Gen Z Reacts to Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird (Live)

[@elgonwilliams7624]

Officially there were 63,000 people in the crowd. And yes, there are seven members of the band on stage (three guitarists who were all capable of playing lead and often switched off their roles within a song), bass, keyboards, drums, and lead singer. They also toured with female background singers, usually three of them.

[@marcieharreld286]

There were 4 guitarists!!😉😉😉

[@dannymoore6886]

The back up singers were called the Honkettes. One of them Cassie Gaines got her brother Steven (Crawdaddy) Gaines a job as guitarist. The Gaines siblings both died in the plane crash. Crawdaddy was the last member, hired later on. I truly believe he was going to take the band to a new level. He's the only member of the band who sang lead on a song recorded prior to the plane going down. He sang on Ain't No Good Life.

[@allensanders5535]

buddy they haven't made music like this in decades. god it was great growing up in the 60s & 70s.

[@RandyTWA]

And 51 years later Free Bird is still the Rock Anthem gold standard.

[@patticriss2238]

That’s Right! Still #1.

[@richnimchuk3672]

The guy in white is Allen Collins, who wrote this at the age of 17.

[@VanGreen-c1g]

Yes sir Ronnie we still remember you...

[@terrymoss758]

The story of how the pianist, Billy Powell, was discovered is legendary. He was originally a roadie for the band. They were taking a break from recording for lunch at the famed Muscle Shoals recording studio, when he sat down at the piano and started playing. The recording engineer that stayed back was so blown away, he kicked off the tape recorder. That later became what you here on the song, and he also became the official piano player. A classically trained pianist working as a roadie.... magic!

[@WhizzingFish12]

Yep. Famous story. I got to visit both Fame and the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio where this occurred. The piano was bought by a woman who used it for years to teach piano lessons, and then when they renovated/restored the studio, they bought it back. Can you imagine learning to play piano on THAT piano? lol

[@terrymoss758]

@@WhizzingFish12 awesome!

[@5ft15jodi]

I love Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music,it takes me back in time. Tragically, while they were on tour in October of 1977, their chartered plane crashed when it ran out of fuel, and Ronnie Van Zant (lead vocals), Steve Gaines (guitar and backup vocals), and Cassie Gaines (backup vocals and Steve’s older sister), lost their lives. Their assistant road manager, the pilot and co-pilot also passed away and the rest of the band was seriously injured. It was a dark day for the music world. They have many songs if you want to travel down an interesting rabbit hole.

[@Ronald-k6s]

In 1977 I just got stationed at Mayport Florida near Jacksonville Florida a month before the Crash. I never got to see them play but years later I saw Rossington Collins Band play in Orlando along with Heart, ZZTop and Blue Oyster Cult.

[@Ozarkprepper643]

Real southern rock. Most of us in the crowd are now grandparents and or great-grandparents.lol Our group is in that crowd. 4 of us flew in my Beechcraft from Arizona too Oakland just to see then perform. Met up up with my cousins there. They weren't Showing up in Arizona quick enough. As it turned out tragedy struck not long after. Those were the days my friend. We thought they'd never end. 🤠🐂

[@thesinstreamstreams9465]

Ronnie lives on in another generation!!! I had this song played at my brothers funeral. Thank you for this beautiful reaction xoxoxo

[@VanGreen-c1g]

I'm sure you have heard "SWeet Home Alabama" and did not realize it was them. They have a deep rabbit hole of great songs... "Simple Man", Tuesday Gone (Tuesday is the name of wife/gf), Give me three steps, A really fun song they did was "Call me the Breeze", The Hunt, The Ballad of Curtis Loew, That Smell, Whats your name, and of course Sweet Home Alabama... and many more.... After the Plane crash October 1977 (about 3 months after this concert three members were killed, Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, the guitarist Steve Gaines in the white shirt and red pants and his sister back up singer Cassie Gaines. Then the group reformed in the late 80s and his brother sings lead since then and still touring today and his name is Johnnie Van Zant. Another brother Donnie Van Zant is a founding member of 38 Special... I seen LS three times before the plane crash and yeah I'm 70 years old now and I still attend concerts, in fact I seen the modern LS April of 2024 and they only play the old LS songs and still close the show with Free Bird. His brother sings at the beginning then they play a video of Ronnie singing and his brother will put Ronnies Rattle snake hat on the mic stand while the band plays the music live but play Ronnie singing it. Very moving. So if you react the more of them just make sure you pull videos recorded before 1977.... Thanks for keeping LS music alive....

[@Zeb-gb2uk]

T for Texas T for Tennessee nobody but Skynyrd could take a country song written in 1926 and turn it into a jam session 🎸🎸🎸🎹 🤘✌️❤️

[@WhizzingFish12]

Thats one of my favorite songs of theirs - the guitar work/interplay between Allen, Gary, and Steve is just astonishing. 3 Top 50 guitarists with different sounds but all supporting and handing off to each other so freakin' well.

[@michaelmcgowen8780]

This is Day On The Green 4 on 2 July 1977 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California. There is no listed attendance for that event, but the Oakland Coliseum had a capacity of 65,000 for American football. Also performing at the concert were Peter Frampton, Santana and the Outlaws.

[@freebirdtony]

Excellent commentary.

[@Steve-em1ok]

Those literally were the good old day. People seemed much kinder; they were much more tolerant, much less controlled by their ideologies. Without cell phones we could live for the moment, you'll never see that today. The rebel flag could fly in California because being somewhat of a rebel wasn't looked down on by intolerant conformists, like see today. Skynyrd was a big part of it, especially if you felt that southern rock was the best.

[@Mona.555]

You are correct!

[@stevebanner5609]

I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd 2 weeks before their plane crash at Riverfront colosseum, best concert ever. Also in one part of Free Bird the 2 lead guitarists twinned the leads!!! P. S. I think there’s close to 100,000 people there…

[@Mona.555]

Simple Man, Gimme 3 Steps, Call Me The Breeze, Sweet Home Alabama and Ballad of Curtis Loew

[@bobandrews-vo9wy]

The 70s set the gold standard for Rock n Roll. it was a great time to be young and alive. I know that for a fact since I was 20 years old at the time this was going on.

[@edb6690]

Last I recall, it was around 61,000 in attendance but it varied throughout the day since 5 bands played.

[@WhizzingFish12]

3 Top 50 guitarists in this band at the same time - Gary Rossington (long dark hair on the SG slide), Allen Collins (long blond hair tearing up the Explorer on the long lead), and Steve Gaines (goatee) on the Les Paul. Gaines plays mostly rhythm on this song because he joined the band long after Freebird was released. But he doubles Collins during part of it, and he was probably the best guitarist of all of them. And earlier Skynyrd had ANOTHER top 50 guitarist, Ed King. AND Rickey Medlocke (formed Blackfoot) was also in the band in its earliest days and although he played drums and sang (White Dove, The Seasons) for LS before he left, he was a terrific guitarist as well. Altogether, LS was up with the Yardbirds and the Allmans as far as how many great guitarists were in it.

[@Gigikelly7]

This is one of my favs. Sadly the band was in a horrific Plake crash only months later from this live event in 1977. Ronnie Van Sant the lead singer, Cassie and Steve (brother and sister) died on impact. Ronnie sang “If I die tomorrow will you remember me?” We’ve never forgotten it Ronnie

[@223shellback]

Around 60,000 people. Yea I was there, but I was 13 YO. Listen to "Tuesdays Gone" and "Simple Man".

[@RobertPerry-u5p]

I was at,called DAY on the green. 100 ft. From center stage it was the 4th or 5th encore and their was closed to 90,000 fans there.

[@jamesmontgomery9523]

You have probably heard "Sweet Home Alabama." They do it at this concert right before Free Bird. It is also on KZbin. Check it out!

[@HRConsultant_Jeff]

As you saw this was 2 lead guitarists and the "gibson" was the slide guitarist. I saw them in the early 70's when they were just starting to tour the West coast and they stole the show.

[@randyhochstein8455]

All three guitarists were playing Gibson guitars. Steve was playing a Les Paul, Gary was playing an SG, and Alan was playing an Explorer. 😎✌🏼

[@jammin_J64]

Gary's took his B string and put a G string in it's place. Therefore in order you had: E G G D A E That helped Gary play the slide on those two G strings to get a more meaty sound out of it. He also put that device under the strings next to the nut to aid in the slide sound.

[@artbagley1406]

It's the most gentle break-up song in RnR history I'd be willing to bet. However, once free, the bird jet rockets to where ever it wishes!

[@hudsonhollow]

I first saw them at Atlanta Pop in July of 1970. They and Allman Brothers played the free stage because they were new on the scene. Epic! Small crowd of appx 400,000 for that one.

[@smb60usa]

Check out “Sweet Home Alabama” from this concert and then “T for Texas, T for Tennessee” from Convention Hall Official Skynyrd concert(black and white footage). Guitarist Steve Gaines shines in those performances. Steve, his sister Cassie(backup vocalist), and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant were the 3 members killed in the plane crash. Cassie would not get on the plane that day and pretty much had to be dragged on the plane by other members. Very sad.

[@sharonpate5481]

Back in those days there were a lot of music festivals and tickets were cheap for these amazing musicians 💙👵🏼☮️ and most of us were high 😜

[@dawncapps5172]

Allen Collins plays the iconic solo at the end. He wrote Freebird when he was still a teenager. He was my first rock star crush. 😍😍

[@znorman63]

When you could put 60.000 people together and they got along fine.Try that today.

[@Sohum]

a different world now :(

[@gk5891]

Are you sure you haven't heard "Sweet Home Alabama"? It's been in so many movies that it seems difficult to avoid.

[@raulhavana5448]

That Smell is the ultimate guitar solo jam song.

[@joyous-b8j]

I'm so Happy I saw LYNYRD SKYNYRD and the ROSSINGTON COLLINS BAND!!! 🐐🎸🔥😍😁😢😢😢😢😢😢 RIP LYNYRD SKYNYRD

[@freebirdtony]

You've been blessed.

[@randyhochstein8455]

I believe that there were 10 band members at this point. Ronnie VanZandt on lead vocals, Artimus Pyle on drums, Billy Powell playing piano, Leon Wilkinson on bass, Steve Gains, Gary Rossington, and Alan Collins on guitars, and Leslie Hawkins, JoJo Billingsly, and Cassie Gains on backing vocals. ✌🏼😎🇺🇸

[@Zeb-gb2uk]

Look women that aint full of tattoos and piercings how wonderful 😍

[@PeterRogers-e7u]

Amen, amen. If we could only go back to these times.

[@debbers]

Hey Sohum, This is my first time sitting in with you today and I want to thank you for allowing me to do that! I enjoyed the time I spent with you so I subscribed and left a like for you while I was here. I also enjoyed your comments during the song! I am watching you from the Great Lake State of Michigan! I want to wish you the best of luck with your channel! I almost laughed when they played the first little guitar solo and thought to myself, "you haven't seen anything yet" Ha!Ha!Ha! A sea of bouncing braless women/girls! I think there are at the very least 100,000 people there! All of these girls are now Grandmas and Great Grandmas!

[@freebirdtony]

I'm sure that you've heard another Lynyrd Skynyrd staple in "Sweet Home Alabama"

[@kenoconnell4440]

I was there that day and Skynyrd wasn’t even headlining It was The Outlaws Santana Skynyrd and Peter Frampton at height of Frampton comes alive Sadly 3 months later the Free Bird went down Still my favorite band

[@mikeford6642]

Saw them in Kentucky while on leave from the Marines..been my favorites ever since...you should give a listen to Molly hatchet..another great bNd from the south

[@mauriceholder1386]

Sadly only Artemis Pyle the drummer, is the only person on that stage who is still alive.

[@DarrellFanning-bx7xz]

Thing that's a bummer, this was my generation so all those beautiful young people you see are all grannies and grandpa's now

[@solonwilliams8349]

Remember what they said back in the fifties rock and roll will never die

[@MessickGreg]

I'm 65 and Always enjoy Skynyrd and your reactions thank you

[@anitawright7169]

This was in Oakland at the Oakland Coliseum. The Oakland A's baseball team played there as did The Oakland Raiders football team. Love them so very much and also this iconic song! Love your reaction!

[@athenasbodyathenasbody1634]

Give "Simple Man" a try. Beautiful song and message.

[@bruceglazer3581]

I was fortunate enough to see the original Skynyrd, with Ed King and Robert Burns, twice. This band version really didn't miss a beat though from the original. You really had to be there for the energy of the crescendo of this song. Rock and Roll at it's finest.

[@Danandrea919]

Subbed! Excellent choice, Joe! 😊

[@Danandrea919]

I turned 60 this year, and I am not exaggerating when I say my soul knows EVERY SINGLE NOTE of this song, every word, every drum hit... 😊 It is a part of my eternal soul!

[@allensanders5535]

Oakland Coliseum seating capacity is 63,000 seats, the seats are clearly full it does not count the field most of those people are standing on the field i would say in the neighborhood of 80,000 - 90,000 there.

[@Indo1030]

Gary Rossington-playing slide here Allen Collins-solo here Steve Gaines-rhythm -3 of the most underrated guitar players EVER. You never see their names on TOP GUITARISTS lists… It’s egregious Artemis Pyle-drums Leon Wilkeson-bass (also very underrated) Billy Powell-piano And, of course, Ronnie Van Zandt-with those amazing vocals Next-RUSH-Xanadu Live from 1981 BUT-before you react to it, Google and read the poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge entitled KHUBLA KHAN Peart based the song on this poem … You won’t be disappointed!

[@Zeb-gb2uk]

Actually Steve mirrors Allen during solo the guy was a beast

[@Tuesdays_Gone]

They were the best. I’m sure you’ve heard SWEET HOME ALABAMA. That’s their song.

[@stevedockeray]

You may also like Xanadu Live by Rush from the 1981 exit stage left tour in Montreal

[@marthayoung2308]

Deep dive on them is a GIFT!!! Lol. So many great songs. Please react to "Call Me the Breeze"? I think you might like it. Thank you for this one. 😊

[@carlop.7182]

how many players ?: vocalist, 1 drum, 1 bass, 1 piano & 3 guitars, so 7 members total (pretty unusual number).

[@MikeOstrowski-iq8wf]

25 or 6 to 4 & FreeBird in the same day !!! 🎸🔥❤️

[@cferguson37]

......when the Freebird solo kicks in........

[@stevenseul361]

Hey Buddy This was going to be another request from me but you got it... I hope you enjoy. The request I offered about with big donation that is southern rock. I'm glad you watched this. Next check out "Sweet Home Alabama"

[@timgard7091]

5 Alubums not a bad song,SEARCHING, on the hunt, That Smell❤🎉😂

[@stevedockeray]

Simple Man as a Skynyrd classic .

[@tomheglund6994]

Also stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin live at Madison Square Garden 1973 that’s guitar solo

[@timgard7091]

Back in the 70s Skynard was Bad ass band, most off the girls were there to see pretty Boy Peter Frampton ❤😂🎉😢😮

[@concordia697]

🎄Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!🎄 A wonderful christmas song - Diana Ankudinova & Brandon Stone (piano) - What a Wonderful World (the best cover of a wonderful song by the legend Louis Armstrong). Diana Ankudinova - Queen of Goosebumps - Diana received such a title for her extraordinary unique voice.

[@seamus2112ophelan]

Mr Sohum, check out the studio version of 'That Smell'. It was a cautionary warning from the singer to other band members about their excessive drug use, set to song. And then after that I recommended 'I Know A Little' & 'The Ballad Of Curtis Loew' That's a good little primer right there.

[@lewisengr]

3 to 4 times what you guessed.

[@glpf5]

So you said "any" music so..I'd highly recommend reacting to Mistreated by Rainbow from the Live in Munich '77 show as well as Run of the Mill by Judas Priest; really, really early song and very melancholy with the backdrop of getting old..so good. Thanks for the video, I love watching your journey!

[@ricktesterman381]

T for Texas knebworth 1976

[@usertr13phinsup]

All Lynard Skynard FIRE

[@ronsharkey2330]

Sweet home Alabama

[@nikosalmpanis-ty3jt]

The south will rise again🤘

[@JustBuck24]

Would really like your reaction to Rolling Stones - Sympathy for the Devil.

[@annehenson6419]

Absolutely

[@razor75250]

STOP PAUSING THE DAMN SOLO!!! JUST LET THEM JAM AND ENJOY THE AWESOMENESS!!!

[@lindalou6105]

Things Going On is a great song too

[@michaelklassen9486]

Like following you,but we're all broke up here in Canada.

[@jeremycouch548]

Old gray whistle test lynyrd skynyrd 1975

[@timgard7091]

1 of there great songs, 5 alubums Knebworth England, backing up the Stones, learn about it, American Made,❤

[@timfincher4978]

Diar Straits Alchemy live Sultans of swing !

[@bharre]

Here’s another great live performance called Gimme Three Steps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXu9o4uegqd6Z6csi=pAmG5d77p6qmaZYT

[@donnastupka7507]

🎸🔥🎸🔥🎸

[@BlackGuardXIII]

I don’t know how many, but I’d say at least double the 15,000 number.

[@MaRoach7]

WHAT??? You've never heard Sweet Home Alabama

[@claranielsen3382]

That was more like 50 or 60 thousand.😂😂

[@bharre]

Tuesday’s Gone is another great song they sing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWjTY6KdnsiGZ7csi=34yTmEMeobA2_aBW

[@timfincher4978]

The best ever and tickets were 11 dollars

[@riohamilton6358]

Probably around 50,000

[@dinodinops9773]

Crowd was estimated between 54-55,000

[@lindalou6105]

Listen to Simple Man and Tuesday's Gone

[@rocknroy58]

You should not pause on any guitar solo in any song if at all possible. Just a friendly suggestion for your channel.

[@allensanders5535]

they have a LONG list of hits just pick one.

[@grahamreed8774]

Thought you might do this after the Chicago 25 or 6 to 4 reaction, but the guitar solo here (not the slide section), for me, is far too repetitive and not so dynamic as the Chicago one. Anyway- both from the most fabulous time in music 1967 to 1974. It died after that. Oakland Sodium 63,000.

[@garlandtennyson130]

Feel the song don't be so cerebral!!!

[@Sohum]

you're right!

[@JohnRoop-y9p]

Too much pausing and talking during solo😊

[@dalatina911]

Idk if you’ll see this, but PLEASE react to Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits live, here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/boHEaqtvm791qrssi=PmANk79ThRMCEdJD I promise you won’t be disappointed!!

[@solonwilliams8349]

You know they were in a plane crash the next day after this concert the next album or the album they were making will show them on fire that was a tribute to the end of Lynyrd Skynyrd although the group kept on it just wasn't the same without the real people

[@danieldonohue8725]

63.00/

[@seamus2112ophelan]

This was our class song. Chesapeake High School 1981