Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1973
Background information
Origin	Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Southern rock country blues rock hard rock
Years active	1964 (1964)–1977 (1977) 1979 1987 (1987)–present (present)
Labels	MCA Atlantic Capricorn CMC International Sanctuary Universal Roadrunner/Loud & Proud
Members	Gary Rossington Rickey Medlocke Johnny Van Zant Michael Cartellone Mark Matejka Peter Keys Keith Christopher
Past member(s)	See band members section and members list article
Website	lynyrdskynyrd.com

Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Their name comes from one of their school teachers who was named Leonard Skinner. They wrote songs including: "Sweet Home, Alabama", "Simple Man" and "Freebird." The lead singer's name was Ronnie Van Zant. After Ronnie died, his brother Johnny Van Zant became lead singer.

Plane crash

On October 20, 1977, the band was on tour flying to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for their next gig, when their 1977 Convair 240 plane ran out of fuel and crashed in a heavily wooded area. Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick and the pilots were killed in the crash. The rest of the band and crew were injured and temporarily split up. They reunited in 1987 with Van Zant's younger brother Johnny as their new singer.