Ronnie VanZant Interview-Part #4

interview

[@tommyhaynes521]

Boy it was really heartbreaking to hear that he had never been happier in his life considering the plane crash was not too long after this interview. He seems like a really nice and thoughtful guy

[@macobats]

💔

[@lastofthefinest]

I have never seen a band play more tight as these guys. Their live performances sound as good if not better than the studio versions. They were amazing!

[@ericchristian6710]

Damn that makes me get misty eyed hearing him say he was so happy, knowing what tragedy was lurking around the corner. I've never heard Ronnie talk much and it just makes it more sad to hear what a gentleman he was. He sounds like everybody I grew up around in the south. Nobody was a bigger influence on me than they did. Me and my buddies used to model or nights after their songs. We all survived though till now at least

[@sntbozeman]

“It could end tomorrow, Skynyrd could be done tomorrow”. Wow, how sad and prophetic is that statement. And yes, it does make it worse to hear how he and the band had matured and were happier than ever with the band and their personal lives. It almost seems like he knew it wasn’t going to go on for much longer. Sure would have been amazing to see what this band could have been if they had a run like the stones, and Aerosmith, where they were relevant for 40 years. A lot of folks forget how short of a time frame their career was (I think they only made 4-5 albums). And the number of songs that have stood the test of time, and been loved by so many generations yet they had just started when it ended really. I am glad that the remaining members did reunite with Johnny Van Zant and have kept their name and music alive. I have seen them 5-6 times over the years. The last being just a month or so ago. In what they called their farewell tour. They still sound great, but they have never been able to capture the same sound as when Ronnie was singing (and that is no knock on Johnny or anyone who would have tried to fill those shoes). And man do I wish I could have seen the original lineup just one time in person, but my age and fate denied me that chance, and that sucks.In the last show I saw, they played Freebird, and for the last verse they placed Ronnies signature hat atop the microphone and played video and audio of Ronnie singing while the band played the song live. It was amazing, and gives me goosebumps to think about now. But even if they never play another show. Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music and legend will live on forever. RIP Ronnie, Steve, Cassie, Ed, Allan, Billy, and Dean. Fly high brothers.

[@dmilstone5709]

Well put

[@pristineclear8604]

That was good, I saw the original in his hometown.

[@shevette2000]

LYNYRD SKYNYRD THEN, NOW, AND FOREVER AMEN

[@whiplash8277]

Loved 'em since hearing them on radio in '73, saw em in 1976, and they continue to be one of my favorite bands ever. Ronnie spoke to me when he sang barefoot on that stage...

[@scottharrison9083]

He was the King.

[@kilts4u2]

Had he lived Ronnie would be only a couple of years older than me and yet, hearing his voice on these tapes sounds like only yesterday. The beauty and the irony of recording. We all wonder "what if". Having grown up in the generation of the Beatles, Rolling Stones and the British Invasion, I know with my heart that LS would have been just as big as all of those bands. The crash occurred at the height of their success. Too bad RVZ didn't live long enough to realize the full legacy of LS.

[@vincentcroft9556]

I grew up In J-Ville and miss them dearly

[@davidpearce5257]

i would sleep with my head on a cassette player ,it would click at the end. I'd wake up n turn it over n push play. lol go bk to sleep to LS. I learned to play guitar n write songs n I have hundreds now. all because of Ronnie. i LEARNED EVERY SKYNyRD song. people always loved it when we played em. eagles are the only band to ever even come close.

[@terrylunsford585]

Cool, somebody besides me think skynyrd/eagles two of the best! Hell, you like fishin' too? Check out my cuz Kelby of Cadillac Three, nashvillian homegrown rockers! It's country-fryed rockin' TC3 style! Peace,RebTL2016

[@chrispulliam3]

Terry Lunsford

[@CadillacL]

“It could be gone tomorrow.” 😞 r.i.p. Ronnie

[@katydorrance2042]

Heartbreaking😢😢

[@johnmccall2223]

They do not get any better than Ronnie!!

[@davidvanzant2019]

He was so incredibly intelligent man and gone before the age 30

[@davidvanzant2019]

One of the best songwriters ever look at everything not one was bad

[@TheDjScotti]

YES ! We will Remember YOU ! As A Matter of Fact, We will Never Forget !

[@michelethompson4192]

Love the interview but music recording is skipping so bad! Can you fix?

[@tammysigmon853]

Probably not without a nickel or a dime taped to the needle of the turntable.

[@ZoSo1973]

Come on man, this was recorded in 1975

[@kdb1802]

Man this breaks my heart. God Bless and long live Skynyrd!

[@macobats]

Looking forward to seeing the movie, "Street Survivor."

[@pauldavid6345]

Good 'ol vinyl. lol

[@eski502]

I believe they did. This was early in the year.

[@AmyLLevi]

@simpleman11585 oh my goodness, you're right. Me too. WOW.

[@defiantone8556]

What really surprised me about this band was how well they all crafted their instruments they played, at such a young age like they did. Lest not forget, they were all in their 20's at the time of the plane crash, but then go back & give a LISTEN to all that great music they did, & how well it all came together & none of em were in their 30's yet. This band in the 70's Era was simply in one word was AMAZING!!! And speaking for just myself, I wanna say to Ronnie & those we've loss over the years, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT GREAT MUSIC!!! RIP To Ronnie & to all the fellers N gals who we loss over the years. We miss you.

[@michaelviens2894]

I agree who else had 3 savage leads, and they fed off each other and could play without making stupid faces lol I’m just a drummer talking!!! Florida man

[@darrylthaxton4656]

Simply , the GOAT🥀

[@charlesgauldin8010]

Agree !!! This bands catalog is HUGE

[@southboundtrax2586]

"Mister whiskey rock-n-roller, where did you go? There's a time for everything to die Lord I know. But you were young, and you were good, and somethin' happened Lord that never should've, Mister whiskey rock-n-roller where did you go?" "Things aint been the same since you been gone. There's people callin' Elvis king but I know they're wrong. You got a Hatchet tryin' to do your thing But you and the boys done put Miss Molly to shame Mister whiskey rock-n-roller where did you go?" "I've heard it said only the good die young But death don't always mean your gone. Some may forget the man that you were But you spirit will live on in your song." "Mister whiskey rock-n-roller you couldn't stay. The answers clearer to me now why you were taken away. You see the Lord was needin' and your a travelin' man So I know heaven's got one hell of a band. Mister whiskey rock-n-roller where did you go?"

[@dlb19595]

Richard Gray PERFECT miss Ronnie so much!

[@nickcarpenter1196]

Richard Gray ---Did You write this? Do you have music for it?

[@christinepierce6723]

Richard Gray ...Awesome

[@snapesnapeseverussnape2015]

Great

[@jamesburton1812]

Awesome gonna make this a song

[@deboraharace9866]

FOREVER MY ALL TIME FAVORITE GROUP!!

[@sylviafoster9093]

Allen Collins had a huge part in making the band a success.

[@bullfrogstupiddoor1147]

R.I.P Ronnie, he motivated me to sing! Love skynyrd, no matter what any one says they are the best!!! Long live ronnie and the crew

[@jamesburton1812]

Yes and inspired me to ta sing and play guitar

[@lolitagrant6751]

What would anyone have to say, except that they were the greatest bad ever?

[@bocobob]

"Lynyrd skynyrd could end tomorrow" Ronnie said, so heartbreaking.

[@stevelankford7087]

When i was around 17 got to see the band. The year was 73 or 74. They played Jacksonville State University, Pete Matthews Coliseum in front of a crowd of maybe 100. Pretty sure they opened with ''I Ain't The One'', Just like on the "Pronounced'' album. They were partyin' hard back then but were so well trained it just did'nt seem to matter. They were actually passing whiskey bottles off stage into the crowd, and they barely stopped between songs. Probably seen them live 20 times, back then 2 or 3 times a year sometimes. Just saw them again in Atlanta at the ''2017 Laid Back Fest'', they were as always great.They are brothers to me though i've never met any of them...Rock on Freebirds!

[@sandman4224]

"It could end tomorrow...."

[@TheMidnightModder]

That part was dark. His chuckle made it seem like he knew

[@moeless8614]

When the crash happened, I was 23. Had been hearing the band but not listening for years. Honestly felt no huge sense of loss as I am beginning to now as I play catch-up in learning more and more about this incredible man and band. This interview is the first time I've heard Ronnie talk and it is gratifying to hear him be so well spoken, intelligent and not taking himself way too seriously. If anyone has more tips on things I could listen to or watch to help fill in the pieces I lived through but missed, I am all ears.

[@davehelmick7395]

I was 5 years old my picked me up from school, which I was surprised because we lived very close to the school and I walked home in the afternoon depending on the weather,but when I got in the car he told me our favorite band is no longer together because their plane crashed yesterday evening.Durning the 80's my dad and his cousin and a few of their friends hand a couple kick ass bands that became popular in Indy because of how well they covered Skynyrd songs and packed the house at some of the local bars on the weekends,thanks to my dad ,I could never get enough Lynyrd Skynyrd music and band knowledge,every damn day I think of what if that plane didn't crash...

[@pristineclear8604]

I was 22 when it happened or when the plane crashed in 1977. I saw them in 1975. Ronnie and the band played only four songs that night, he was feeling ill. Charlie Daniels came on and sang one song with them. It was in mine and Ronnie's hometown. That was the night that a lot of people turned on them, so many people were drinking. They got mad and threw their whiskey bottles at the stage after he left. Because they couldn't play, Ronnie promised everyone there a free concert for in the future. They arrested a lot of people that night. Everyone there was disappointed about them only playing four songs. Then the bottles started flying. He came to the radio station the next day, he was so mad about the people in his hometown for doing such a thing. He said he would never play here again and also said no free concert to come. I don't think that he ever did play the free concert either, though I could be wrong too but he did come back at least one time and play at the same venue. I didn't get to see them though. Anyway, I'm like you, I've gotten much more interested in him and Lynyrd Skynyrd and the band now, especially after Gary died this year. I'm writing this on October 31st 2023, 46 years after the crash, wow. 😢 Over one and a half times longer than he and the ones that died that night had lived and it seems almost like yesterday he was still alive......🥰 He is still alive though when I listen to his music and hear him talk. 🕊️

[@teresawilliams2240]

I have always loved lynrd skynrd music and will continue

[@AmyLLevi]

oh man...."this year we're gonna take more time off the road, we deserve it"- wow when I just heard that I almost cried, I wish they would had that day off the road in October 77. RIP loves.

[@Jackstraw1179]

Ronnie was a boss. The music world lost a true icon when he died. R.I.P.

[@kevincopeland2675]

Somehow and some way the Universe evens things out, the more success and adulation one receives, the recipient is plied with in return, tragedy, loss and pain. Look at all your successful actors and musicians, in most cases anyway, the early struggle moves away and fruits of the labor are achieved only to be ripped away the way a bank calls in a bad loan. For example: look at every successful star who perished at an early age whether it be drug overdoses or plane crashes or car accidents or any unanticipated situation, it's basically the same story, the list is too long to sit here and write out but Lynyrd Skynyrd is the text book case. Read their story and then look at other tragic stars and you will know what I mean. This, I think anyway, lends credence to the old story that certain bands "signed a deal with the Devil" unbridled success in return for their mortal souls. Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin and Robert Johnson, to name a few, were all accused of this at some point in their careers.Unfortunately Ronnie Van Zant was a victim of his own success. Ronnie was my hero when I was young and I still miss him today.

[@lilflower25]

@Kevin Copeland....Ronnie said that he was gonna die before he was 30. That's what shook me to my core when I heard about the crash.

[@gregdolecki8530]

We can only imagine what music lay ahead of them.

[@michaelviens2894]

Sad to here, he was a awesome human!!! The world saw a glimpse of a real real man/hero/star!!!!!!

[@chickasawstarrmountain9747]

American by birth southern by the grace of God.if Ronnie was still alive they would still fly our flag ,Rip

[@Joesfosterdogs]

Like any band, if you JUST listen and know the radio hit you do not know the band. People need album parties...listen to the entire LP in once setting, turn off your devices, better yet, don't even bring them! Go back to a time when you were not controlled by the need to be needed! We need real leaders today to think and then act. This is one way...you will wonder why you didn't do this ten years ago! If you're in high school, do this...this is how your parents or grand parents hung out.

[@MeatGawds]

I’m building a guitar from wood from the Hell House original Dock, and foundation from Hell House, and incorporating metal from the plane. Once it’s complete we will loan it out to touring musicians so those timber’s will continue to sing and vibrate. LLLS. Long Live Lynyrd Skynyrd.. if anybody knows Gary Rossington I’d love for him to sign it when complete, or donate a pick, or something I can incorporate into it. Tell him to hit me up. .

[@1962jbk]

Man I would have loved to hear those songs from the potential song writing sessions in Nassau.

[@janiterinadrum1627]

People that think Lynyrd Skynyrd are just about gimme three steps in Sweet home. Alabama and Freebird are sorely mistaken, especially that last album a Steve games there’s no telling the Heights they could’ve reached had they not crashed.

[@jamesd7495]

So sad.. I’ve always believed that if it weren’t for that plane crash, skynyrd would’ve went on to be the best rock band of all time.

[@MegaDucky26]

They will forever be the best southern fried rock band! So glad I was one of the lucky few, that was able to see them live. The whole band under ronnie's magic were so tight, they never skipped a beat. They were all such pros. God bless them, from a true fan! You all are truly missed!

[@chrisandlindasmith9665]

A true southern gentleman

[@davidvanzant2019]

One time Ronnie was wrong lynyrd skynrd never be gone

[@jameshobsonusa]

“If there’s a Rock & Roller’s Heaven, they sure have one hell of a band...”

[@brianintn]

I wanna go to Heaven when i die. you know they got one hell of a band up there. truely one of a kind was Ronnie. a legend.

[@marlathe80sgirl96]

“Lynyrd Skynyrd could be gone tomorrow” -Ronnie.….. chilling words

[@TheTallDane]

If only Ronnie knew how iconic Skynyrd has become today

[@mariaday712]

God bless all those we lost that terrible day. The true Lynyrd Skynyrd band will always fly free.

[@thomassanderson5811]

I started going to all of their concerts that I could from the time I was 16 in 1973 until 1976. Music to live by.

[@Mysterywhiteboy78]

I truly believe RVZ did indeed know when he would pass. Its all there in the lyrics , in this interview, and things he told his family and friends.

[@johnny222ist]

i was 8 when I became a fan of Ronnie, still love all of them band members i felt so sad when I heard they all went to heaven (except one) how is he doin' ? i would like to know by now.....slts jo

[@harpoon_bakery162]

did they ever get to Nassau to write those songs he was talking about? i have a feeling they never made it.

[@lsunationalchamps08]

really sad that ronnie was so happy and on top of the world...then he lost his life before he got to further his greatness even more R.I.P. RVZ and a the rest of our great southern brothers we lost on October 20,1977..and those who have passed on since

[@JMXification]

These guys had at least a decade of badass rock-n-roll left in them when they died. Weve been robbed. Sad.

[@michaeligou1047]

He always sounded so humble and down to earth. None of that shit went to his head. That’s what made him Great.

[@simpleman11585]

6:21 gave me chills

[@chrishitchner6826]

If i leave here tomorrow....

[@Mysterywhiteboy78]

One of the saddest things in history was the tragic death of Ronnie Van Zant.

[@BobbieLGray]

Fly Free Birds. Your loved and remembered. Always 💖

[@mrbreez33]

God love you Ronnie & Lynyrd Skynyrd. ; }

[@bubbahazelitt1612]

r.i.p Ronnie💯💪

[@zakalu9391]

of all time

[@wildbill2122]

Wonder if he ever got to Nassau like he said they were going to.

[@michelebergman4336]

No he didn’t! They died in plane crash a few months later

[@Anabelleandthedesertscrubs]

My mom and I made a whole plan to stop the plane crash if we could go back in time. There was a truck pointing to the plane and it had all there gear. So, we decided we would put a brick on the gas pedal so it would hit the plane

[@lindamiller940]

RIP all of y'all. We love and miss you ❤️ all. We will never forget y'all. Listen to your music ever day.

[@jamesburton1812]

Such a sad story I never got it I've been so inspired mesmerized and just can't put in words how I've felt about skynyrd I love em 25 been listening since I was 2 or 3

[@paulbrown6338]

I have learned to live with wondering what would have come for Skynyrd by being satisfied with what they had done.

[@winkleoop]

This commentary makes me think they had a very sober and resolute approach to their product. I like to believe it has been maintained thru-out the evolution of the band.

[@pattya888]

RIP ronnie man a lot of people miss you and your voice and lyical technique.. everyone wants to be a freebird!!

[@lsunationalchamps08]

@kilts4u2 I agree!...I like the beatles and the Stones, but I think "what if"...I think if they could have kept it going, Today they would be talked as much as those groups. To me they already were just as good

[@play4u67]

@BoEmery You know what BoEmery, you are so right!! Great artists such as Ronnie,Steve,Cassie and Dean may be gone from this world but Legends never die!! LS was then and will always remain the greatest legendary rock band ever!! I think its absolutely fantastic that Johnny, Gary, the entire band, are keeping the music Ronnie,Steve,Cassie and Dean loved alive! This is just as much Johnny's legacy as it was for Ronnie.A special bond for sure!! RIP Ronnie,Steve,Cassie and Dean, Fly High FREEBIRD!

[@mrsgstd]

Correct. I remember that day as one of the saddest in my highschool years. I heard about the crash on the radio that evening and my friends and I stayed up all night listening to the radio for updates. One early report said Rossington had died. It was early the next morning when we got the actual report. "That Smell" was just getting airplay, I heard it on the way to work that night. An hour or so later, I heard the news of the crash.

[@rockinredneck57]

Going to Nassau to write. Maybe even get in a little fishing while they were there. They never did get to, I guess. Bummer. They would have had plenty of privacy there then for sure.

[@BoEmery]

And the music still kicks as much ass now as it ever did! RIP - Skynyrd FOREVER!

[@SouthernPride76]

Ronnies daughter has all of his unreleased music and even some country songs he did,she plays them all the time

[@SteveGaines]

The Crash was October 20, 1977 not October 17, that was when "STREET SURVIVORS" came out...

[@lockandloadlikehell]

Thumbs Up for that one below--eh??

[@maximusdecimusmeridius5500]

What the fuck does that mean thumbs up for the one below??

[@mrcharlesb09]

God only numbers our days

[@RossingtonRules]

I Love Ronnie Van Zant.

[@baileyharrison1030]

8:34 “now believe me it’s your time.” This makes the crash seem planned. Whether it was or it wasn’t, that statement still creeps me out.

[@rishipuntes557]

We heard the songs b4

[@SlickRickington]

6:28 he says Lynyrd Skynyrd could be gone like that. Boy was Ronnie wrong. Long Live Skynyrd!

[@nordicpride9708]

Blake Rose Ronnie was referencing the Lynyrd Skynyrd, not “the Lynyrd Skynyrd TRIBUTE band”. It ended in ‘77, accept it and move on. He was the band. He came up with their material, was their undisputed leader. Gary isn’t a leader, nor will he ever hold a candle to RVZ. Listening to Gary, I’m convinced nothing that comes out of his mouth is truthful, and every other thing that goes in it is booze...

[@Tomcaatt]

What was that noise?

[@SlickRickington]

6:24

[@ajd711]

Bye Bye Miss American Pie!

[@rockinredneck57]

Ronnie said the band had been together 12 years at that point. He and Allen had been together that long. That puts them together in 65. Not as "Skynyrd", but still that's a long time to play together from early teen years.

[@ZodiacKillerIdentified4real]

8:31 , proof Lynyrd Skynyrds plane was sabotaged.

[@lilflower25]

@ZodiacKillerIdentified....That's what I've heard for years.

[@aynsleighmalayne3558]

Lori All I heard was music. Has it been edited or what did I miss?