Lynyrd Skynyrd *The Guitarists Who Wrote the Music* (Rossington Collins King Gaines)

[@dougpeters1625]

i’m so fortunate I got to see them with Steve Gaines a few months before tragedy struck. they were ridiculously good. they were getting ready to take it to the next level. Oh man, what could have been… they were showing no signs of resting on their laurels. I’m so grateful for the legacy they left us mere mortals!

[@RiverDocs]

I never got to see them with Gaines. I did see them in 74 and then saw the tribute tour in 88 I believe. Both were great shows! Thanks for watching!

[@glennh.2573]

That's cool. I was going to see them twice with Steve, but unfortunately in 76 somebody got in accident and I'm not mentioning names and then in 77 I had a ticket for Baton Rouge. October 20,1977 was one of the worst days in rock and roll history. But they did leave a legacy... That will live on way past my time.🎤🎸🥁🎤🎸🥁🎤🎸🥁🎤🎸🥁🎤🎸🥁🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃💯

[@matthewbrandon931]

The music they played with Ed King is some of the best music the band ever played.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

While Steve Gaines was overall the most talented of all 4 guitarists ( partly because he could sing very well too, even as a front man )...........Ed King was without a doubt the trickiest & hardest to copy his original guitar parts & solo's. I say this because after Ed left & Steve joined the band, NONE of them, not even Steve, could get the solo to Sweet Home Alabama right. Only Ed could play that solo the way he wrote, recorded, and performed it. Another example of just how slick & tricky Ed King's guitar playing was, I challenge ANY guitarist to first listen VERY closely to Ed's guitar parts all throughout "Working for MCA" including his solo, because unless ya listen very carefully, it's easy to miss just how insanely difficult & slick Ed's guitar parts were in that tune..........and then try to play it exactly like Ed did. I've only ever seen 1 guitarist ( no big name ) who actually pulled it off, and he told everyone it was almost impossible & took tons of hard work to finally get it right. But as far as guitarists go in this iconic band, it was none other than Allen Collins who was the true backbone of the Skynyrd sound..........without Allen Collins, those sounds would've never gotten out to the world. Sure, his parts in all of those songs aren't "that difficult".......but he invented those riffs. Gary too, but not nearly as much as Allen. Lastly, as a lifelong guitarist & singer myself, I can honestly say that 3 guitars within the same band is quite difficult........writing & performing all of those parts without stepping on each other's toes. ......and the result was they really complemented each other. With most bands, 3 guitarists at the same time is almost always a failure. But all 4 of these cats who were in the Skynyrd band were the masters of 3 guitars. One last thing though: Had it not been for that horrible plane crash, I'm convinced that Steve Gaines was bringing a whole new angle to the band & would've propelled them to all new heights. What a damned shame.

[@onazram1]

I agree, Ed King made the sound.

[@warmonger8799]

AWESOMENESS

[@jimwhitaker4254]

I sunk my teeth into southern rock July 2nd, 1976, Dayton, Ohio Hara Arena. I was 6 feet from the stage, rocknroll was never the same. I was 15 when that show was over, I couldn't get over it! The Outlaws opened up with another band called Stars. This was 5 days before they recorded their double live One More from the Road. Every time I listen to my collection, I'm 6 ft from the stage all over again. If I had known, then what I know now. I would have never let Joanne go! Always in my heart and soul. I saw Skynyrd again 6 weeks before the plane crash and 14 shows since 1988 when they hit the road again! Thank you, Skynyrd! 🙏

[@RiverDocs]

I totally understand how you feel! Thanks for sharing!

[@plantfeeder6677]

I agree with your statement about the four being outstanding rhythm guitarists. Anyone who has ever played in a band that covered LS tunes can attest, their rhythm tracks were some of the most intricate and finest rhythm tracks in rock history. Great vid Doc. Circle the bases on this one.

[@RiverDocs]

Thanks Plant. Appreciate it!

[@NJDEVILz86]

Name another band that shared leads without ego

[@darkarcher22miller44]

Allen was by far the best rhythm creator and player.

[@allencollins6031]

Thanks for remembering Ronnie's mules. -- Chris, NY

[@grahamsmall1250]

Allen Collins was an amazing songwriter. I salute you sir

[@ferdberfle5069]

Another winner RD! I popped over and listened to All My Friends, I'd never heard it before. Thanks for that! These 4 guys could have been top players in any band, but they kept the wealth in Skynyrd where it belonged.

[@RiverDocs]

Yea that is a good song. Thanks for checking it out Ferd!

[@kortt]

Great look into these excellent musicians . Thanks for all you do!

[@RiverDocs]

Thanks Kortt, I really appreciate that!

[@jimholmes341]

Skynyrd was always on my turntable!!Allen,Gary,Ed were amazing and when Steve came along WOW what a guitar player, Thanks Doc this is great content, still listening to Skynyrd and always will.

[@RiverDocs]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@Davan1331-x1p]

Ed King did not get the recognition that he deserved. Ronnie went to him for info since he had a degree in music

[@AnonYmous-jp8uu]

One More From The Road was a mainstay in my younger days . I was living in McCOmb mS when they crashed near my friend's woods in Gillsburg area. Yep

[@RiverDocs]

Great Album!!!

[@bill2527]

Love them all and who knows what the next few albums would have been like with Steve just awesome I'm sure. Allen was always my favorite though.

[@Heather-r2n]

Thank you so much for posting this beautiful documentary! All the birds are free now!❤❤❤

[@orno8906]

awesome video and great perspective on Skynyrd! Love all your stuff, keep rockin!

[@Ryan-Hall]

DOC, My favorite BAND that we framed our Band on Skynyrd, 3 GUITARS and was a Dream come true Recording in Muscle Shoals Sound and I got chill bumps as I walked through during breaks and seen the very first board that SKYNYRD recorded on. Yes you are right, no Other person writes Song's live Ronnie wrote and the magic of the 3 Guitarist together was amazing!! TY brother🙏for keeping the Band Alive & for being the greatness commentary's on the Internet!! 🤘✌️🎸🙏🤠

[@RiverDocs]

Thank you Ryan. I do appreciate it. Hope you and your momma are doing good. Take care!

[@doctordetroit4339]

I love the triple axe attack in southern rock bands......Molly Hatchett, .38 Special if you count Donnie, and so forth.

[@RiverDocs]

Yea...me too!!

[@orno8906]

friend of mine used to play in the touring band for Hatchet, not sure timeframe.

[@marcelosalusky990]

Don't forget Outlaws and Black Oak Arkansas.

[@rickhancock3398]

Ed king is one of my working guitarist son’s top influences. I can hear it coming through in every tune he writes. He and his musical brother Henry Cruz started and have written several tunes individually and together with Henry being the most prolific. They are getting close to 40 songs now and have enough solid material for 4 complete albums. Chexk em out on Spot, IG and YT music. Henry Cruz Band.

[@papadavewatson]

Donnie LOL! He's lucky to have that last name.

[@boe4448]

RD, Yet another great job brining the many talents of these musicians to forefront. So much talent! So much talent and what a sound they produced. Sadly I never got to see the band live. Every time I play the G & P album I get chills and smile on my face. Simple man is a great song. Keep up the great work. Boe

[@RiverDocs]

Thank Boe I appreciate it!!

[@WendellBurkhart-g9v]

I've always said this band had more talent on one stage than most bands had throughout their career and I don't say that being sarcastic. I just believe in giving credit where credits due.

[@CarolStJohn-ev9ry]

My favorite hardknock'n band, I still listen to classic Skynyrd.

[@Stratsrule]

Thanks doc. My favorite band!!

[@RiverDocs]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!

[@CapstoneTider]

Although they're all great, I connect the most with Ed King.

[@aschule5684]

Same here, loved Ed, and can't help but feel he took some of the classic Skynyrd sound with him when he left. Steve was great but the overall feeling of the music changed completely when he came and to me they didn't sound like the same band anymore but those are just my personal feelings.

[@scottweavermusic4130]

These guys are 3 of my favorite!

[@coldroses5337]

Every guitar player in that band was amazing. I must say there was something about Steve Gaines that gave me goosebumps though. Perhaps it was his strat tone along with his chops? Great F'n band Cheers 🍷

[@r.plante2916]

Thanks for this. Every one of these guys smoked on guitar, and yes, the interplay showed that they spent a LOT of time on arrangements, with each individual hardly ever playing the same parts in any given song. On top of that, being southern good ol' boys, they had soul, and wrote songs you could actually dance to (modern rock rhythm sections really need to pick up on this more).

[@RiverDocs]

You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@genearbogast7525]

I love it friend ! Your explanation of these moments are priceless.....

[@RiverDocs]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@randycremeans7612]

The best southern rock band ever

[@allencollins6031]

Yessir

[@Thataintnothing]

YUP!!!!!!

[@cowpuncher5099]

Agree with you RD. I believe they worked hard at their craft. I also believe they were disrespected and misunderstood early on. Great work as always RD.

[@RiverDocs]

Thanks for watching Cowpuncher!

[@jhsams1977]

Thank you Awesome video on the best of all time

[@kravin74]

I would like to add one more thing. About 4 years ago I'd heard the song no telling how many times before and I don't know how to describe it except that I finally REALLY heard it. I know it is a cover song but they transformed it into a masterpiece. I was sitting at a red light and had it cranked up and if you judged a book by it's cover the guy in the car next to me would have hated the song but he was really feeling it, he was moving with the grooving and he gave me a thumbs up and I gave him one back. This younger black man who anyone would think wouldn't be his thing and I were brothers in the incredible beat and grooves of Call Me The Breeze. That song along with the other greats made me search for more not long ago. I just knew there had to be more. And I'm not saying Marshal Tucker or anyone else didn't write killer southern rock music. Desert Skies and Fire On The Mountain are killer but nobody has come close to I can only call it dirty guitar grooves of Lynyrd Skynyrd and can you imagine the other songs they could have released that we'll never know? This band is sometimes overlooked I think because of the southern rock title. Nobody NOBODY had the killer guitar riffs. Not the Stones, nobody. I'm gonna close with a 70's band I didn't add in my short list in my previous comment and it's another band that very sadly get overlooked because of the music title but The Ramones are another band who really were a 50's band turned up louder and a bump of speed! Maybe they only played three chord songs and there were no out of this world solo's but oh my God they put what they did have to incredible use.

[@piggyroo100]

Steve Gaines was a monster

[@RiverDocs]

Agree! The guy could really play and sing too!

[@billyshane3804]

Excellent presentation. Thanks for posting. Love your work.

[@RiverDocs]

Thanks. Glad you enjoy it. Appreciate you watching!

[@stevesteelman7802]

U cant forget the great smooth smoking Outlaws down in Tampa town. St. Pete plant city. I rocked at all the Outlaws New years eve bashes at the Lakeland civic center. Henry Paul Monte Yoho H Thomason Billy Jones Freddie Salem . Outlaws lady in waiting Hurry Sundown... heck all their albums were great. I had a lady from Cincinnati A woman from San Antone i always 😍 loved the girl 👧 next door always on my own. Im a Freeborn man, home is on my back. I know ever inch of highway every foot of backroad every mile of railroad track.... South Carolina stars ✨ in her eyes. Blue ridge mountains home in the skys. ❤😊

[@kravin74]

I live in the county where the plane crashed. It's about ten miles from where I live. I was born here 50 years ago. I don't remember it but my father took me with him when he went looking for the crash to try and help. He was turned away by a state trooper. My aunt was a well known hair dresser and she was called in to help remove mud, blood and no telling what from the band members hair. She told me recently she remembered all these metal cases, my suitcases I don't know in the hallways at the hospital and one of the band members who was a little out of it maybe from pain meds or hell just shock, he asked my aunt did she remember him! She was married and had two young kids and was trying to explain to the nurses she had never seen this man before as he continued to insist they had spent a fun time together in Las Vegas I think. Anyway the plane crash along with the tornado of 1975 and most recent, Katrina is something that everyone has a story about here. The land the crash happened on belongs to a good friend of my family as well. I was too young to know anything about them at the time but like other bands of the 70's, Alice Cooper, KISS , Lynyrd Skynyrd is one of my favorite. The number of incredible songs they made is crazy. They are or were some of the most talented people in my opinion to ever lay grooves on wax !!

[@RiverDocs]

Thanks for sharing your story!

[@Desert9999]

Superb video here, Sir!

[@RiverDocs]

Glad you liked it!

[@mikeglasgow9618]

Hey Doc.....Great video. I'm thinking about going to the Memorial on October 20th with my cousin. ALL ACCESS VIP PASS.

[@RiverDocs]

Hope you get to make it. I haven't been to the memorial since they really fixed it up. Thanks for watching Mike!

[@wagliz163]

I saw them once with Ed King, once with just Gary and Allen, and the last time with Steve Gaines. All three shows were great! I was surprised how well Gary and Allen (with some extra help from Billy Powell) filled in the gaps with just two guitars. They still had that big, big sound! Gary doesn't always get the credit he deserves, but when they were down to two guitars, you could see and hear how good he really was.

[@aminahmed2220]

Absolutely awesome have a wonderful day Doc also I am a fan of the four of them ❤😊

[@RiverDocs]

Thank you!

[@stingylizard]

Was pushing a large cart with 2 items in it through the grocery store -- couldn't locate a smaller one. Shoppers were rude en masse,one of the cart wheels started making a cat-scratch squeller sound,a lady was abusing her sweet medical dog inside the dang store and I wasn't good with it AT ALL. I told myself...get a grip,find a reason to chill,bro. Very next moment I hear the intro to Call Me The Breeze start playing on the store p.a. and before I could contain myself,I kinda two-stepped me and my cart all the way to the checkout counter. Seeing the RVZ shiteating grin on my face,the checkout lady went from meh to Me,Too when I explained I was dancing to Skynyrd's Call Me The Breeze. She tilted her head,her eyes lit up,then said I feel better already! No shit,lady...me too. Thanks, Mr Ronnie and yer 3 mules

[@jameshazen2907]

Thumbs up before I even watched it!

[@RiverDocs]

Thanks for watching and the thumbs up :)))

[@Mary-xj3lt]

I love river docs I sub many times and somehow I keep having to. Must be the accent. I sub again.

[@TommySG1]

I really enjoy your content man, have you done one about the Allman Brothers Band? Would enjoy that ~ especially the very early days with the legendary Dwaine while Dickey played with him and pretty much inventing ‘slide’ 🤙 Thanks.

[@TommySG1]

Dwaine doing the slide, I worded that oddly there hah!

[@TommySG1]

Oh never mind man….. I see now you’ve already done it ahah! Thanks again.

[@RiverDocs]

@TommySG1 Hey glad you found it. There are 3 videos I have on Duane, Gregg and Dickie on the channel. Just search thru the channel on the main page and you should find them. If not hit me back and I can get you links. Thanks for watching...appreciate it!

[@RiverDocs]

@TommySG1 There is actually two videos on Duane, one on Gregg and one on Dickey. I don't have one on the whole band yet.

[@flyingburritobro68]

Rossington for me but they were all superb

[@brandonmurphy4657]

Ed king was my favorite

[@baneverything5580]

There are some early Skynyrd recordings that are a little rough but incredible. One was a killer blues like Stevie Ray Vaughan. I have a CD of it somewhere. I had no idea any of it existed. Maybe it was a box set?

[@SlowRide723]

Hey man, you should make a video on Paul Kossoff from Free

[@tominwpg]

I've always thought this band never got their proper due. Their songs were simple and complex at the same time. All four guitarists were superb, but Steve Gaines was exceptional. What a shame we never got to see him mature.

[@Davan1331-x1p]

One of their managers said that they were a very well rehearsed band. Even the leads. He said nobody does that

[@kengunter6903]

IMO LS's 1 of the greatest band's ever assembled period!!!!

[@Davan1331-x1p]

Said that they were so well rehearsed that when recording all they had to do was plug in and set the volume.

[@pickititllneverheal9016]

The Greatest Band From The South.

[@kc0lif]

they were good at rhythm and lead each guitarist was different then other all be missed.

[@keithkellogg5325]

Steve Ganes was going to be a big big star 🌟

[@mkaz4232]

All were great but Ed was the best imo. When Ed left in 75 Allen Gary and Steve couldn’t play Ed’s parts. But when Ed came back in 87 he did Steve and most of Allen’s parts to a T

[@foylebutler8952]

AGREE. every note from Ed was golden.

[@papadavewatson]

There is video of Ed himself saying he couldn't play Steve's parts. Just because someone can or can't play another player's parts, doesn't mean that they are better than the other or not. BTW, it ain't a sport. They were all great, just different.

[@Robert-y7g2g]

1 mo time w/ diff vibe: It's the Inside Stories, wat yer negativists might call: Gossip Makes this River content So Freakin AWESOME!!!!

[@ivanfortuny2244]

In My Humble opinión Ed king was the Best his Riffs were puré Bliss.

[@foylebutler8952]

Ed is the best. Every note was great hook

[@Joe_Goofball]

Simple Man was one of my FAVORITE Skinnerd songs. Will you do a similar documentary of Blackfoot? Ricky Medlocke was also an early member of Skinnerd...

[@RickSmith-z6n]

Good video

[@RiverDocs]

Thanks

[@chloewinkworthartist]

howdy doc❤

[@RiverDocs]

Hey Chloe...Good to see ya. Hope you're doing well!

[@jasonmartin5154]

Steve Gaines for me

[@garylamb7688]

Don’t forget Hughie

[@bluestreetcar]

I lived with Leons first wife Theresa Baxley for 11 years and I know more than what’s out there in a public and I will take it to my grave so as not to embarrass anybody.

[@user-mad7max11dystopia]

I think they picked up on the Duane Allman Dickie Betts days of the Allman Brothers Band and learned how two leads can harmonize. Listen to Blue Sky and hear those unbelievable guitarists play seamlessly and beautifully in a song Dickie wrote. Skynyrd just thought if two leads are great, let’s try three. All these guys could play all the parts. None of them were in the same league as Duane Allman but I sure wish he had sold that damned motorcycle before 1971. He was going to be the greatest guitar player ever

[@RiverDocs]

I have a few videos on the channel of Dicky and Duane. Here is one on Duane you might enjoy. Thanks for watching and your comment! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iYq7YqqDrtJ0p8U

[@joelclark9944]

Why didn't the rossington Collins band really take off?

[@ElizabethJohnson-ss4ce]

Allen's wife died due to complications with the pregnancy of their third child. Between losing her, 4 of his best friends in the crash and the survivor's guilt, he just lost it. I think it was Billy that said when Kathy died, Allen fell into the bottle and never came out.

[@Davan1331-x1p]

Too bad Steve died also. He was a vocalist and could have carried on with him singing. He was from Oklahoma

[@vicvaccani7015]

Steve Gaines would have kept growing as singer, songwriter would have passed the Stones

[@flyingburritobro68]

Come on now. He was a good musician but don’t compare him to the greatest of all time

[@rclamb04]

100. % how about Black Oak Arkansas

[@keithkellogg5325]

Leon was awesome bassists

[@RiverDocs]

If you like Leon I have a cool video on him also! Check it out here kzbin.info/www/bejne/gImmlmOFed6FZ9U

[@keithkellogg5325]

Ok thank you my friend

[@kennethmeeker6369]

I think Ted’s a legit deputy sheriff or something that lets him carry national wide . 👍

[@funkywheels8288]

Allen as defenetly the strongest rhythm guitarists.

[@Kevin-do8bq]

Ed King for me was the better ax man of the 4.

[@baneverything5580]

They needed a fiddle, harmonica and that crazy guy Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys in the band for at least one album. But Brian Wilson would have gone on a schizophrenic rampage on Ronnie over the drunken violence and would still be in prison today.

[@keithkellogg5325]

Gary was the band but Allan was great Steve was awesome but it was Ronnie’s band by far

[@jdhaynes9887]

Ed king made lynard skynyrd

[@dannyhood7433]

If Gary didn't need a screwdriver under the strings (to play slide guitar on 'freebird' Then why would Gary say not because I need too (because I want too?) If lifting the strings on Gary's guitar was necessary to get iconic slide sound on freebird , I would think Gary NEEDS too. If he had a guitar that produced same sound on freebird without lifting the strings, I doubt Gary would modify the guitar with screw driver or anything f"'*ng up the instrument. If the guitar works don't fix it. Eddie van Halen used to f*'"k up a lot guitars. Eddie also borrowed guitars in 70s. Cris Holmes (guitarist from wasp) Cris,' let Eddie borrow his guitar for some shows at gazzaries? I forget? Anyways, Weeks later Cris went to Eddies house' was invited inside to have breakfast or lunch Eddie's mom. Everyone was visiting and having good time. Before Cris was leaving he asked Eddie, Eddie told him guitar was in his room. Cris found his guitar in case and thanked Eddie and his family, said good by too Alex and everyone. (Back then Alex was into business, explaining all rumors about club owners, those ripping off bands.. When cris finally got home and opened the guitar case. Strings were missing, the input jack was dangling disconnected wires, tuning pegs missing, wood around the pickups been chiseled. But Cris wasn't worried about because, Eddie would come around later make up for it.. Plus chris was used to doing the same thing his guitars, and ones he borrowed. That was the guitar scene in southern Calif during 1970s Everyone was into hot rodding guitars. Even when it was favor borrowed from someone.

[@RiverDocs]

Gary has said a lot of things through the years that makes you go huh? My guess is he just kept a guitar with that piece of metal under the strings and used it just for the one song. (Freebird) When you don't have to worry about taking care of your guitars and have someone to string em, tune em, take em in and out of the case, pack em up and move them to the next gig...you can do about anything you want. Thanks for watching and your comment!

[@saltydog4759]

Steve Gaines was a damn good hand, but he was not Ed King. Ed gave them a swamp funk with that Strat that was sorely lacking after his departure.

[@DunkinTunic]

Brown Edward Lopez Jennifer Williams Paul

[@barryhaynes103]

You mean Rick Medlocke wasn’t a part of the great guitar playing in Lynyrd Skynyrd 😂😂😂

[@keithkellogg5325]

Ed King only did one song and he didn’t fit in

[@adrianwalton6117]

Steve Gaines definitely stood out, Allen was great Gary was great, Steve was a little different.

[@adrianwalton6117]

I mean Ed, in this case