Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington is recovering from emergency heart surgery. A message on the Lynyrd Skynyrd Facebook page reads:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Gary Rossington as he recovers from emergency heart surgery. Gary is at home resting and recovering with his family. He wants everyone to know that he is doing well and looks forward to a full recovery. After last year, the country was shut down and everything we went through, Rossington’s family encouraged the band to perform in his absence. Music is a powerful healer! We all felt that playing the shows and bringing the music to you was a better option than cancelling the performances. We wish Gary a speedy recovery and we’ll see Skynyrd Nation very soon! Please do us a favor: pray for the Rossington family and if you would like to leave a (positive) message, please do! He will be happy to read it!”
Read the full message here .
Last Of The Street Survivors farewell tour when the worldwide lockdown forced the band, as well as all the musicians, off the road.
It's been more than 15 months since their last reunion, and the Southern rock icons aren't ready to say goodbye. They're back and ready to hit the road on their Big Wheels Keep On Turnin' . Thirty dates span the United States, coast to coast, border to border, running until November 19th.
Gary Rossington, one of the band's original members, along with vocalist Johnny Van Zant and guitarist Rickey Medlocke, delivered a personal message to their fans regarding the band's tour plans.
“We were two shows away from completing the three-year farewell tour plan when the virus spread and it all ended,” said Van Zant. “Once something is taken away from you – music and touring in our case – you really realize how important it is and what an important part of your life it is. Music is a great cure, and it’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 we heal ourselves.”.
Rossington added: “Covid-19 turned our world upside down. And since then, we’ve been talking within the band and realizing that music has a way of healing. Maybe it’s not our time to go. And maybe it’s our time to lift people’s spirits and lives and bring back some joy and happiness after so much turmoil last year. We’re still standing, still keeping the music playing.”.
The band's first show after a 15-month hiatus was the main attraction on the opening night of the Pepsi Gulf Coast Jam in Panama City Beach last Friday. The legendary rockers picked up exactly where they left off, drawing over 23,000 music fans ready to let loose and sing along to timeless classics like “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Simple Man,” “Gimme Three Steps,” “What's Your Name,” “Call Me The Breeze,” “You Got That Right,” their self-proclaimed signature song, “Free Bird,” and many more.
