Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour

Last updated
Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour
Tour by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Associated albumLynyrd Skynyrd Live: Southern by the Grace of God
Start dateSeptember 23, 1987
End dateSeptember 25, 1988
No. of shows84
Lynyrd Skynyrd concert chronology

The Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour was a tour that was undertaken to pay tribute to the original band members who died in a plane crash in 1977. The tour began in the fall of 1987, in honor of the 10-year anniversary of the plane crash. A number of surviving members reunited for the tour. Original members Gary Rossington, Billy Powell and Leon Wilkeson were joined by Ed King (original member who had left the band in 1975), Artimus Pyle (drummer at the time of the plane crash), Randall Hall and Johnny Van Zant.

Contents

History

Rossington, who had formed the original band with lead singer Ronnie Van Zant was initially reluctant to do the tour. He was, in the words of his wife Dale Krantz-Rossington, still "very emotional" about the preceding events and about the anniversary of the plane crash. Eventually, Rossington decided that if the tour was to be done right, and if his fallen colleagues were to be honored properly, that he should be involved.

Original guitarist and founding member, Allen Collins, was unable to play as a result of being paralyzed in a car crash in 1986. Collins served as musical director for the tour, picking setlists and making cameo appearances onstage. He chose former bandmate Randall Hall (who had played with Collins in the Allen Collins Band) to take his spot.

Ronnie Van Zant's youngest brother, Johnny, was chosen to assume the role of lead vocalist. Other candidates were considered, including Paul Rodgers (of Free and Bad Company fame). Ronnie had been a huge Paul Rodgers fan and even owned a boat named "Bad Company" at one point. Ultimately though, it was Johnny who was deemed to be the best replacement for his brother.

The first leg of the tour was enormously successful. Moved by the loyalty and reaction of the fans, the band elected to add a second leg (which ran through the summer of 1988). The Tribute Tour Band played an inspired selection of classic Skynyrd tunes and ended the show with a heart-wrenching instrumental version of Free Bird.

The Rossington Band opened for the entire tour, playing a mixture of Rossington band original material and earlier material from the Rossington/Collins Band era. Dale Krantz-Rossington sang lead vocals for the Rossington Band and backup vocals for the Skynyrd set. Between the Rossington Band set and the Skynyrd set, old videos of the original Skynyrd band were shown on the bigscreen featuring full length versions of such songs as "T for Texas", "Don't Ask Me No Questions", "Cry for the Bad Man" and "Whiskey Rock-A-Roller".

Typical setlist

Tour dates

Date [1] [2] CityCountryVenue
Leg 1
September 23, 1987 Concord United States Concord Pavilion
September 24, 1987 Reno Lawlor Events Center
September 25, 1987 Sacramento Cal Expo Amphitheatre
September 26, 1987 Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheatre
September 27, 1987 Irvine Irvine Meadows
September 28, 1987 Los Angeles Universal Amphitheatre
September 29, 1987 Wheeling Wheeling Civic Center
September 30, 1987 St. Louis St. Louis Arena
October 1, 1987 Cincinnati Cincinnati Gardens
October 2, 1987 Chicago UIC Pavilion
October 3, 1987 Detroit Joe Louis Arena
October 4, 1987 Pittsburgh Civic Arena
October 6, 1987 Landover Capital Centre
October 8, 1987 Worcester Centrum
October 9, 1987 Uniondale Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
October 10, 1987 New Haven Veterans Memorial Coliseum
October 11, 1987 Philadelphia Spectrum
October 14, 1987 Atlanta Omni Coliseum
October 15, 1987
October 16, 1987 Jacksonville Jacksonville Coliseum
October 17, 1987 Tampa Sun Dome
October 19, 1987 Charlotte Charlotte Coliseum
October 20, 1987 Birmingham Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex
October 23, 1987 Antioch Starwood Amphitheatre
October 24, 1987 Indianapolis Market Square Arena
October 25, 1987 Richfield Richfield Coliseum
October 27, 1987 Norman Lloyd Noble Center
October 29, 1987 Memphis Mid-South Coliseum
October 30, 1987 Biloxi Gulf Coast Coliseum
October 31, 1987 Houston The Summit
November 1, 1987 Dallas Reunion Arena
Leg 2
May 14, 1988 Pensacola United States Pensacola Civic Center
May 15, 1988 Tallahassee Leon County Civic Center
May 17, 1988 New Orleans UNO Lakefront Arena
May 18, 1988 Shreveport Hirsch Memorial Coliseum
May 19, 1988 Jackson Mississippi Coliseum
May 21, 1988 Lexington Rupp Arena
May 22, 1988 Johnson City Freedom Hall Civic Center
May 23, 1988 Knoxville Knoxville Civic Coliseum
May 25, 1988 Columbia Carolina Coliseum
May 26, 1988 Savannah Savannah Civic Center
May 28, 1988 Orlando Orange County Convention Center
May 29, 1988 Pembroke Pines Hollywood Sportatorium
May 31, 1988 Chattanooga UTC Arena
June 1, 1988 Roanoke Roanoke Civic Center
June 2, 1988 Greensboro Greensboro Coliseum
June 4, 1988 Charlotte Charlotte Memorial Stadium
June 5, 1988Atlanta Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
June 7, 1988 Cuyahoga Falls Blossom Music Center
June 8, 1988 Pittsburgh Civic Arena
June 9, 1988 Clarkston Pine Knob Music Theater
June 11, 1988 East Troy Alpine Valley Music Theatre
June 12, 1988 Thornville Buckeye Lake Music Center
June 15, 1988 Bloomington Met Center
June 16, 1988 Cedar Rapids Five Seasons Center
June 18, 1988 Peoria Peoria Civic Center
June 19, 1988 Kansas City Sandstone Center for the Performing Arts
June 20, 1988 Omaha Omaha Civic Auditorium
June 23, 1988 Salt Lake City Salt Palace
June 27, 1988 Portland Starry Night
June 29, 1988 Tacoma Tacoma Dome
July 1, 1988 Sacramento Cal Expo Amphitheatre
July 2, 1988 Mountain View Shoreline Amphitheatre
July 3, 1988 Concord Concord Pavilion
August 8, 1988 Universal City Universal Amphitheatre
August 16, 1988 Costa Mesa Pacific Amphitheatre
August 17, 1988 Chandler Compton Terrace
August 20, 1988 Morrison Red Rocks Amphitheatre
August 21, 1988
August 23, 1988 Des Moines Veterans Memorial Auditorium
August 24, 1988 St. Louis Fox Theatre
August 26, 1988 Syracuse New York State Fairgrounds
August 27, 1988 Manchester Riverfront Park
August 29, 1988 Mansfield Great Woods Center for the Performing Arts
September 1, 1988 Saratoga Saratoga Performing Arts Center
September 2, 1988 Portland Cumberland County Civic Center
September 4, 1988 Allentown Fairground Grandstand
September 6, 1988 New York City The Ritz
(Miami Project To Cure Paralysis Benefit)
September 7, 1988 East Rutherford Meadowlands Arena
September 8, 1988 Uniondale Nassau Coliseum
September 10, 1988 Landover Capital Centre
September 15, 1988 Philadelphia Spectrum
September 16, 1988 Darien Lakeside Amphitheater
September 18, 1988 Charleston Charleston Civic Center
September 22, 1988 Trotwood Hara Arena
September 23, 1988 Louisville Louisville Gardens
September 24, 1988 Huntsville Von Braun Civic Center
September 25, 1988 Antioch Starwood Amphitheater

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynyrd Skynyrd</span> American rock band

Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida. The group originally formed as My Backyard in 1964 and comprised Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom, and Bob Burns (drums). The band spent five years touring small venues under various names and with several lineup changes before deciding on "Lynyrd Skynyrd" in 1969. The band released its first album, (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd), in 1973. By then, they had settled on a lineup that included bassist Leon Wilkeson, keyboardist Billy Powell, and guitarist Ed King. Burns left and was replaced by Artimus Pyle in 1974. King left in 1975 and was replaced by Steve Gaines in 1976. At the height of their fame in the 1970s, the band popularized the Southern rock genre with songs such as "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird". After releasing five studio albums and one live album, the band's career was abruptly halted on October 20, 1977, when their chartered airplane crashed, killing Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines; and seriously injuring the rest of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Collins</span> American guitarist (1952–1990)

Larkin Allen Collins Jr. was an American guitarist, and one of the founding members of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He co-wrote many of the band's songs with frontman and original lead singer Ronnie Van Zant.

<i>Street Survivors</i> 1977 studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Street Survivors is the fifth studio album by the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on October 17, 1977. The LP is the last Skynyrd album recorded by original members Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins, and is the sole Skynyrd studio recording by guitarist Steve Gaines. Three days after the album's release, the band's chartered airplane crashed en route to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, killing the pilot, co-pilot, the group's assistant road-manager and three band members, and severely injuring most who survived the crash.

<i>One More from the Road</i> 1976 live album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

One More from the Road is a live album by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, capturing three shows recorded in July 1976 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. Since 1974 Lynyrd Skynyrd had supported rock promoter Alex Cooley so that the theatre could be saved from demolition. This record was the band's first live album, and the only live album from the band's classic era of 1970 to 1977, prior to the plane crash that killed lead singer and songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backing singer Cassie Gaines. The album was released in September 1976. It was certified gold by the RIAA on October 26, 1976, platinum on December 30, 1976 and 3× platinum on July 21, 1987.

<i>Gimme Back My Bullets</i> 1976 studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Gimme Back My Bullets is the fourth studio album by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on February 2, 1976. It reached number 20 on the U.S. albums chart and was certified gold on January 20, 1981, by the RIAA.

<i>Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991</i> 1991 studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 is the sixth studio album by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was the band's first new studio album since 1977's Street Survivors and the first following a 1977 plane crash that claimed the lives of three members of the band.

The Rossington Collins Band was an American Southern rock band founded in 1979 by guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins following the 1977 plane crash which killed three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, of which both had been members. The band included two other surviving members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Billy Powell and Leon Wilkeson. The band wished to develop their own sound rather than being regarded as a reformed Lynyrd Skynyrd, and toward that objective they hired a female lead vocalist, Dale Krantz, who later married Rossington. The Jacksonville-based band released two albums before disbanding in 1982. Their biggest hit, "Don't Misunderstand Me," charted in late 1980.

<i>Lynyrd Skynyrd</i> (album) 1991 box set by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd is the first box set by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It features outtakes, demos and live versions of songs from their first six albums. It was certified gold by the RIAA in November 1997.

<i>Vicious Cycle</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Vicious Cycle is the twelfth studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd, released in 2003. It was the first album recorded by the band following the death of original bassist Leon Wilkeson, who appears on two songs, "The Way" and "Lucky Man", and the song "Mad Hatter" is a tribute to him. The album is the first to feature bassist Ean Evans, the first mainstream album with Michael Cartellone on drums, and the last album that guitarist Hughie Thomasson played on before he died. It included the single "Red, White & Blue" which peaked at number 27 on the US Mainstream Rock charts.

<i>Endangered Species</i> (Lynyrd Skynyrd album) 1994 studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Endangered Species is the eighth album by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was released in 1994 and features mostly acoustic instrumentation, as well as Ronnie Van Zant's younger brother, Johnny, as lead vocalist. Many of the songs are Lynyrd Skynyrd's best known songs, with new material released alongside. This is the last album to feature guitarist Ed King and the only one to feature guitarist Mike Estes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artimus Pyle</span> American drummer

Thomas Delmer "Artimus" Pyle is an American musician who played drums with the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1974 to 1977 and from 1987 to 1991. He and his bandmates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

<i>Legend</i> (Lynyrd Skynyrd album) 1987 compilation album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Legend is a posthumous compilation album by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that was released in 1987. It contains previously unreleased demos from the albums before the 1977 plane crash as well as non-LP B-sides. Since Legend was released, most of the tracks have also been included on other albums. The album was certified Gold on July 27, 2001 by the RIAA.

<i>Southern by the Grace of God</i> 1988 live album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Southern by the Grace of God is a live album by southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, recorded during the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour in 1987. These live concerts were a 10-year anniversary tribute by Lynyrd Skynyrd to the members of the band who had died in a 1977 plane crash. The plane crash killed frontman Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines and road manager Dean Kilpatrick.

<i>Lyve from Steel Town</i> 1998 live album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lyve from Steel Town is a live album by the 'post-plane crash' lineup of American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It has two discs; the last two tracks on the second disc are exclusive interviews with the band. The concert was also released as a live VHS and DVD. The tracks were recorded at Star Lake Amphitheatre in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, on July 15, 1997. Both the album and the video were certified Gold by the RIAA.

<i>Authorized Bootleg: Live in Winterland, San Francisco, CA, 3/07/76</i> 2009 live album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Authorized Bootleg: Live In Winterland, San Francisco, CA, 3/07/76 is a live concert recording of Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was released by Geffen Records alongside Live at the Cardiff Capitol Theatre which captures a concert four months earlier. This recording features the addition of synthesizers and backing Vocals. This concert took place in San Francisco, CA March 7, 1976.

<i>Live from Freedom Hall</i> 2010 live album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Live from Freedom Hall is a live album by the "post-crash" lineup of southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on June 22, 2010 after their eleventh studio album God & Guns. The set includes a CD with 15 live tracks and a DVD of that concert. This is the first Lynyrd Skynyrd album produced by Evan Haiman. Both Ean Evans and Billy Powell died before the release of this album, and it is also their last live album with the band.

The Street Survivors Tour was the sixth major concert tour by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The tour took place in North America, Europe and for the first time Asia.

The Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 Tour was a tour in support of the band's first post-plane crash album Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991. The tour took place in the United States, Canada and Europe.

<i>Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash</i> American musical survival drama film directed by Jared Cohn

Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash is a 2020 American musical survival drama film directed by Jared Cohn and written by Cohn and Brian Perera. The film stars Ian Shultis, Taylor Clift, Samuel Kay Forrest, Rich Dally III, Neill Byrnes, Anthony Rocco Bovo and Mark Dippolito.

References

  1. Lynyrd Skynyrd Gigography, Tour History | Songkick
  2. The Great Rock Discography (third edition) by M.C.Strong