what he does best... Such a short and tragic life for him

[@totc6196]

The good guys always go young. He was lightning in a bottle.

[@aubreybaker8553]

If this don't make you cry nothing will. Stuff like this recognizes the ones that are no longer here. And you don't just stop. You carry on and pay tribute at the appropriate time. Channel their spirit through the performance and move it on and rock it baby!

[@mikeknight9885]

Allen Collins was such a beast on guitar. My favorite LS is the Gimmie back my bullets album where it's just Rossington and Collins on guitars. The whole band was great but those two were what drove the musical side of things within the band.

[@fullthrottlejeffry]

What?

[@MrPorsche91730]

@@fullthrottlejeffry I hope English isnt your first language

[@bobjohnson3452]

ed and steve both gave a ton as well

[@brianharrison8258]

Im cryin ... what a great performance !

[@jonclary8466]

Saw this years ago. Played tonight for our cat Mongo. He would call out as you walk by and roll over to submit to any love you got! Purr the second you step to him! Let's all pray and hope we can find people like this. Thank you Lynryd Skynyrd! You taught me some lessons!

[@dennisperin2989]

Man if that doesn’t stand the hair up on your arms, not sure i can help you..Wow! RIP ALL.....

[@NathanSmith-xf7rk]

That’s right 🤘

[@jimreal3840]

Seeing Allen play like that....chills...

[@crynsky]

I remember seeing this years ago and have kept looking for it so thank you. The most haunting version of this great song ever. You know every band remembers hearing this in Hell House and hearing Ronnie deliver it home. God I miss those days.

[@Dm3os1]

I cried. Respect

[@LIE11Bldg7]

THIS IS WHY IT'S CALLED .........J A M !!!! Because that's a jam right there that's a real Jam that's what Jammin's all about

[@margaretricher4474]

Seen this video many times. It still brings tears to my each time./

[@williamfenton8043]

Billie Powell rreally nailed the piano

[@williamfenton8043]

Saw them when they first started touring 1st summer they opened for Charlie next summer Charlie opened for them .that's how fast they grew .

[@stephendallison1465]

God bless from england. Love Billy's piano playing

[@johnskorupa1364]

Just imagine the next Volunteer Jam in Heaven.

[@phillight352]

They were hurting more ways than one but I think playing live in front of people helped them.

[@darracooper7937]

Just looking at Gary you can tell that as he was playing that he was missing his band mates. When they finished I thought Gary was about to cry when he stated don't know what to say to the audience.

[@kathyrais574]

@@darracooper7937 me too. From what I have read, obviously they all took it hard but Ronnie, Gary, Allen were the original 3 along with Bob Burns & Larry Junstrom. Ronnie was like a father, a brother, mentor to them. Allen looked in physical pain at 1st, either that or was grimacing tryin to hold back the tears. They lived with the physical & emotiinal pain & survivors guilt, Gary still does. I didn't see Leon play, had arm in a sling, I know he had severe nerve damage & held his bass almost vertical, only way he could play. Miss these guys so much!. Gary just had another emergency heart surgery so wish him well.

[@darracooper7937]

I get chills every time I watch this. IMO this is better than the 1987 version.

[@johnq.customer8027]

Beautiful. Just beautiful. Peace.🙂

[@minirafa]

The best performance of this song. Forget that some notes are off, or there are some timing issues here and there. The emotion that permeates this version is what makes it special. This should have been the end. Dignified.

[@matthewgarrison2618]

No words. Just WOW !

[@jackif60]

AWESOME! THANK YOU FOR SHARING!

[@AlJohnsGuitar]

And now Charlie Daniels. RIP

[@charlieharbin2883]

The first concert I ever went to was skynard at the age of 14 in 1974. After that I saw any southern rock band that got near me in SC. Including Skynards last show in Greenville. No better groups than all of those from back then.

[@austinkturner]

RIP CHARLIE DANIELS!

[@p.g.8138]

Freebird was written without piano music before Billy joined the band. He added so much to the song with his piano. He told the group he had written a piano part before they asked him to join the band when he was still a rodie. If I get a dying wish it would be to hear Allen play the Freebird solo one more time.

[@SeanGuerrero-i6o]

OMG so weird not seeing Ronnie steve cassie this had to be so hard for gary Allen artimus u can see they where holding back tears but did it love u guys fly high free birds 😢🤘🍺😭

[@williamfenton8043]

All beauty thank you Gary

[@williamfenton8043]

So incredible Charlie just kicks ass RIP RIP saw one of your last shows in yarmouth ma

[@BrotherWells]

may Charlie Daniels rest in peace

[@lesrobinson3151]

That was good to see thanks for posting this

[@joehartman9045]

Never be forgotten

[@johndunham2237]

My all time favorite

[@danielmiller210]

Hard to watch without tearing up for sure😢

[@MrUSSAM]

That band that's waiting up there is getting better and better,won't be long, rest easy & rock hard free birds,til then.

[@jamespayne7753]

Introduction by Gary Rossington the only original member still playing

[@davidjensen6002]

And still alive

[@SusanKayDaniels]

Amazing concert. Thanks!

[@anderson95594]

RIP Gary Rossington, Fly High Free Bird

[@katrinamurphy1073]

This was beautiful. Thanks for sharing this.

[@mkl62]

I saw The Charlie Daniels Band for the first time in February 1987 at The Scope in Norfolk, VA. Gary Morris opened. The second time was May 25 (Memorial Day) at the Busch Gardens Amusement Park in Williamsburg. Crystal Gayle opened. The third at The Boathouse in Norfolk in January 30, 1988. Long Shot, a Southern Rock tribute band from Virginia Beach, opened.

[@robertcaplan118]

I started to tear up 10 seconds in!

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

Those first couple piano notes do it to me every time.

[@jonswenk8073]

Greatness !! R.I.P. CHARLIE !!

[@MrHurley1200]

Always a favorite!

[@richardstump4582]

What A Fantastic !! Song, I love the Lyrics! And Also the Music! Love those Guys and What they Do! Great Stuff, Will See Ya!

[@jaxflfreebird]

Much better quality on this upload that the other one I was just looking at. Same song, same date, but way better quality.

[@jaxflfreebird]

It's a wonder Allen could even still play after what happened to one of his arms. He had a one foot scar on one of his arms. He had a piece of metal in his arm from the plane crash. The hemovac machine, a tube, got clogged up and Allen's injured arm swelled up like a grapefruit. They had to take a skin graft from his leg I guess for cosmetic purposes. You can see part of the bad scar on the black This Is The Way, Rossington Collins Band album. Allen never played as well as he had after the plane crash. The man lost a little dexterity and speed. Shit, his whole adult life was about loss. Rest in Peace Allen.

[@skidvicious411]

jaxflfreebird Dedicated player up until the car crash. Can't imagine his mental state after all he endured. Poor guy.

[@greglapointe1311]

He had a rough road, starting with that plane crash. A few years later he was in a bad car accident, ended up in a wheelchair and eventually died from MS or some other disease, not sure. Definitely a tragic figure. I saw them in May of '77, Collins was so full of energy, sprinting and jumping around the stage.

[@tiffanytomlinson1917]

I question wheather him not playing the same was mental not physical. I know the demons that come hand in hand with fame grew for him after the crash and are what led to his car crash.

[@diegozoramirez3805]

jaxflfreebird think about it like this, the best people, musicians everything goes out while theyre young. he wasnt mean to be here as long as some of us, just long enough to leave his mark on the world and music

[@mikerobinson938]

Pneumonia due to his disease

[@contour157]

Nashville radio carried Vol Jams live from #4 up.. I heard some of this on radio.. finally saw it on pbs.. As usual for the 70's the 115 year old sound techs were only interested in piano and drums .. I knew Gary and Allen were talented but I had no idea they could get drum and piano sounds out of their guitars.. at least it didnt suffer from video-stupidity like most shows that focused on the stage and the guitarists. until a great solo came up.. and you could almost bet your house on it.. as soon as the guitarist started to wail on a solo... THEY'D SHOW THE DRUMMER OR THE CROWD ... 99.999% OF THE TIME

[@darrellbarber5417]

Wow I was there my first volunteer jam seeing the surviving band members was moving to say the least much as I like medlocke he's not Allen Collins old song is true if there's a rock and roll heaven you know they got a helluva band !

[@BrotherWells]

Love the passion Allen always had when he performed. The music took over him and I see the same a bit in Ricky when he does the solos for Freebird now. Even when Ricky does the solos, to me at least, his facial expressions make him somewhat look like Allen and its as if Allen has overtaken him and is playing the solo through Ricky. Hearing solos that Alan does, man, for the time they were done in, they top anything that is out there today, but that is my opinion. Some say he may not be such a great player, but even if that were true, his passion is something that cannot be denied

[@debrawardlaw4558]

Nothing compares to Oakland and Knebworth Collins and Gaines solo....I don't understand how it could have gotten any better unless King had jumped on that too. Perfection. My opinion. This was a BEAUTOFUL TRIBUTE to their lost comrades, still hurts.

[@BrotherWells]

@@debrawardlaw4558 agreed. even when I still watch this today, you can feel the utter loss and sadness and even hear them in the notes from Gary

[@TonyBarr99]

I was there! On the floor, standing as close to the floor as we could get. This was an emotional performance, that no one (not me anyway!) was expecting. I'm so happy to find this on youtube.

[@dondunton3031]

American Southern History RIP You were wrong Artie, we were yelling for SKYNYND.. ALL of you boys. Still are.

[@SRQRay]

TURN IT UP!!

[@thomasziegler719]

ive seen them several times. unfortunately I missed Ronnie. i was planning to see them in November 1977 in new haven. but in the meantime we all know what happened. sad time in rock history. to me this is the classic rock song bar none!

[@paulstensland1743]

me 2 ,I still have my ticket,,seen them at the bushnell,and providence

[@dancanright3097]

I had tickets to see them on Oct 28th in Columbus, Oh. 8 days too late. :-(

[@wayneboswell9174]

Wonder where Allen's Gibson Explorer was ? Great solo ! RIP Legend

[@rodneyyoung8185]

I was there! Chills went through, we didn't even know they were Coming out. The final band--They said you know the words---sing it--no one could remember guess we had too many drinks and other stuff LOL

[@curtislowe2775]

What a religious experience for you! Carpe diem!

[@aprilgosa7240]

+Rodney Young Maybe emotion was too high?

[@rodneyyoung8185]

+april gosa Yes they were

[@rodneyyoung8185]

+Rodney Young Chills

[@rodneyyoung8185]

+april gosa Ronny's hat was on stage and the lights shown on it and that when we knew Skynyrd was coming out un believable experience

[@curtislowe2775]

I never saw the original lineup but did have my ticket for a concert before the crash and unfortunately I don't know what happened to that ticket. Later...about 3 years later I saw RCB at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium I think in 1980. I do remember they played Freebird and the power went out...and Billy slammed his fists on the piano and I think Gary said...someone is sending us a message....good night. It was powerful for this teenage Skynryd fan. Is there anybody out there that was at this concert?????

[@redmoon8888]

Saw them twice in 76 .. At RFK Stadium .. and at Cap Centre exactly one year before crash .. You knew when they hit the Stage .. It was a Party ..

[@diegozoramirez3805]

do either of you guys have any sort of footage of either of those concerts yall mentioned??

[@ixlr8677]

1 of ur good buddys stole it.

[@elinino5275]

❤️❤️🙏🙏

[@garys8415]

🕊

[@larryrobinson1954]

Charlie and Ronnie up there smoking a big fat doobie on the riverbank fishing poles in hand GOD BLESS THEM BOYS

[@joshrylee7224]

Billy Powell will Always be the man

[@krisscanlon4051]

Allen and Gary are like supernatural in their combination...Stones have it maybe Allmans and Aerosmith but not like those two you see...wow

[@anamnesis9594]

I was at this show ✌️😎

[@jcksnghst]

Awesome!!

[@glynisneal2971]

Awesome

[@BassPlyr23]

The last time Allen played the solo with Lynyrd Skynyrd… 😥

[@williamfenton8043]

RIP C D

[@brettlowden1222]

This is Great I just wish they would have turned Allen's guitar amp up a little more

[@patrickfrancis12]

Would give anything to have gone to Volunteer jam and see Marshall tucker +skynyrd

[@countrymusicbydode9280]

Gods chosen band

[@rexfelton2312]

Skynyrd just got lucky, an executive suit ar MCA Records happened to run across Home Sweet Alabama almost 2 years after the 2nd LP was released. The rest is history since Lynyrd Skynyrd was on all of the AM Radios in America. Plus somehow Skynyrd got to open for The Who tour of America. The played 30 minutes with Freebird, Sweet Home Alabama, and several others. So Skynyrd got to escape their return into the Southern circuit after 2 LPs and beca.e HITS.

[@davidrichards9571]

Say what you want but Rickey Medlock ain't have the guitar player Allen Collins was

[@victoriajeffrey9175]

David Richards agreed. No one plays Freebird as well as Allen Collins. They aint the band they used to be. Bit of a parody now. I saw them live in 74, 75 and 76. Great band

[@davidrichards9571]

Wow that is cool I have only seen the real Skynyrd in video

[@annaleonardi6299]

David Richards both great but different God bless you

[@diegozoramirez3805]

you may not know how to spell but at least you do know who does this band more justice

[@claytonmartin9738]

David Richards man plays every lick kus like Allan he study his music lick for lick no hes no allan but theres nobody out there that can even come close like ricky

[@gottadomor7438]

13:10: Yes sir.

[@gayemcphelan4895]

Fly high free birds!?

[@amoruzz]

👍👍

[@Jp-hv9zj]

Love it and without RVZ it is very haunting

[@davehange8019]

I didn't see the origanal band. Seen the band 15 times in concert since 1987.

[@josephoneill2957]

Kingsman....

[@jrmasson222]

I believe I saw them in concert during the Monsters of rock tour/day on the green number ? the promoter was ? (another tragically deceases guy) and I did not puke that day. That last part I am sure of.

[@scroungyredneck936]

If it ain't got Ronnie it ain't Lynyrd Skynyrd. Period.

[@brucerockwell5276]

What can you say the best

[@J0HNJ0RDAN]

Turn it up..