Lynyrd Skynyrd Shorts Episode 38 Why is Skynyrd still so relevant 50 years later?

Good question. Why? We think we can tell you why Lynyrd Skynyrd is still talked about, listened to, loved and still one of the most popular bands in the world. Only 5 studio records over 5 years. What other band could possibly still be so relevant after 50 years? In the rock and roll hall of fame...5 albums over 5 years? Really crazy when you think about it....lets talk!

[@sherrynadolney7478]

People never get tired of hearing Lynyrd Skynyrd that can relate to the lyrics and the music that goes with along what's Ronnie singing what's Ronnie singing with the band I'm 56 and I never get tired of hearing it

[@gtrfletch]

Is that not the absolute truth! Every day when Skynyrd comes on, I turn it up! And I always will. Thanks for watching and please share!

[@edwardnulton7228]

I think it’s because Ronnie wrote songs about his real life experiences or someone in the band’s experiences and you can feel every emotion he felt while singing about his experiences. Plus almost everyone in the band was interesting. Especially Ronnie and Allen. Learning about them and stories about them just made me an even bigger fan. I always loved their music but learning about them made their music even better because now when you hear a lyric you go oh I know what he’s talking about. Ronnie is intriguing to me and Allen lead a crazy life but a sad life too. He had fun but he lost so much in a short time. The band was the perfect assembly of people to make just absolutely amazing and iconic music that you’re lucky to see once in your lifetime. They were something special and each one of them added to that iconic Lynyrd Skynyrd sound. That’s what keeps them relevant to me. Sorry such a long comment lol but they’re my favorite band lol

[@gtrfletch]

This whole episode is pretty emotional for me. Ronnie's messages, his life, his power is all overwhelming. I just wonder what would have happened if we had saved him somehow. Allen's life is a life of extreme sadness. Ronnie and Kat both gone in a few years...then the car crash. Devastating.

[@NathanSmith-xf7rk]

I’ll tell ya, great songs, great musicians, great stories 😎

[@gtrfletch]

Absolutely. And I think the diversity of the types of songs and even how they sounded sonically contributed. No Skynyrd record was the same as before..

[@BillyPruitt-y1n]

Well it’s been over 50 years and every time I hear a Skynyrd song on the radio I get that special feelin I was recently wearing a RVZ T shirt and somebody recognized it with a thumbs up….again felt good

[@gtrfletch]

EVERY SINGLE TIME! and every single time, i TURN IT UP!

[@gottadomor7438]

Ronnie Van Zant took the Southern Rock loving fans by storm. Pronounced was a love @ first listen experience. And buying & reading (over & over) gatefold album notes & lyrics & photos just - like you say - got to me, spoke to me, I identified with ALL of it HEAVILY. Then and now still. "Don't let that flag touch the ground" Ronnie once told someone in the audience holding it. All we need to know about the man and the music gravy on a perfect pot roast & potatoes. RIP RVZ, GR, AC, LW, BP, EK, SG, & BB. And t/y another LS YT.

[@gottadomor7438]

Btw born a yankee but lots of us rebels at heart.

[@jamessator5564]

I think that his lyrics are honest and to the point and every phrase makes sense in the song he was singing ! Keep up the channel guys, it’s the highlight of my week, thank you !

[@brianboyle5934]

@@gottadomor7438 Same here. Incredible how southern rock took hold of us here in Mass starting in the late sixties. Still lovin it today!

[@gtrfletch]

I think that is one of the special things is that Ronnie was not just a Southern rocker, he touched everyone everywhere. He broke out when most of the others never did. Rare quality he had to connect.

[@gtrfletch]

Thanks. We have so much fun sharing our love of our favorite band with all of you. IF you have ideas for a show, just chime in, we are listening!!!!

[@wesleysutherland-ev6ry]

Ronnie wrote songs people can relate to still today. He should be in the songwriters HoF.

[@gtrfletch]

I agree wholeheartedly. THere are only a few others who could do such a thing and I think that Merle, Willie and Waylon are in that category. Ronnie just did not have as much time....

[@Hairbear65-vx5uf]

Ronnie wrote songs for the American man about the American man, and it resonated globally.

[@gtrfletch]

and it is my belief that 100 years from now, they still will!

[@JAMESMOORE-gq4vv]

6 albums, plus LEGEND and FIRST AND LAST.

[@gtrfletch]

Ok you got me! But I thought I said "Studio Albums" and I don't count Best of Records released posthumously. Though LEGEND was pretty awesome and hit me right when I needed it!

[@JAMESMOORE-gq4vv]

@@gtrfletch I gave a brother of mine the Box set, he's a drummer and loved the demo's like FREEBIRD with no drums.

[@JAMESMOORE-gq4vv]

@@gtrfletch I believe FIRST AND LAST was out before STREET SURVIVORS.

[@gtrfletch]

@@JAMESMOORE-gq4vv Actually not. First and Last was 1978. On this youtube channel are the interviews Gary, Allen and Leon did here in Memphis to promote the record. The record does have some great stuff!

[@JAMESMOORE-gq4vv]

@@gtrfletch It was too raw for me back then, compared to PRONOUNCED, Love WINO, COMIN HOME, WAS I RIGHT OR WRONG, DOWN SOUTH JUKIN nowadays.

[@BillyPruitt-y1n]

I think because Ronnie’s lyrics & the excellent guitar work and catchy solos made them unique and still relevant today

[@gtrfletch]

I agree wholeheartedly. It was a combination. It was the secret sauce! And will still be relevant in 100 years.

[@birdgre1]

Sorry I tend to blab! 1) Just saw the current band in Michigan and they always put on a great show, they play tight, Ricky shreds. They aren't all young and a lot of aging bands can't put on that good of a show. They can pack 12,000 outdoors, mostly a bit older crowd but if the show is that good people are going to keep coming back. I'm just young enough I wasn't into music before the crash. I'm a dummy and kinda liked them in 87 when buddies got tickets to the first comeback, but I passed on that show. I wish I coulda heard them in the 70s and then in late 80s to compare to today. I've only heard them live since Billy passed. 2) This #2 isn't going down that rabbit hole of the current band's name. The current band is playing as a tribute to the original and doing a fine job of it. So there is this mystique that someone is doing a good job of keeping that ship going after the crash. I can't think of any other music act that has this crazy and sad history and that has something to do with their relevance for sure. I agree with all the other comments too as there are a bunch of reasons they are still relevant.

[@gtrfletch]

I agree totally. We always love to see the current Tribute band and love Ricky and Johnny, whom I saw when he was in the JVZ! Billy Powell was a show all by himself, so talented and always with that Beer on the piano! As you know, I heard them in 73, 74 and then the Tribute band in 87, as well as several times after that. I would say that 74 was the best as it was the Sweet Home tour and the crowd was crazy. I was 13. Their story certainly adds to their legend. Not too many other bands, other than the Stones, with this kind of history. Thanks for your thoughts!

[@googleusergp]

Why? Because there are discussion forums like this some 50+ years later, that's why. LOL. Your brother said it well and Mr. Van Zant said it himself, "I try to write songs about street people, because that's what we are....". Most of his songs have a life lesson, such as "Double Trouble" which was about him getting locked up 11 times (actually 12 by his own admission). "Preacher's Daughter" was about getting involved with a woman whose father may not have approved of a person like Mr. Van Zant. "Gimme Back My Bullets" is a bit of a pep talk song and saying, "I'm back". Yes, the "tribute band" indeed has kept things alive as it makes a new generation of fans. The was plenty of good rock music in the 1980s. AC/DC, The Who, 38 Special, Styx, Peter Gabriel, The Eagles, Stevie Nicks, and many, many others. Arena rock had taken over by then and that was the way it went. Yes, when the "Jacksonville 5+" went to Japan in 1977 they were considered a bit like the Beatles over there. I think an interesting video to do is your and your brother's backgrounds. Who you are, where you came from, what type of work you did (both musical and outside), and what not. You can get as deep or as shallow as you want to.

[@gtrfletch]

Always great to hear from you! When I talk about 80's music, I am mainly talking about how Hair bands overtook classic rock and certainly Southern Rock was pretty much dead. My brother and I have some great stories and I share many of them on my Southern Tales podcast, which had 24 episodes about 4 years ago. It is still available on all podcast venues...Maybe one day we will talk about us but even when we are together, we mostly talk about Skynryd!

[@googleusergp]

@@gtrfletch Is it available on You Tube?

[@gtrfletch]

@@googleusergp I started putting them on KZbin but got distracted. Maybe I will get around to it later...they are mostly funny adolescent stories of how stupid we were... Southern Tales got quite a bit of notice but it was just my COVID project. I have never started Season 3. BUt they are still on your favorite podcast network!

[@googleusergp]

@@gtrfletch I'm not a podcast guy, I'm a You Tube guy. There are some automotive channels that want me on their channels as guests. Maybe when I retire, I'll be a special guest on there. LOL.