lynyrd skynyrd retirement tour

LYNYRD SKYNYRD's JOHNNY VAN ZANT On Retirement Plans: 'Maybe We Were Wrong About That'

In a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock , LYNYRD SKYNYRD frontman Johnny Van Zant talked about the band's 2018 announcement that it was embarking on a farewell tour, only to apparently back away from those plans. He said: "I want to be upfront with you. We were on our last year – 2020 was really going to be our last year. It was like, okay, we'll go out and maybe do two or three shows after that or do some charity work. We were [in our] last year and COVID hit. We were, like, 'Well, shit. This is great.' We sat at home for 15 months and when those months were up, we were obligated to finish off the dates that we had booked. So we said, 'Okay, well, let's reform and get back out there and put everybody back to work.' We got back out there and went, 'You know what? We really missed this.' We missed seeing our fans. [Late LYNYRD SKYNYRD guitarist] Gary [ Rossington ] was a big part of that. He was, like, 'I don't want to sit at home. COVID retired me for 15 months and I didn't like it.' [ Laughs ] That's all he's ever done. That's all any of us have ever done. So we said, 'Okay, maybe we were wrong about that.'

"I've come to a conclusion: Musicians never retire; they just play less shows. We'll see where the heck the future goes. There isn't a thing happening right now that Gary didn't know about, and he wanted it to happen. So we're going to fulfill those wishes and we'll see what the future brings."

Last November, LYNYRD SKYNYRD guitarist Rickey Medlocke told Fort Myers News-Press about the band's abandoned plans for a farewell tour: "Well, let's put it this way: Basically, when we announced the farewell tour, it was a farewell tour. … Then COVID knocked us out of — oh, I don't know — 60-plus shows. And when that happened, we said, 'Man, people have gone out and bought tickets. You know, they want to come see the band.' So what we ended up doing is we said, 'Hey, let's go out and we'll make up shows and the dates that were booked and all that.' In order to do that, you gotta add other dates. So we took it upon ourselves … (and we called it) the 'Big Wheels Keep On Rolling Tour' .

"I'm not really sure how many more years it's gonna ensue," he continued. "Nobody really does. ... For myself, personally, I'm never gonna stop playing. I'm a lifer. I've been playing guitar ever since I was five years old, man. And you know what: You don't just lay it down one day and go, 'Okay, I'm gonna go fishing. I'm gonna go fishing for the rest of my years.' You know, it just doesn't happen."

Rossington was the last surviving founding member of LYNYRD SKYNYRD . On March 5, his bandmates announced the news of his death in a statement shared on their social media.

The guitarist had previously dealt with various heart problems throughout the years, including emergency heart surgery in 2021.

LYNYRD SKYNYRD 's co-headlining tour with ZZ TOP , the "Sharp Dressed Simple Man" , is staging performances in twenty-five cities in North America this summer, with special guest UNCLE KRACKER . Produced by Live Nation , the tour kicked off on July 21 at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida and will wrap in Camden, New Jersey at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion on Sunday, September 17.

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Johnny Van Zandt Opens Up About Lynyrd Skynyrd Retirement

via FOX59 News / Youtube

Is Lynyrd Skynyrd following in the footsteps of Kiss with avatar shows? Johnny Van Zant , the frontman of the legendary southern rock band, has weighed in to clear the air.

In a recent interview with AL, Van Zant shared his thoughts on Kiss’s avatar performances and whether Lynyrd Skynyrd might consider something similar. His response was straightforward:

“I don’t know, dude. That’s pretty wild to me. I think it fits them because of their characters and I think it’s a great idea for them. You know, whether it would be for Skynyrd, I have no clue. I think people still want to see the live in-person person.”

Van Zant emphasized the importance of the live experience, hinting that Lynyrd Skynyrd might not be jumping on the avatar bandwagon any time soon.

But what about retirement?

The band embarked on their ‘Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour’ in 2018, intending for it to last two to three years. However, the pandemic threw a wrench into their plans. Despite initial intentions to retire from touring, Lynyrd Skynyrd made a comeback in 2021.

Van Zant stated that the band would be retiring in 2022, but they had second thoughts the next year. After the forced hiatus due to COVID-19, Van Zant admitted that the band hadn’t made up its mind to give up the guitar, adding, “We really missed this.”

In an interview with AXS TV, Van Zant expressed his desire to continue with the band, stating they won’t retire “until the good Lord tells them to stop.” He acknowledged uncertainties about the future but trusted in divine timing.

It appears that Lynyrd Skynyrd fans don’t need to worry too much about avatar concerts or impending retirements just yet. The band will continue to rock, following their own beat and the direction of a greater force, as long as they are moved by the music and the connection with their audience.

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BankNH Pavilion | Gilford, NH

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Xfinity Theatre | Hartford, CT

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Treasure Island Amphitheater | Welch, MN

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Darien Lake Amphitheater | Darien Center, NY

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Ruoff Music Center | Noblesville, IN

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Lynyrd skynyrd on june 6, 2024.

Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Van Zant says fans shouldn't expect another Lynyrd Skynyrd show in Jacksonville

Lynyrd Skynyrd has concerts booked into next July, but there is one city you won't find on the tour schedule — Jacksonville, the band's hometown.

Lynyrd Skynyrd formed in Jacksonville in the 1960s and, according to legend, was named for Lee High School teacher Leonard Skinner , who gave guitarist Gary Rossington and singer Ronnie Van Zant so much grief about their long hair, that they  named the band for him.

The band, which went on to sell millions of records and earned a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , played a farewell concert at TIAA Bank Field in 2018, with Kid Rock, the Charlie Daniels Band, Jason Aldean, Blackberry Smoke and the Marshall Tucker Band. A film and album recorded at the show were released a year later as "Lynyrd Skynyrd: Last of the Street Survivors Tour."

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Concert Review:   'Free Bird' has flown: Lynyrd Skynyrd's final Jacksonville concert

The Jacksonville show was part of what was supposed to be a two- or three-year farewell tour, but the pandemic kept the band off the road for more than a year. Now they're on the Big Wheels Keep on Turnin' Tour, which includes one Florida date, a Sept. 29 stop at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood.

Singer Johnny Van Zant, who lives in the Middleburg area and has been with the band since 1987, said Jacksonville fans shouldn't hold their breath waiting for the band to play another hometown show.

"No, I don’t believe that will ever happen," Van Zant said. "I truly believe we went out on top in Jacksonville and I don’t want to see us play here again." 

He said the end of Lynyrd Skynyrd as a touring band isn't far off, even though 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the band's first album. 

"We’re still looking at hanging it up in the next year or so," Van Zant said. "We're going to retire from touring."

He joined the band in 1987, when the band reformed a decade after a plane crash killed his brother and two other band members.

They've been on the road ever since, even as band members moved on or passed on. "I keep saying it seems like 35 seconds, but that’s just life in general. It’s been a great ride, a ride I never wanted to take."

Rossington is the only founding member still with the band, and health problems keep him from performing more than a song or two every now and then. Guitarist Damon Johnson has been filling in for Rossington on the road.

Van Zant said Rossington just doesn't have the energy to play a full show these days. "Gary is doing better. He said he is getting a lot more energy from this new medicine. He’s come out and played two or three shows with us. As far as playing a whole set, I don't know. People think we don’t put out a lot of energy, but two hours is a lot of work. We told him to come out when he wants, save yourself."

Dale Krantz Rossington, Gary's wife and one of the band's backup singers, has also stepped away from the band. 

Even when Skynyrd has played its last "Freebird," Van Zant said he'll probably still continue performing.

"Musicians never retire, you just do less shows. You really miss it. You miss your fans. I’ll probably always do something. I think I could only mow so much grass and take out so much garbage and catch so many fish," he said. "I’ve worked my whole life. It’s just in my nature to get out and do something. I love music and I’ve been blessed, but I can’t think of me turning my back.  As long as I can write a song, I’m definitely doing that."

Van Zant has been working on a gospel album with his brother Donnie, who is retired from .38 Special and lives next door. The two put out a pair of well-received country albums in 2005 and '07 and have pretty much completed work on the new album but put things on hold while Donnie recovers from hip surgery and Johnny rehabs the knee he injured in a cycling accident.

"We’re in no hurry," he said. "We’re trying to find a home for it. I’m not looking to make money on something like that. Music in general is God’s gift. I don’t want to be in business with someone just to make money off of gospel music."

Skynyrd's roster

Dozens of people have played in Lynyrd Skynyrd over the years. With founding guitarist Gary Rossington sidelined by health problems, here is the lineup currently playing shows, not counting backup singers:

• Johnny Van Zant, lead singer, joined in 1987

• Rickey Medlocke, guitar, played drums in an early version of the band, joined as guitarist in 1996

• Mark "Sparky" Matejka, guitar, joined in 2006

• Damon Johnson, guitar, joined in 2021 

• Peter Keys, keyboards, joined in 2009

• Michael Cartellone, drums, joined in 1999

• Keith Christopher, bass, joined in 2017

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Lynyrd Skynyrd Says ‘Maybe We Were Wrong’ About Retiring

Lynyrd Skynyrd announced a farewell tour in 2018, then the pandemic forced them to rethink those plans.

"There's a saying in the music business: You don't retire from it, it retires you," Gary Rossington said in 2021 . "I have heart problems. I thought I couldn't get around anymore a year or two ago – but I got it all fixed, so now I'm feeling all right."

Unfortunately, Lynyrd Skynyrd's co-founding guitarist continued to experience health issues and was forced to step away from touring that year, though he was able to return for sporadic guest appearances with the band until his  death in March 2023 .

The future of Lynyrd Skynyrd was in doubt. Without any surviving original members, would they continue? The group decided to move forward with their  2023 plans , including a summer tour with ZZ Top .

Frontman Johnny Van Zant joined UCR to share memories of Rossington and discuss Lynyrd Skynyrd's longtime friendship with ZZ Top, among other subjects.

How's the tour going so far? It’s so early into it, you know? I don’t know if Live Nation thought it was going to do as good or not, but we did fantastic. Hell, I don’t know, it might have been a sellout in West Palm Beach. If not, it was damn close to it. I think people like iconic [bands], and you have two legendary bands together. If I’m a consumer, I’m going, “Hey, I’m going to see them.” I want to see real rock 'n' roll, and that’s what this whole tour is about – getting the music out to the people. After COVID, I think people love and thrive on live music right now. For Skynyrd, we were down for 15 months. We didn’t play a show for 15 months. As artists, I think we appreciate being able to play. Who knows if some other crazy thing will happen? And I think the audience feels the same way. It’s a great healer, for all of us. So far, it’s just been awesome.

When did you first come across ZZ Top? I first discovered them way, way back when they had the Worldwide Texas tour, where they had the damn longhorn onstage , the rattlesnakes and the buzzard! Man, that was really the first time I’d seen ZZ. I really didn’t know any of their songs when I saw them for the first time, but I was like, “These cats are badass.” First of all, they’re representing their state, so they must love Texas. For me personally, to be able to become friends with Dusty Hill – when we were out for 11 months, me and Dusty killed off a couple of bottles of Crown Royal a few nights, singing country songs on the bus and having a good time. He was a good dude. We’ve done so many shows with ZZ Top. It’s just an honor and a pleasure to be out here with them.

You've been dedicating "Tuesday's Gone" to Gary Rossington. There was nothing better for me than when Gary would go into that first [part]. When he passed, we were in a difficult situation. He was coming down to Plant City, where we had a show. I had talked to him. I was at my grandboy’s batting practice. Me and Gary loved baseball. He called me and said, “Hey Bubba!” I was like, “Hey, Brother Man.” He goes, “What are you doing?” I said, “I’m at my grandboy’s batting practice.” He said, “Oh, shit, man. Go ahead on. Enjoy it and call me later.”

I didn’t call him, because by the time we got done doing everything, [it was late]. I’ve got big regrets, [because] he passed on that Sunday and that [call] was on that Saturday. We had to play a show after he’d passed. He was supposed to come down to that show. We were going, “OK, we’ve got to cancel.” His wife was like, “Gary’d kick y’all’s butt if you canceled.” So we went out and played the show after his passing and then came back, and I buried my brother. He’s buried in Jacksonville.

What was special about him as a guitar player? He played like he looked. [Laughs] I always said that. For some reason, he could hold those strings, kind of like Billy Gibbons . Billy has got his style; nobody else can play like he does. Gary had a bluesy, soulful thing. He was that part of Skynyrd, with those long notes holding – but then again, he could play something like “Gimme Three Steps.” Gary was a different guy. He was kind of an introvert and didn’t like the hype of the music business. He just wanted to play guitar, and that’s how he played. Looking back, Stevie Gaines and Allen Collins played way different than him, but he was the blues soul bottom guy to the band.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Lynyrd Skynyrd's  first album . [Van Zant's older brother, Ronnie, was the band's original singer and died in the 1977 plane crash that killed five others.] What do you remember about the early days? I think about me as a kid, watching it – because hell, they used to rehearse in my parents’ living room. It was just kids being kids. I don’t think anybody would have dreamt that it would have gone as far as it has and would have made as much impact, myself included. It was funny, because the guys in the band, they were all teenagers. They couldn’t cuss or drink if I was around. [Laughs] So they were always like, “Get the hell out of here, so we can do all of this cool stuff!" But man, there’s just fond memories. It blows my mind that it actually took off. The first record came out and did OK, enough to get ‘em a second record, which was Second Helping .

When “Sweet Home Alabama” hit, people went back and said, “Oh, they’ve got another record?” They fell in love with the first record. It just started steamrolling from that point on. Of course, until the plane crash happened – but no matter what, the guys in Skynyrd have always been really normal guys. Nobody was born with a silver spoon. They had to work hard for this, and it’s great for myself to be able to help carry this legacy on. It blows my mind. I never wanted to be in this situation. I wish the plane crash wouldn’t have happened, and my brother would have been here. Who knows what it could have been or what it might have been? But we don’t judge what God has in store for us. There’s an old line, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” Because it ain’t yours; it’s all his. But it’s been an amazing trip.

Lynyrd Skynyrd had announced a farewell tour, but you're still touring. How many miles are left on the road? I want to be upfront with you. We were on our last year – 2020 was really going to be our last year. It was like, OK, we’ll go out and maybe do two or three shows after that or do some charity work. We were [in our] last year and COVID hit. We were like, “Well, shit. This is great.” We sat at home for 15 months and when those months were up, we were obligated to finish off the dates that we had booked. So we said, “OK, well, let’s reform and get back out there and put everybody back to work.”

We got back out there and went, “You know what? We really missed this.” We missed seeing our fans. Gary was a big part of that. He was like, “I don’t want to sit at home. COVID retired me for 15 months and I didn’t like it.” [Laughs] That’s all he’s ever done. That’s all any of us have ever done. So we said, “OK, maybe we were wrong about that.” I’ve come to a conclusion: Musicians never retire; they just play less shows. We’ll see where the heck the future goes. There isn’t a thing happening right now that Gary didn’t know about, and he wanted it to happen. So we’re going to fulfill those wishes and we’ll see what the future brings.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd & ZZ Top The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour

Two titans of American classic rock  ZZ Top  and  Lynyrd Skynyrd  have announced their first co-headlining tour –  The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour  – taking over twenty-two cities in North America this summer. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on Friday, July 21 at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, FL, and continues with stops in Fort Worth, Phoenix, Chicago, and more before wrapping up in Camden, NJ at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion on Sunday, September 17.

The 50th Anniversary An Exclusive Concert Film Experience!

July 8-14, 2023.

Unbranded Events presents “The 50th Anniversary of Lynyrd Skynyrd,” the band’s captivating final show with founding member Gary Rossington . This exclusive concert film event will premier in July for a limited week-long run at drive-ins, indoor theaters and outdoor venues. The performance, recorded at the famed Ryman Auditorium in Nashville , showcases Lynyrd Skynyrd at their absolute best, delivering an unforgettable rock 'n' roll experience!

Big Wheels Keep on Turning...

As  Lynyrd Skynyrd  approaches the  50 th  anniversary  of the band’s critically acclaimed debut album  ‘Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd’  in 2023, they resonate as deeply with their multi-generational fan base today as when they first emerged out of Jacksonville, Florida in 1973. Today, Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks on with a current line-up featuring  Johnny Van Zant, Rickey Medlocke, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, Carol Chase  and  Stacy Michelle . 

The Legacy. The Legend.

Few ensembles have had the deep impact in creating a lifestyle as Skynyrd has. The band travels forward with a primary mission of celebrating a legacy that honors all whom have had a resonating contribution to the lives of hundreds of millions of fans globally. Former members  Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Steve Gaines, Ed King, Billy Powell, Bob Burns, Leon Wilkeson  and  Hughie Thomasson  alongside others will forever remain significant contributors to this indelible repertoire and the band’s colorful history.

The rock and roll powerhouse continually tours. With a catalog of over 60 albums, billions of streams, and tens of millions of records sold, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Lynyrd Skynyrd remain a cultural icon that appeal to all generations.

We’re still standing, still keeping the music going. We wanted to do the guys who aren’t with us any more proud, and keep the name proud, too. -Gary Rossington

It’s about the legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and what it stands for, what the fans are all about. There’s nothing like getting out there playing a great show with Skynyrd and seeing people love this music. Johnny Van Zant

Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour Lyve!

Deluxe two cd + dvd edition..

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour Lyve! Was recorded at the band's hometown performance in Jacksonville, Florida, on September 2nd, 2018 during the venerable Southern rock groups' farewell tour. The DVD - directed by multi-award-winning director Shaun Silva and Tacklebox Films - not only features the 2018 Jacksonville show but also includes an intimate interview with the band about their experiences on tour and what performing together has meant to them.

From the Store

Lynyrd Skynyrd Southern Bird T-Shirt

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Lynyrd Skynyrd Flying Eagle T-Shirt

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Lynyrd skynyrd announce their farewell tour, and it's coming to pittsburgh.

Legendary southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd will bring the "Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour" to KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown on Aug. 25.

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Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd will kick off their final tour in May, more than 40 years after the band's debut album was released.

The Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour is scheduled to visit KeyBank Pavilion in Burgettstown on Aug. 25. Tickets go on sale Feb. 2 at LiveNation.com.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers announced Thursday that their farewell tour will also feature Kid Rock, Hank Williams Jr., Bad Company, the Marshall Tucker Band and 38 Special.

Formed in Jacksonville, the band behind hits like "Free Bird," "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Simple Man" was struck by tragedy when a plane crash in 1977 killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines and several members of the road crew.

The current Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup includes Gary Rossington and Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie's brother.

Lynyrd Skynyrd is the second major retirement tour that will hit Pittsburgh this year. On Wednesday, Elton John announced his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour with an Oct. 10 date at PPG Paints Arena.

Lynyrd Skynyrd is Second-Guessing Their Farewell Tour

Lynyrd Skynyrd sounds like they’re second-guessing saying goodbye to the road.

Singer Johnny Van Zant was asked by Ultimate Classic Rock about Skynyrd announcing their farewell tour 2018. However, the band is still on the road, even following the death of Gary Rossington , guitarist and last surviving original Skynyrd member.

Van Zant explains that Skynyrd’s final year of touring was going to be 2020. Of course, the pandemic led to an early end of the tour. After touring finally resumed about 15 months later, Skynyrd had to fulfill their previous show obligations. Van Zant notes how much the band missed performing to due the COVID hiatus. He said that, at the time, Rossington was a big reason why they changed their minds about the farewell tour.

“[Gary] was like, ‘I don’t want to sit at home. COVID retired me for 15 months and I didn’t like it.’ [Laughs] That’s all he’s ever done. That’s all any of us have ever done,” said Van Zant.

He added that maybe Skynyrd “were wrong” about saying farewell to the road and said, “I’ve come to a conclusion: Musicians never retire; they just play less shows.” Van Zant further confirmed that the shows Skynyrd is performing now Rossington knew about before he died.

No one in Skynyrd should feel awkward about going back on their word about a “farewell tour.” Plenty of other artists have done that before them. Keep scrolling for just nine examples.

Motley Crue and 8 Other Artists that Lied About Retiring

Motley crue.

Motley Crue's "Final Tour" ran from July 2, 2014 and ended December 31, 2015. Nikki Sixx, however, did tell Rolling Stone 2014, "The only loophole is if all four band members agreed to do it, we could override our own contract. But we know that will never happen. There are people in this band who will refuse to ever do it again, and you’re talking to one of them. There is no amount of money that would ever make me do it again because I have such pride in how we’re ending it." Turns out maybe there is an amount of money that could make Sixx and the rest of the Crue change their minds.

While they are currently in the middle of their "End of the Road" Farewell Tour, KISS' first farewell tour ran from March 11, 2000 to April 13, 2001. While they eventually went back on their word in 2002, this first farewell tour was the last KISS tour to feature its original lineup.

Ozzy Osbourne

Like KISS, Ozzy is in the middle of his second farewell tour. His first farewell tour, the "No More Tours" Tour, ran from June 9, 1992 to November 15, 1992. Ozzy would return to the road in 1995 with the appropriately titled "Retirement Sucks Tour."

Cher infamously announced her "Living Proof: The Farewell Tour" would only last for 59 dates in North America. It eventually stretched into 325-date worldwide tour that ended in 2005. She would they return to the stage for a Las Vegas residency from 2008-2011 and then go back to touring for her "Dressed to Kill Tour" in 2014, another residency in from 2017-2020 and her "Here We Go Again Tour" that began in 2018 and currently stretched into 2020.

David Bowie

David Bowie didn't have a farewell tour, per se, but he claimed that his 1990 "Sound+Vision Tour" would be the final time he would perform his earlier hits live and would "retire" those songs after the tour. However, on his next outing, the 1995-96 "Outside Tour," songs like "The Man Who Sold the World," "Moonage Daydream" and "Under Pressure" were part of the setlist.

Tina Turner

Tina Turner's 1990 "Foreign Affair: The Farewell Tour" featured 121 dates in Europe. However, shortly after the end of the tour, Turner told 'Jet,' "I've always thought this would be the final one but I must admit I now have mixed feelings. I'm the first woman to fill all these stadiums and the feeling from all those fans night after night was fantastic. I don't want to close that door completely. I'm going away for about a year and when I'm ready to return, I just hope the fans will want whatever I have to offer." She would return for four more tours. Her final tour was her "Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour" that ran from 2008 to 2009.

Jay-Z advertised his 2003 album 'The Black Album' as his final LP before retiring and threw a massive "retirement party" concert at Madison Square Garden on November 25, 2003. He has since released five additional studio albums.

Barbra Streisand

Streisand's 2000 "Timeless" tour was supposed to be her farewell to live performing, but Babs just couldn't stay away from the stage. In addition to one-off benefit shows, Streisand has since embarked on two tours: 2006-2007's "Streisand" and 2012-2013's "Barbra Live."

Garth Brooks

Brooks retired from performing and recording in 2000 to spend more time with his daughters. He managed to stay away from the spotlight for some time but would return to the stage in 2009 for a Las Vegas residency at the Encore Theatre that would last through to 2014. Brooks would then launch a world tour that lasted from 2014-2017, a stadium tour and an intimate "Dive Bar" tour in 2019. Since coming out of retirement, Brooks has also released four studio albums.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd is Second-Guessing Their Farewell Tour

Lynyrd Skynyrd sounds like they’re second-guessing saying goodbye to the road.

Singer Johnny Van Zant was asked by Ultimate Classic Rock about Skynyrd announcing their farewell tour 2018. However, the band is still on the road, even following the death of Gary Rossington , guitarist and last surviving original Skynyrd member.

Van Zant explains that Skynyrd’s final year of touring was going to be 2020. Of course, the pandemic led to an early end of the tour. After touring finally resumed about 15 months later, Skynyrd had to fulfill their previous show obligations. Van Zant notes how much the band missed performing to due the COVID hiatus. He said that, at the time, Rossington was a big reason why they changed their minds about the farewell tour.

“[Gary] was like, ‘I don’t want to sit at home. COVID retired me for 15 months and I didn’t like it.’ [Laughs] That’s all he’s ever done. That’s all any of us have ever done,” said Van Zant.

He added that maybe Skynyrd “were wrong” about saying farewell to the road and said, “I’ve come to a conclusion: Musicians never retire; they just play less shows.” Van Zant further confirmed that the shows Skynyrd is performing now Rossington knew about before he died.

No one in Skynyrd should feel awkward about going back on their word about a “farewell tour.” Plenty of other artists have done that before them. Keep scrolling for just nine examples.

Motley Crue and 8 Other Artists that Lied About Retiring

Motley crue.

Motley Crue's "Final Tour" ran from July 2, 2014 and ended December 31, 2015. Nikki Sixx, however, did tell Rolling Stone 2014, "The only loophole is if all four band members agreed to do it, we could override our own contract. But we know that will never happen. There are people in this band who will refuse to ever do it again, and you’re talking to one of them. There is no amount of money that would ever make me do it again because I have such pride in how we’re ending it." Turns out maybe there is an amount of money that could make Sixx and the rest of the Crue change their minds.

While they are currently in the middle of their "End of the Road" Farewell Tour, KISS' first farewell tour ran from March 11, 2000 to April 13, 2001. While they eventually went back on their word in 2002, this first farewell tour was the last KISS tour to feature its original lineup.

Ozzy Osbourne

Like KISS, Ozzy is in the middle of his second farewell tour. His first farewell tour, the "No More Tours" Tour, ran from June 9, 1992 to November 15, 1992. Ozzy would return to the road in 1995 with the appropriately titled "Retirement Sucks Tour."

Cher infamously announced her "Living Proof: The Farewell Tour" would only last for 59 dates in North America. It eventually stretched into 325-date worldwide tour that ended in 2005. She would they return to the stage for a Las Vegas residency from 2008-2011 and then go back to touring for her "Dressed to Kill Tour" in 2014, another residency in from 2017-2020 and her "Here We Go Again Tour" that began in 2018 and currently stretched into 2020.

David Bowie

David Bowie didn't have a farewell tour, per se, but he claimed that his 1990 "Sound+Vision Tour" would be the final time he would perform his earlier hits live and would "retire" those songs after the tour. However, on his next outing, the 1995-96 "Outside Tour," songs like "The Man Who Sold the World," "Moonage Daydream" and "Under Pressure" were part of the setlist.

Tina Turner

Tina Turner's 1990 "Foreign Affair: The Farewell Tour" featured 121 dates in Europe. However, shortly after the end of the tour, Turner told 'Jet,' "I've always thought this would be the final one but I must admit I now have mixed feelings. I'm the first woman to fill all these stadiums and the feeling from all those fans night after night was fantastic. I don't want to close that door completely. I'm going away for about a year and when I'm ready to return, I just hope the fans will want whatever I have to offer." She would return for four more tours. Her final tour was her "Tina!: 50th Anniversary Tour" that ran from 2008 to 2009. Ever since, Turner has kept a relatively low profile.

Jay-Z advertised his 2003 album 'The Black Album' as his final LP before retiring and threw a massive "retirement party" concert at Madison Square Garden on November 25, 2003. He has since released five additional studio albums.

Barbra Streisand

Streisand's 2000 "Timeless" tour was supposed to be her farewell to live performing, but Babs just couldn't stay away from the stage. In addition to one-off benefit shows, Streisand has since embarked on two tours: 2006-2007's "Streisand" and 2012-2013's "Barbra Live."

Garth Brooks

Brooks retired from performing and recording in 2000 to spend more time with his daughters. He managed to stay away from the spotlight for some time but would return to the stage in 2009 for a Las Vegas residency at the Encore Theatre that would last through to 2014. Brooks would then launch a world tour that lasted from 2014-2017, a stadium tour and an intimate "Dive Bar" tour in 2019. Since coming out of retirement, Brooks has also released four studio albums.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd at Concord Pavilion

Lynyrd skynyrd tickets, concord pavilion | concord, california.

Just when everyone thought that Blues-rock phenomenon Lynyrd Skynyrd was retiring from music, they announced the Big Wheels Keep on Turnin’ Tour! The much-awaited trek initially consisted of 14 dates in select cities, but due to public demand, the band just added more dates, and it includes a stop in Concord, California! On Thursday, 22nd September 2022, Lynyrd Skynyrd will be taking over the Concord Pavilion and performing their monumental hits, “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Freebird,” and “Simple Man.” If you love blues-rock, there’s no better way to experience it than to watch a legendary multi-platinum band such as Lynyrd Skynyrd! Get your tickets now and become part of the Big Wheels Keep On Turnin’ Tour at the Concord Pavilion!

In 2018, Lynyrd Skynyrd initially announced their retirement from music and scheduled a three-year final trek titled Street Survivors Farewell Tour. However, when the pandemic hit, the farewell tour was put to a halt, and the forced hiatus caused the band to have a change of heart. The tour was rescheduled to 2022, and the name was changed to Big Wheels Keep On Turnin’, hinting that Lynyrd Skynyrd is here to stay. During an interview, band member and frontman Johnny Van Zant explained that they scrapped the retirement plans after realizing that music and touring are essential parts of their lives. “We were two shows into the end of the three-year plan for the farewell tour when the virus hit, and everything was just gone,” Van Zant mentioned. He added that once something is gone, you realize how important it is to you. “Music is a great healer, and that’s what we all turn to when things are good or bad. A Skynyrd show is a family affair, and we want these dates to help heal our fans as much as ourselves."

Lynyrd Skynyrd emerged in the early ‘60s, but their prime was during the ‘70s. The rebellious rockers who pioneered the Southern rock genre have greatly influenced the next generation of musicians with their massive hits. The band has released 14 studio albums and sold over 28 million copies worldwide. In 2006, Lynyrd Skynyrd received the highest recognition as a rock band when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Tickets to see Lynyrd Skynrd at the Concord Pavilion are now available!

• | September
• | Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd And ZZ Top Announce Co-Headlining The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour

Tickets On Sale Starting Friday, December 16 at 10am Local on LiveNation.com

Today, the titans of American classic rock ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd have announced their first co-headlining tour – The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour – taking over twenty-two cities in North America this summer. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on Friday, July 21 at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, FL, and continues with stops in Fort Worth, Phoenix, Chicago, and more before wrapping up in Camden, NJ at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion on Sunday, September 17.

TICKETS:  Tickets go on sale starting Friday, December 16 at 10am local time on LiveNation.com

LYNYRD SKYNYRD & ZZ TOP: THE SHARP DRESSED SIMPLE MAN TOUR DATES: 

Fri Jul 21 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

Sun Jul 23 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

Fri Jul 28 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP

Sat Jul 29 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena

Sun Jul 30 – Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman

Mon Aug 7 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre*

Thu Aug 10 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

Fri Aug 11 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre

Sun Aug 13 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion

Thu Aug 17 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis, MO

Sat Aug 19 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago, IL

Sun Aug 20 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center

Fri Aug 25 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center

Sat Aug 26 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

Sun Aug 27 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage

Fri Sep 01 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

Sat Sep 02 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Sun Sep 03 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake

Fri Sep 08 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Sat Sep 09 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium

Sun Sep 10 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

Fri Sep 15 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

Sun Sep 17 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

* Not A Live Nation Date

About Lynyrd Skynyrd:

As Lynyrd Skynyrd approaches the 50 th anniversary of the band’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd’ in 2023, they resonate as deeply with their multi-generational fan base today as when they first emerged out of Jacksonville, Florida in 1973. Few ensembles have had the deep impact in creating a lifestyle as Skynyrd has. The band travels forward with a primary mission of celebrating a legacy that honors all whom have had a resonating contribution to the lives of hundreds of millions of fans globally. Former members Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Steve Gaines, Ed King, Billy Powell, Bob Burns, Leon Wilkeson and Hughie Thomasson alongside others will forever remain significant contributors to this indelible repertoire and the band’s colorful history. Today, Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks on with a current line-up featuring Johnny Van Zant, Rickey Medlocke, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, Carol Chase and Stacy Michelle. Gary Rossington continues to have a significant presence and creative influence with the band, while making select appearances on the road.

The rock and roll powerhouse continually tours, and as Van Zant shares, “It’s about the legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and what it stands for, what the fans are all about. There’s nothing like getting out there playing a great show with Skynyrd and seeing people love this music.”  Adds Rossington, “We’re still standing, Still keeping the music going. We wanted to do the guys who aren’t with us any more proud, and keep the name proud, too.”

 With a catalog of over 60 albums, billions of streams, and tens of millions of records sold,  Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Lynyrd Skynyrd remain a cultural icon that appeal to all generations.

About ZZ Top:

“That Little Ol’ Band From Texas” has been at it for well over a half century delivering rock, blues and boogie on stage and studio to millions of devoted fans. With iconography as distinctive as their sound, ZZ TOP is globally recognized with their beards, hotrod cars, spinning guitars and that magic keychain, all of which transcend geography and language.

It was in 1969 Houston when ZZ TOP coalesced from the core of two rival bands, Billy Gibbons’ Moving Sidewalks and Frank Beard and Dusty Hill’s American Blues. ZZ Top’s 1973 release, Tres Hombres , catapulted them to national attention with the hit “La Grange,” still one of the band’s signature pieces today.  Eliminator , their 1983 album was something of a paradigm shift for ZZ TOP. Their roots blues skew was intact and added to the mix came their hightech-age trappings that soon found a visual outlet with such tracks as “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs” on the nascent MTV. It was one of the record industry’s first albums to have been certified Diamond, far beyond Gold and Platinum, a reflection of sales exceeding 10 million units.

As a touring outfit, they’ve been without peer over the past five decades, having performed before millions of fans over four continents and have been the subject of their own Grammy-nominated documentary titled That Little Ol’ Band From Texas.   The band’s line-up of the bearded Gibbons and Hill and Beard, who ironically is clean shaven, remained intact for more than 50 years.  When Dusty temporarily departed the tour in the summer of 2021, Elwood Francis entered the picture accepting the directive from Dusty to be the perfect choice to stand in on the bass-guitar and now handles the low-end duties for the band for the present as well as into the future.

The elements that keep ZZ TOP fresh, enduring can be summed up in the three words of the band’s internal mantra: “Tone, Taste and Tenacity”. As genuine roots performers, they have few peers. Their influences are both the originators of the form – Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, et al – as well as the British blues rockers and Jimi Hendrix who emerged generations before ZZ’s ascendance.

They have sold hundreds of millions of records over the course of their career, have been officially designated as Heroes of The State of Texas, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (by Keith Richards, no less) and have been referenced in countless cartoons and sitcoms. They are true rock icons and, against all odds, they’re really just doing what they’ve always done. ZZ TOP abides!

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Bob Merlis | [email protected]

Blain Clausen | [email protected]  

Lynyrd Skynyrd 

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Monique Sowinski | [email protected]

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Covering the lynyrd skynyrd plane crash tragedy left tom wills with traumatic memories, but lasting friendships.

Travis Gibson , Digital reporter/editor

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Oct. 20, 1977, a Convair CV-240 airliner took off from Greenville, South Carolina.

There were 24 passengers inside the charter flight that Thursday evening including, crew and band members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, a Jacksonville-based southern rock band that created hits like “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”

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The band had just released its fifth studio album three days earlier and took off in the airplane, with “Lynyrd Skynyrd” painted on the side, bound for its next concert in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Friday night.

But the flight never arrived.

An NTSB report later revealed the aircraft ran out of fuel mid-flight due to “inadequate flight planning” and an engine malfunction that caused “higher-than-normal fuel consumption.” It crashed into a heavily wooded area during an attempted emergency landing 5 miles northeast of Gillsburg, Mississippi.

In Jacksonville, Channel 4 broke into “The Newlywed Game” just after the 11 O’clock News with a bulletin to report the crash.

Young anchor Tom Wills, who had just arrived two years earlier, was in the newsroom that night when the phones began to ring. Callers, including loved ones of those involved, were desperate for information about what happened.

“I was not familiar with the band’s music, but our 11 o’clock producer, Mark Darden, was. I was soon to get an education about Lynyrd Skynyrd,” Wills said this week, recounting that night nearly 47 years ago.

MORE: Stories celebrating Tom’s 49 years at WJXT

It was later revealed that four passengers were killed in the crash, including Lynyrd Skynyrd lead vocalist and founding member Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist and vocalist Steve Gaines, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines and assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick. Captain Walter McCreary and First Officer William John Gray also died in the crash, and the rest of those on board were badly injured.

Wills, who is retiring on Friday , took some time to look back on covering the story of Lynyrd Skynyrd, a story that left a deep mark on him and followed him all the way through his 49 years at News4JAX.

Wills walks among the wreckage

The day after the crash, News Director Joe Moreland, who had ties to Baton Rouge and was a Lynyrd Skynyrd fan, decided to send Wills and photographer Joe Coppoletta to the scene, and Moreland had the connections to facilitate the trip.

Moreland knew a private pilot who flew for his former Baton Rouge station and arranged for that pilot to fly Wills and Coppoletta between Baton Rouge and McComb, Mississippi, the closest airport to Gillsburg and the wooded area where the plane went down.

But there was a snag.

“Channel 4 had just switched from 16mm film to portable 1-inch videotape. No one on our staff had ever taken the equipment on an airline flight, and neither we nor the airline knew how to transport this gear. It wound up in the overhead compartment. When we landed at Baton Rouge airport, the camera wouldn’t work. I can still visualize Coppoletta on the terminal floor frantically trying to fix it,” Wills said.

They took the broken camera to Moreland’s former station, and even though the engineers there had no direct experience with “minicams,” Wills said they got it working again and saved the day.

But then it was time to get to work documenting the tragedy. Nothing could have prepared Wills for what he saw at the crash site.

“There are no words to describe the impact of standing silently in the woods surrounded by the personal belongings of men and women who died there, men and women who were horribly injured there, and the shattered wreckage of a machine that used to fly,” Wills said.

Wills was the only Jacksonville reporter to have walked amongst the wreckage of the plane in the woods, and he shared the tragic story with thousands of mourning hometown fans and beyond.

What he saw that day was recounted in the 1977 documentary “Need All My Friends.”

In it, Wills’ legendary voice and delivery were on display as he detailed what happened that fateful night and spoke to witnesses and survivors.

“You can’t even realize seeing one of these things on television, exactly what a crash of this magnitude looks like,” Wills reported while standing in front of the scattered metal. “Up there sitting against a tree is a piece of an airplane wing torn away from the rest of the airplane.”

Friendship from tragedy

Wills first met Billy Powell, Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist and crash survivor, when Powell flew home a few days after the crash. Powell arrived at Air Kaman adjacent to the Jacksonville airport. His nose was stitched up and cuts were visible on his face.

“I believe he agreed to let me interview him because of a decision I had made when he and other injured survivors were hospitalized in McComb and Jackson, Mississippi,” Wills said. “Friends of the band who had come to McComb asked me not to go to the hospitals and to give the injured their privacy. I agreed not to go to any of the hospitals.”

Wills said he will never forget how Powell described the crash.

“All I saw was treetops,” Powell said during the interview. “I looked out my window, I was in the middle of the airplane on the right wing. I tried to get as close to the back of the airplane as possible. I got in the middle of the airplane near the right wing, and all I saw was treetops. At first, it wasn’t so bad, but when we hit the middle of the trees, it was horrible. It was an experience nobody wants to ever experience.”

IMAGES: Lynyrd Skynyrd then and now | EXTENDED: Tom Wills’ interview with Gary Rossington

Over the years, Wills and Powell would run into each other and soon discovered they had a bond, one shared through tragedy.

Wills said the friendship really took off in 2001 at the Super Bowl in Tampa. Former Channel 4 Sports Director Sam Kouvaris and Wills were there covering the game and because Lynyrd Skynyrd was playing a concert there that Super Bowl weekend, they covered that, too.

“Billy and I greeted each other like brothers,” Wills said.

There was just chemistry between the two before Powell died in 2009.

Over the many years since the crash, Wills also managed to stay connected with the Van Zant family and other band members.

“I don’t bother anyone connected to the band needlessly. They graciously take my calls and answer my texts when I reach out, and I only reach out for newsworthy reasons. I’m especially grateful to Rickey Medlocke, Johnny Van Zant, and Ronny Van Zant’s widow, Judy,” Wills said.

But it wasn’t just Powell who became connected to Wills, it was Lynyrd Skynyrd fans, as well.

“They have been so loving and affectionate and appreciative since Joe Coppoletta and I produced a news special about the band and the crash which aired on Channel 4 within days of the tragedy,” Wills said, referencing “Need All My Friends.”

Looking back

In October 2019, Wills returned to the crash site for the first time in 42 years. The occasion was the unveiling of a roadside memorial near where the plane went down .

RELATED: Ronnie Van Zant’s family remembers classic band | Lynyrd Skynyrd survivor plays on ‘to show everybody our dream came true’ | 42 years ago: Lynyrd Skynyrd’s plane crashes

Wills covered the ceremony and interviewed survivors still dealing with lingering injuries after all these years. He also spoke to rescuers who still live nearby.

Wills produced a documentary, “The Legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd,” which he said he regards as “perhaps the TV program of which I am most proud in my career.”

In his 49 years at WJXT, Wills helped guide the station through its transition from a CBS affiliate to an independent station in 2002; covered two space shuttle disasters, the 9/11 terror attacks and various political scandals; witnessed first-hand the birth of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995 and endured months co-anchoring the news with Mary Baer from a card table in his home during the COVID-19 pandemic .

But the story of Lynyrd Skynyrd will always hold a unique place in the brightest — and darkest — parts of Wills’ soul.

Wills still remembers in the late 1990s when a TV producer from Hollywood came to Channel 4 and interviewed him about the Lynyrd Skynyrd crash for the VH1 series, “Behind the Music.”

During the interview, Wills said his emotions got the best of him as he described what he saw in those woods almost 20 years earlier.

“It was then that I realized that walking amid the personal belongings scattered on the ground of people who were dead or terribly injured was traumatizing,” Wills said. “We reporters are professional observers. We’re also like everyone else, frail human beings.”

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The Future of Classic Rock Tours: One or Two Surviving Members…or None?

By David Browne

David Browne

In the last few years, CJ Strock,  a talent agent who worked with the later incarnation of the Allman Brothers Band, faced an unusual dilemma. As seen in catalog and merch sales, a market still existed for the Allmans, their quintessentially Southern rock & roll, and their improvisational live shows, but the band itself didn’t exist: They formally gave their last performances in 2014 , and Gregg Allman died of liver cancer three years later. 

“I don’t want to give everyone this idea, but the model we created here is awesome,” Strock says. “It’s taking the songbook from the original band, which is beloved, and putting players in the mix who are decades younger. We still feel there’s a brand out there.”

Age, death, and retirement have taken their tolls in classic rock, leaving many heritage groups — the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Eagles, the Temptations, Lynyrd Skynyrd , Steely Dan and ska legends the Skatalites among them — with only one or two founders in their lineups. In many of those cases, the audiences are still there, eager to hear the hits and see a legendary band onstage no matter who’s in the lineup: The Stones, Eagles, and Dead & Co. were in the top five grossing tours of 2021, pulling in a combined $225 million.

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As Trouble No More represents, one route is to take a lead from ensembles like the Duke Ellington Orchestra, which has carried on playing Ellington’s repertoire, by way of younger players, since the jazz pianist’s death in 1974. There’s also a Glenn Miller Orchestra, named after the big-band leader who died during World War II; his posthumous ensemble, formed in 1956, is booked solid for the next year, with nearly 20 shows alone this month.

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Whatever way forward heritage bands choose, these are uncharted waters for the classic-rock genre as its major players approach or surpass 80. “As we all get older and people pass, how does the legacy carry on?” says Ross Schilling, who manages Lynyrd Skynyrd. “I think that has to be a decision for each individual group and the estates.”

Williams says using the ABB name was never under consideration — “It’s an understood thing, that’s sacred ground” — so they went with the title of the Muddy Waters blues standard, a staple of the Allmans’ set list.

Brandon Niederauer says he was all of eight when his father, an Allmans fans, took him to see the band. “Some of my first concerts were Allman Brothers shows at the Beacon,” he says. “My parents were always playing Allman Brothers records around the house. They’re the reason I played guitar in the first place. Fast forward 10 years, and I’m up there [at the Beacon] where they were. It was kind of insane.”

Trouble No More’s approach to the Allmans’ music reflects another way of putting a fresh coat of paint on a warhorse band. Rather than re-create the recorded versions of the songs, the band has tinkered with the rhythms. The group plays the material “five or ten beat per measure faster, so that current 15-to-30-year-olds would get into it more,” says Strock. “It’s tough for younger people to embrace something owned by their grandparents and that’s not seen as super cool. I’m trying to take that original music and have super-cool men and women in the band play this music like it’s their own.”

Williams, who handles the lead vocals on “Trouble No More,” “Whipping Post,” and “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More,” among others, opts for a modern R&B feel rather than mimic Gregg Allman’s raspy voice. “The people around us have been directly tied to the band for the last 25 years or 30 years,” he says. “That’s another way of saying ‘approved by.’ But we’re not carrying the torch, we’re continuing on with open interpretations of the music and reinventing it.”

As of now, Trouble No More is booked for shows through next fall. This year, the band re-created the 1972 double album Eat a Peach in its entirety onstage; plans are under discussion to perform another catalog record start to finish. (Of note: Next year is the 50th anniversary of Brothers and Sisters , which could be a possibility.) 

Introducing music from 50 years  ago to people half that age is one reason for keeping a classic band on the road, but it’s not the only one. Skynyrd manager Schilling has done the research and seen what happens when a band from that era is no longer on the road in whatever form. “The classic-rock radio spins and the digital streams slow down,” he says. “The whole catalog takes a large percentage dip. I’m not saying the music is going to die, but it’s going to lose its front-and-center attention once the live part stops.”

Then there’s a longtime problem in pop — copycat acts who might use a band name without permission. Allmans manager Holman, who consults on Trouble No More, says keeping a band on the road with an altered lineup is vital to keeping the trademark and preventing touring fakes. “I realized that if the show was endorsed and presented in a way by the Allman Brothers,” he says, “we’d be able to maintain the trademark.”

According to Stacy Grossman, a lawyer who represents artists in connection with trademark and copyright matters, trademarks for musical acts are available in several different categories, from live performance to merchandise and recordings. “If a band isn’t performing, they wouldn’t be able to maintain the trademark and it would expire,” she says. In most cases, that trademark has to be renewed between the fifth and sixth anniversary of the initial registration, and then in 10-year marks afterward. In the case of the Allman Brothers, the live-performance trademark will be up for renewal in 2027.

Trouble No More shows also serve as a savvy way to sell Allmans merch, recordings, and in the near future, a line of cannabis products. “If Trouble No More didn’t exist, there would be no live marketplace for the ABB brand,” Strock says. (A portion of ticket sales goes toward educational programs at the Big House Museum, the Allmans museum in Macon, Georgia.)

When the band played Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium last month, Rossington joined Skynyrd onstage for the latter half of the show and watched offstage as the current incarnation kicked off the concert without him. “A lot of different emotions, you know,” Rossington says. “The notes are the same, and the songs are the same. It sounds good to me. It  sounds  like our band.” Still, he adds of that show, “I look out and don’t see the original band — it’s strange. And then I look out and see a replacement for me, which is strange. Just hearing the songs without me playing on ’em live is very strange.” He chuckles wryly. “So there’s 101 strange things happening. But to see the younger people enjoying it makes your heart warm.”

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Others are excited by the possibilities of Classic Rock 2.0, even if partly in jest. “Can you imagine how cool it would be if someone in the Beatles organization said, ‘I’m going to get Harry Styles, Post Malone, and Ed Sheeran and put together a modern-day Beatles?'” enthuses Strock. “And you go to the show and they’re selling official Beatles merch? That would be hugely successful. From a fan point of view, that would be amazing.”

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Lynyrd Skynyrd Might Reconsider Retirement After Farewell Tour

By Andrew Magnotta

January 29, 2018

Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington says the band isn't planning on a formal retirement after it completes its upcoming farewell tour. 

Rossington says The Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour will go on for more than a year. The conclusion of the tour will mark the end of the band taking on lengthy touring commitments, but perhaps not the end of Lynyrd Skynyrd playing live. 

"We're just winding it down a little bit," he told Billboard in a recent interview. "We'll be doing this a while longer."

Rossington—the only remaining founding band member—says he and his bandmates have struggled with health issues in recent year. He adds that it's also been difficult to balance family obligations while maintaining the quality Skynyrd brand.

“We’ve been doing this a long time and we’re getting older, and it’s really hard touring and traveling,” he said. “My health isn’t very great, so it’s harder for me to tour these days, and everyone’s got kids and families and grandkids now. So we’re just gonna kick back a little bit because of our age…I just want to go out on a high note and make sure the band’s name stays in high regard, instead of going out and playing fairs and casinos and things like that. I want to live it still filling arenas and sheds, like we still can.”

He acknowledges that there's a chance Skynyrd might reconsider the farewell tour, comparing it to how the Eagles retired "for a year or two" and then came back. 

"It's just in your blood, y'know?" Rossington said. "So I don't know if it's really ever gonna end. … Even if the touring ends we'll still do special shows and special guest things here and there with the whole band.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd announced the farewell tour late last week.  

"After a career that has spanned more than 40 years and includes a catalog of more than 60 albums, Southern rock icons, Lynyrd Skynyrd, will embark on its final Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour," a press statement read.  

It continues: "The first leg of the career- concluding tour, produced by Live Nation, will kick off Friday, May 4 in West Palm Beach, FL at the Coral Sky Amphitheatre and will wrap Saturday, September 1 in Atlanta, GA at the Cellairis Amphitheatre at Lakewood. The tour will cross the country throughout the summer over Fridays and Saturdays to give fans one last memorable night of classic American rock-and-roll."

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will also have Kid Rock , Hank Williams Jr. , Bad Company , the Marshall Tucker Band and 38 Special join as special guests. 

The Jacksonville, Florida music pioneers formed in 1964 and are most known for rock radio staples like "Free Bird," ''Sweet Home Alabama" and "Simple Man." 

Tickets will go on sale on Feb. 2nd.  

Photo: Getty Images

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Lynyrd skynyrd and zz top.

Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top

• Treasure Island Amphitheater
• 5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd, Welch MN 55089
• Friday, August 30, 8pm
• Outdoor Show
• Reserved Seats $69+
• Berm General Admission $49+

Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top are bringing the sounds of Southern rock to the Midwest! Celebrating 50 years, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s knack for lyrical detail, down-to-earth honesty and hallmark triple-lead guitars made songs like “Freebird,” “Simple Man” and “Sweet Home Alabama ” radio staples. Transcending geography and language with their iconic songs and just as iconic look, ZZ Top still proves they’re true rock legends with “La Grange,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and “Sharp Dressed Man.” Hear all the hits when the rock titans bring The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour to the Treasure Island Amphitheater for the 2024 Summer Concert Series on Friday, August 30.

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Make it a weekend, island xtreme bowl, hotel & suites, restaurants & bars, island bingo.

New Lexington distillery makes Lynyrd Skynyrd whiskey; the band will be there to toast it

A new distillery is opening in Lexington with some pretty spectacular guests kicking off the welcome party.

Bespoken Spirits , new to the Greyline Station campus at Loudon Avenue and North Limestone, is holding a grand opening on March 27 that will feature Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Yes, THE Lynyrd Skynyrd, Southern rockers and whiskey aficionados, will be at the event, which will also feature a live acoustic music concert.

Why? Well, call it serendipity or maybe just great marketing. The band is in town to play a concert at Rupp Arena on March 28, with ZZ Top and Black Stone Cherry.

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And Bespoken Spirits just happens to be the company that produces Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Hell House whiskey, which will be available soon at the tasting room in Greyline. (Lynyrd Skynyrd’s band members also will sign bottles at Total Wine’s Hamburg location on March 28 from 1 to 3 p.m.)

The Bespoken tasting room will be opening for tours, which also will feature Bespoken’s other labels, beginning in April. Tours of their production facility on the other side of the parking lot will follow.

CEO Peter Iglesias said that the distillery hopes the event will be the first of many opportunities for new fans to discover Greyline Station and their unique distillery.

“Bespoken Spirits initially was a technology company, originally based in San Francisco,” Iglesias said. The company uses a patented rapid-aging process to create bourbons and other whiskeys to match the flavor and taste profiles that customers like Lynyrd Skynyrd want for their labels, he said.

Rapid aging in this case involves using 13 laser-cut oak staves that are mixed with distillate and then heated “sous vide-style” in a vat of rapidly circulating hot water until the desired flavor spikes are detected through mass spectrometry analysis, said Jared Bickel, Bespoken’s customer experience manager.

The distillery has an on-site lab that monitors different test batches and visitors to Greyline will be able to watch them work from inside the venue, Bickel said.

Once construction is completed, he said, tours of the distillery will include the manufacturing facility and bottling line as well, he said.

“We are all about transparency in our process,” he said.

Besides Hell House Canadian-style whiskey, Bespoken produces its own line of bourbon, rye and American whiskey as well as Uncle Chicken’s Bourbon with band Whiskey Myers.

The company, whose original investors included Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter and former Cypress Semiconductor CEO T.J. Rodgers, in August 2023 announced plans to move to Lexington and invest $3.2 million .

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority on Thursday gave preliminary approval for up to $500,000 in tax incentives, provided the company creates at least 16 full-time jobs over the next 10 years and pays an average hourly wage of $70.77 including benefits.

The privately owned start-up distillery, founded in 2019, has focused on blending. According to a news release, Bespoken has received more than 150 medals in spirits competitions through spirit rectifying.

The distillery will begin operations later this year.

Bespoken Spirits Grand Opening

Who: Lynyrd Skynyrd, with tastings, signings and live music.

When: March 27, 6-8 p.m.

Where: Greyline Station 101 W. Loudon Ave.

Tickets: Free, eventbrite.com

ZZ Top concert at Rupp will be homecoming for one band member with Kentucky ties

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