New Lynyrd Skynyrd Tour and Album in 2009
Legendary Southern Rock Musicians and Travellers Return to the Road
Apr 25, 2009
Lynyrd Skynyrd, including original member Gary Rossington, will tour this year; over forty years after the original Lynyrd Skynyrd began forming. The continuation of a Southern Rock institution is despite numerous personal tragedies, and because their music is timeless quality rock and roll.
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 2009 Tour
Lynyrd Skynyrd is undertaking a forty-three date tour this year, starting in Biloxi, Missouri on May 1st and ending in Henderson, Nevada on September 19th. Lynyrd Skynyrd are synonymous with the road, and have written several travelling songs.
There are thirty-one American dates either side of a twelve date European tour. The European tour consists of four dates in the United Kingdom, two in Finland and Germany and one each in Norway, Italy, Switzerland and France.
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s New Record Deal and Album
Lynyrd Skynyrd has signed a new record deal with the Loud and Proud/Roadrunner label and is completing a new album which is due for release later in 2009.
Billy Powell, who was the keyboardist on the first album after graduating up from band’s roadie, played on six tracks before he died of a heart attack on January 29th, 2009.
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Albums 1988-2008
In 1989 MCA released a greatest hits package called Skynyrds Innyrds, and Lynyrd Skynyrd produced their first studio album since reforming a couple of years later: Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991.
Lynyrd Skynyrd followed up in 1993 with the Last Rebel album, and their first acoustic album the year after: Endangered Species.
Lynyrd Skynyrd released three more studio albums between 1997 and 2000, before taking three years to produce their last studio album to date. Vicious Cycle was released in 2003, thirty years after their debut album, Pronounced, first alerted the world to a band that would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006; is considered one of the highest selling bands in American recording history, and was voted one of the top 100 artists of all time in Rolling Stone magazine.
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Current Line-up
Johnny Van Zant is still on vocals alongside Gary Rossington on guitar. Rickey Medlocke, who briefly drummed with the band in their early days before forming Blackfoot also sings and plays guitar; he replaced Ed King, who had bad health. Allen Collins died of respiratory failure in 1990, and Mark Matejka is now the third guitarist.
Ean Evans is the current bassist, after Leon Wilkeson passed away in his sleep during 2001. However, Evans is unfortunately battling cancer at the moment and won’t tour in 2009; Robert Kearns deputises for him. Michael Cartellone is the current drummer, while Peter Pisarczyk replaced Billy Powell on keyboards.
The Honkettes still feature Dale Krantz Rossington alongside Carol Chase.
For further information see the Lynyrd Skynyrd fan club.
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