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Lynyrd Skynyrd: Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock
The first complete, unvarnished history of Southern rock’s legendary and most popular band, from its members’ hardscrabble boyhoods in Jacksonville, Florida and their rise to worldwide fame to the tragic plane crash that killed the founder and the band’s rise again from the ashes.
In the summer of 1964 Jacksonville, Florida teenager Ronnie Van Zant and some of his friends hatched the idea of forming a band to play covers of the Rolling Stones, Beatles, Yardbirds and the country and blues-rock music they had grown to love. Naming their band after Leonard Skinner, the gym teacher at Robert E. Lee Senior High School who constantly badgered the long-haired aspiring musicians to get haircuts, they were soon playing gigs at parties, and bars throughout the South. During the next decade Lynyrd Skynyrd grew into the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful of the rock bands to emerge from the South since the Allman Brothers. Their hits “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama” became classics. Then, at the height of its popularlity in 1977, the band was struck with tragedy --a plane crash that killed Ronnie Van Zant and two other band members.
Lynyrd Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock is an intimate chronicle of the band from its earliest days through the plane crash and its aftermath, to its rebirth and current status as an enduring cult favorite. From his behind-the-scenes perspective as Ronnie Van Zant’s lifelong friend and frequent member of the band’s entourage who was also aboard the plane on that fateful flight, Gene Odom reveals the unique synthesis of blues/country rock and songwriting talent, relentless drive, rebellious Southern swagger and down-to-earth sensibility that brought the band together and made it a defining and hugely popular Southern rock band -- as well as the destructive forces that tore it apart. Illustrated throughout with rare photos, Odom traces the band’s rise to fame and shares personal stories that bring to life the band’s journey.
For the fans who have purchased a cumulative 35 million copies of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s albums and continue to pack concerts today, Lynyrd Skynyrd is a celebration of an immortal American band.
In the summer of 1964 Jacksonville, Florida teenager Ronnie Van Zant and some of his friends hatched the idea of forming a band to play covers of the Rolling Stones, Beatles, Yardbirds and the country and blues-rock music they had grown to love. Naming their band after Leonard Skinner, the gym teacher at Robert E. Lee Senior High School who constantly badgered the long-haired aspiring musicians to get haircuts, they were soon playing gigs at parties, and bars throughout the South. During the next decade Lynyrd Skynyrd grew into the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful of the rock bands to emerge from the South since the Allman Brothers. Their hits “Free Bird” and “Sweet Home Alabama” became classics. Then, at the height of its popularlity in 1977, the band was struck with tragedy --a plane crash that killed Ronnie Van Zant and two other band members.
Lynyrd Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock is an intimate chronicle of the band from its earliest days through the plane crash and its aftermath, to its rebirth and current status as an enduring cult favorite. From his behind-the-scenes perspective as Ronnie Van Zant’s lifelong friend and frequent member of the band’s entourage who was also aboard the plane on that fateful flight, Gene Odom reveals the unique synthesis of blues/country rock and songwriting talent, relentless drive, rebellious Southern swagger and down-to-earth sensibility that brought the band together and made it a defining and hugely popular Southern rock band -- as well as the destructive forces that tore it apart. Illustrated throughout with rare photos, Odom traces the band’s rise to fame and shares personal stories that bring to life the band’s journey.
For the fans who have purchased a cumulative 35 million copies of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s albums and continue to pack concerts today, Lynyrd Skynyrd is a celebration of an immortal American band.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
45 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 17, 2007
This is an excellent biography of Lynyrd Skynyrd. It tells you how they got their name, and the inner workings of the band. If you like their music, this book will leave you free as a bird, now.
February 12, 2009
Level 1:
What is the name of the lead singer of lynyrd skynyrd? Ronnie Van Zant
What time period did this take place? Early 1970's
What happened to the band? Lead singer and guitarist died in tradjic plane crash.
Level 2:
Why was the death of these musicians so important? Their music was very influential. It was also educational. They showed people that true greatness could exist and that it was the music, not the fame, or drugs, or money. They were ordinary family men, but their story will live on forever.
Why did the band continue on and play without those who were lost? They beleive it was the way their friends would have wanted it.
Level 3:
Is music this important to all people? No, but for those who find it that important, this band was one of the most influential to ever play.
What is the name of the lead singer of lynyrd skynyrd? Ronnie Van Zant
What time period did this take place? Early 1970's
What happened to the band? Lead singer and guitarist died in tradjic plane crash.
Level 2:
Why was the death of these musicians so important? Their music was very influential. It was also educational. They showed people that true greatness could exist and that it was the music, not the fame, or drugs, or money. They were ordinary family men, but their story will live on forever.
Why did the band continue on and play without those who were lost? They beleive it was the way their friends would have wanted it.
Level 3:
Is music this important to all people? No, but for those who find it that important, this band was one of the most influential to ever play.
November 5, 2014
This guy has made Ronnie Van Zants Reputation better than the wild and crazy guy he always had. This book has their whole story full of tragedy and tells how great Ronnie Van Zant was and his troubles as well as allen collins life and the life of the other band members. A bad thing about this book is that he is not clearly a writer but who cares he was there in the plane crash and after the reunion.
May 4, 2015
Simple, matter-of-fact account of the Skynyrd legend from the childhood friend of Ronnie Van Zant, and chief of security for the band in their heyday...Most revealing are the details of the October 20, 1977 plane crash; the last moments, and aftermath as told by the author, who was on the plane when it went down and survived to tell about it.
August 29, 2014
Insider's story of the band's history. Interesting read, but it is clear that the author is not a professional writer.
October 3, 2023
Growing up in the Deep South in the 1970s, the music of Lynyrd Skynyrd was a staple on every rock radio station blaring in our cars and playing anywhere else we could find it, including school dances, skating rinks, and pizza joints. We considered "Sweet Home Alabama" to be the national anthem of the South. Along with the Allman Brothers Band, Marshall Tucker Band, and a few others, these guys were a source of pride for so many southerners and perhaps a source of embarrassment and concern for my parents' generation. The terrible plane crash that killed the leader of the band, Ronnie van Zant, and several of his mates took place before I graduated from high school. Frankly, I don't remember even hearing about it, although I probably did. Long after this tragedy, their music continued to inspire us and spark us to dance and sing anytime we heard it, even today.
As a teen, I wasn't too interested in learning the names and bios of most of the musicians I listened to and liked. So 45 years later I decided to learn a little something about this band, and this book was a great introduction. As a childhood friend of Ronnie van Zant and a security manager for the band, Odom had firsthand information about the meteoric rise of LS, the tumultuous relationships within the group, the violent tendencies of Ronnie and his friends, and of course, the horrific accident that brought everything to a screeching halt. Odom was on the plane and suffered serious injuries, including the loss of his left eye.
I'm not surprised to learn that van Zant had a pretty serious violent streak going all the way back to his childhood. He loved to fight, with his fists. He mellowed some as he grew into adulthood, but unfortunately he was a mean, ugly drunk, and Ronnie liked to drink . . . a lot. He and the band members were also heavy into cocaine. Even so, Ronnie van Zant was highly motivated as a songwriter, musician, and performer. In fact, he was basically a perfectionist in this regard, which is why several of their songs, especially "Free Bird," are among the most memorable of the rock era. He demanded excellence in the recording and production but also on the stage, insisting that the songs should sound exactly as they did on the radio.
Lynyrd Skynyrd has often been dubbed The American Rolling Stones, which I think is a bit of a stretch. However, both bands were considered bad boys of their genre, and they had similar influences, musical interests, and reputations. This book is definitely a sympathetic appraisal of the band, its music, its success, and its lasting value. There are times when Odom tries just a little too hard to keep the surface shiny, like his belabored apology and justification for the lyrics of "Sweet Home Alabama" and the band's association with the rebel flag of the Confederacy. Even so, readers should come away with an appreciation for how complex, creative, and talented Ronnie van Zant was and how firmly entrenched his band is in the Southern Rock tradition.
As a teen, I wasn't too interested in learning the names and bios of most of the musicians I listened to and liked. So 45 years later I decided to learn a little something about this band, and this book was a great introduction. As a childhood friend of Ronnie van Zant and a security manager for the band, Odom had firsthand information about the meteoric rise of LS, the tumultuous relationships within the group, the violent tendencies of Ronnie and his friends, and of course, the horrific accident that brought everything to a screeching halt. Odom was on the plane and suffered serious injuries, including the loss of his left eye.
I'm not surprised to learn that van Zant had a pretty serious violent streak going all the way back to his childhood. He loved to fight, with his fists. He mellowed some as he grew into adulthood, but unfortunately he was a mean, ugly drunk, and Ronnie liked to drink . . . a lot. He and the band members were also heavy into cocaine. Even so, Ronnie van Zant was highly motivated as a songwriter, musician, and performer. In fact, he was basically a perfectionist in this regard, which is why several of their songs, especially "Free Bird," are among the most memorable of the rock era. He demanded excellence in the recording and production but also on the stage, insisting that the songs should sound exactly as they did on the radio.
Lynyrd Skynyrd has often been dubbed The American Rolling Stones, which I think is a bit of a stretch. However, both bands were considered bad boys of their genre, and they had similar influences, musical interests, and reputations. This book is definitely a sympathetic appraisal of the band, its music, its success, and its lasting value. There are times when Odom tries just a little too hard to keep the surface shiny, like his belabored apology and justification for the lyrics of "Sweet Home Alabama" and the band's association with the rebel flag of the Confederacy. Even so, readers should come away with an appreciation for how complex, creative, and talented Ronnie van Zant was and how firmly entrenched his band is in the Southern Rock tradition.
July 13, 2025
"Lynyrd Skynyrd: Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock" offers a deep dive into the turbulent world of one of Southern rock’s most iconic bands, blending reverence for their music with unflinching accounts of their personal struggles. As a lifelong fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s soulful anthems and gritty sound, I approached this book with excitement, eager to uncover the stories behind the music. However, the experience was a bittersweet revelation, peeling back the mystique of the band—particularly frontman Ronnie Van Zant—to reveal a group often overshadowed by their own excesses.
Author Gene Odom, a longtime friend and security member for the band, attempts to paint Ronnie as the heart and soul of Lynyrd Skynyrd—a charismatic leader with a generous spirit. Yet, this portrayal is undermined by the book’s own accounts of Ronnie’s near-constant state of intoxication. The narrative reveals a band rarely performing sober, with substance abuse weaving a destructive thread through their lives. This is particularly poignant in the case of guitarist Allen Collins, whose tragic early death is explicitly tied to his struggles with alcohol. The book’s attempt to balance admiration with honesty creates a jarring tension, leaving readers to reconcile the band’s musical brilliance with their personal shortcomings.
One of the book’s strengths is its detailed exploration of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s evolution, particularly in debunking the notion that the post-1977 plane crash iteration of the band—after the devastating loss of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines—was merely a “glorified cover band.” Odom effectively highlights the contributions of numerous musicians across the band’s five pre-crash albums, noting the fluidity of their lineup, including the relatively late addition of Steve Gaines in 1976 after Ed King’s departure. This context underscores the resilience of the surviving members who carried the Skynyrd legacy forward, refuting critics who dismiss their later work as inauthentic.
Despite its insights, the book leaves a heavy impression. The relentless focus on the band’s substance abuse and internal conflicts overshadows their musical legacy, making it difficult to revisit their albums without a sense of unease. While I’m glad I read it for its historical depth and insider perspective, the disillusionment it fosters requires recovery time before I can reconnect with Skynyrd’s music. This book is a must-read for fans seeking a fuller understanding of the band’s highs and lows, but be prepared for a sobering look at the cost of their freebird spirit.
Rating: 4/5 – Informative and engaging, but the unflattering revelations may dim the band’s shine for devoted fans.
Author Gene Odom, a longtime friend and security member for the band, attempts to paint Ronnie as the heart and soul of Lynyrd Skynyrd—a charismatic leader with a generous spirit. Yet, this portrayal is undermined by the book’s own accounts of Ronnie’s near-constant state of intoxication. The narrative reveals a band rarely performing sober, with substance abuse weaving a destructive thread through their lives. This is particularly poignant in the case of guitarist Allen Collins, whose tragic early death is explicitly tied to his struggles with alcohol. The book’s attempt to balance admiration with honesty creates a jarring tension, leaving readers to reconcile the band’s musical brilliance with their personal shortcomings.
One of the book’s strengths is its detailed exploration of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s evolution, particularly in debunking the notion that the post-1977 plane crash iteration of the band—after the devastating loss of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines—was merely a “glorified cover band.” Odom effectively highlights the contributions of numerous musicians across the band’s five pre-crash albums, noting the fluidity of their lineup, including the relatively late addition of Steve Gaines in 1976 after Ed King’s departure. This context underscores the resilience of the surviving members who carried the Skynyrd legacy forward, refuting critics who dismiss their later work as inauthentic.
Despite its insights, the book leaves a heavy impression. The relentless focus on the band’s substance abuse and internal conflicts overshadows their musical legacy, making it difficult to revisit their albums without a sense of unease. While I’m glad I read it for its historical depth and insider perspective, the disillusionment it fosters requires recovery time before I can reconnect with Skynyrd’s music. This book is a must-read for fans seeking a fuller understanding of the band’s highs and lows, but be prepared for a sobering look at the cost of their freebird spirit.
Rating: 4/5 – Informative and engaging, but the unflattering revelations may dim the band’s shine for devoted fans.
February 20, 2024
Lynyrd Skynyrd. What a STORY. As a childhood friend of band members and best pal of Ronnie, Gene Odum was there from the beginning and has the experience to share their story like no one else. It is a chronological telling of the band’s ~8 years but starts from childhood in Jacksonville, Florida. It’s full of dreams coming true, outrageous stories from the road, beautiful glimpses of his friends’ souls, and tragic recollections as the band met their demise. The stories are clear, focused and well-organized; Gene paints a grand picture of each band member, each album, and stories about the songs that make up LS’s discography. He was sober the entire time, unlike literally everyone else, so that “fly on the wall” energy is present throughout. On top of that, he survived the plane crash and harbours a lot of survivor’s guilt. He knew the pilots well and can recall the fateful argument he lost as the cockpit door closed. Gene’s perspectives, observations and crisp recollections are invaluable to history and immortalized in this book. I listened to the audiobook and loved the narration; it was reminiscent of Gene’s voice and drawl. The story concludes with LS’s awards for selling 23 million+ albums in 2001, as Gene was writing the book. Evidently, as Gene notes in the last few lines, “Lynyrd Skynyrd was still in flight. And they haven’t stopped flying yet.”
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March 11, 2024I picked this up because I wanted to learn more about the plane crash, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I like their music too. Their sound is peak mussel shoals to me, and I was impressed to learn that their tight sound was backed up by an intense rehearsal schedule. There’s soo many members of the band though, I could not keep everyone straight.
The author was a survivor of the plane crash, and doesn’t shy away from sharing the gruesomely horrifying details. Do not read this if you are a nervous flyer. Or if you’re scared of car crashes either, for that matter.
He does talk about the confederate flag/confederate uniform being used in their shows. He tries to give an explanation as an excuse, and multiple times says that Ronnie was the furthest thing from a racist you can imagine. In my mind, anything other than a resounding “That was wrong, we were wrong, I’m sorry for my part it in and I’ve been trying to make up for it ever since” is the wrong answer. The deflecting of responsibility and lack of a full-stop “that was wrong” was a huge red flag bigot alert to me. But the author was a security guy and not a member of the band, I guess he can’t exactly speak for Ronnie. If only the dead could talk.
The author was a survivor of the plane crash, and doesn’t shy away from sharing the gruesomely horrifying details. Do not read this if you are a nervous flyer. Or if you’re scared of car crashes either, for that matter.
He does talk about the confederate flag/confederate uniform being used in their shows. He tries to give an explanation as an excuse, and multiple times says that Ronnie was the furthest thing from a racist you can imagine. In my mind, anything other than a resounding “That was wrong, we were wrong, I’m sorry for my part it in and I’ve been trying to make up for it ever since” is the wrong answer. The deflecting of responsibility and lack of a full-stop “that was wrong” was a huge red flag bigot alert to me. But the author was a security guy and not a member of the band, I guess he can’t exactly speak for Ronnie. If only the dead could talk.
Read
September 5, 2024I picked this up because I wanted to learn more about the plane crash, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I like their music too. Their sound is peak mussel shoals to me, and I was impressed to learn that their tight sound was backed up by an intense rehearsal schedule. There’s soo many members of the band though, I could not keep everyone straight.
The author was a survivor of the plane crash, and doesn’t shy away from sharing the gruesomely horrifying details. Do not read this if you are a nervous flyer. Or if you’re scared of car crashes either, for that matter.
He does talk about the confederate flag/confederate uniform being used in their shows. He tries to give an explanation as an excuse, and multiple times says that Ronnie was the furthest thing from a racist you can imagine. In my mind, anything other than a resounding “That was wrong, we were wrong, I’m sorry for my part it in and I’ve been trying to make up for it ever since” is the wrong answer. The deflecting of responsibility and lack of a full-stop “that was wrong” was a huge red flag bigot alert to me. But the author was a security guy and not a member of the band, I guess he can’t exactly speak for Ronnie. If only the dead could talk.
The author was a survivor of the plane crash, and doesn’t shy away from sharing the gruesomely horrifying details. Do not read this if you are a nervous flyer. Or if you’re scared of car crashes either, for that matter.
He does talk about the confederate flag/confederate uniform being used in their shows. He tries to give an explanation as an excuse, and multiple times says that Ronnie was the furthest thing from a racist you can imagine. In my mind, anything other than a resounding “That was wrong, we were wrong, I’m sorry for my part it in and I’ve been trying to make up for it ever since” is the wrong answer. The deflecting of responsibility and lack of a full-stop “that was wrong” was a huge red flag bigot alert to me. But the author was a security guy and not a member of the band, I guess he can’t exactly speak for Ronnie. If only the dead could talk.
March 11, 2022
This book depicts how some of the greatest southern rockers rose to stardom. It all starts in Jacksonville, Florida when Ronnie Van Zant was a kid and his musical passion started to show. When you continue to read you begin to understand that the rest of the members were at the right place at the right time, and it makes you wonder if the band was fate. This book depicts how hard work and determination pays off. This book twists and turns through the bands rise in fame and how they try and find their way through drugs and the party life. I loved how the book described the band, it almost felt like you had a backstage pass of knowledge about the members. All though I loved this book beyond compare, keeping track of all the names in the book was a little tricky sometimes. All in all, I loved this book, and I would definitely read it again. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about one of the bands who helped create and form southern rock.
November 14, 2022
Solid if unspectacular look behind the curtain for the rise and untimely demise of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Irrespective of one's thoughts concerning the band--then or now--their story is compelling and Mr. Odom was there for the fast, often bumpy ride. While there are some nuggets about the creative process, Mr. Odom spares readers the deep dive into technical aspects of Skynyrd's records (I like this stuff, but I know it's not for everyone). Mr. Odom does go into signficant detail concerning the plane crash which is fascinating. The writing isn't always crisp and the organization of material is questionable at times and Mr. Odom's sincere respect and admiration for the band--Ronnie, in particualr--veers into fanboy territory on occasion. That's understandable and a minor knit to pick in an otherwise informative, fast-paced account of the southern rock legends.
April 7, 2019
Lynyrd Skynyrd has been my favorite band my whole life. But I found this story to be so...sad. Knowing the plane crash that would kill some of the band was coming at the height of their success, it felt like impending doom. And reading the stories behind some of the songs just kind of bummed me out. I still love them and always will. But surprisingly found myself mourning Steve Gaines just as much, if not more than, Ronnie Van Zant. Gifted musicians taken way too soon.
May 10, 2022
I recall listening to Lynyrd Skynyrd back in high school, but I hadn’t really thought much about them since until stumbling across a documentary of the band on Netflix. Anyway, my curiosity was peaked and so I decided to read Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock by Gene Odom (a roadie with the original band and friend of Ronnie Van Zant).
Although badly written, the book is a decent biography of the band who, while excellent musicians, come across as rather unpleasant people.
Although badly written, the book is a decent biography of the band who, while excellent musicians, come across as rather unpleasant people.
October 22, 2017
This is essentially a book about Ronnie, duh, lots of people would say "Skynyrd" was essentially a story about Ronnie. I appreciate the "I was there" perspective of the book and I really enjoyed it and spending time with the band we all miss so much, but there's something a half step off about the writing and storytelling. A great, great band and an American original.
March 9, 2022
Compelling but far too brief. Gene Odom combines his own stories of being on the road with the band with solid research and storytelling. But the book leaves you wanting more and particularly more when it comes to the long and complex story of what happened to the band after the infamous plane crash.
January 6, 2026
Fun read for a fun of Skynyrd, suffers from some biography flaws. Too focused on Ronnie VZ instead of the band, for a book about the band. Also gives to much personal opinions, but it comes from a personal friend of the band, so many indepth stories come out and it is an intersting read. B tier Book
January 27, 2020
Head of security for Lynyrd Skynyrd, and childhood friend of band members, this is a memoire of Odom's time with the band. He is a shitty writer, and he has little interesting to say. Just an old soldier meditating over past glories.
Made it 12% of the way.
Made it 12% of the way.
June 3, 2021
My favorite band of all time. I knew a lot of the information, but loved reading about Gene's first hand knowledge of the band. Such a great biography! Highly recommend.
February 4, 2023
One of the best books I have EVER read!
January 12, 2024
Boring
May 17, 2025
A personal telling of the saga of Lynyrd Skynyrd, their underrated lyrics and musicianship continue to be underpraised.
June 11, 2025
Loved this book!
An interesting look at one of America’s great rock bands. Fascinating read from one of the band’s insiders. Really held my interest!
An interesting look at one of America’s great rock bands. Fascinating read from one of the band’s insiders. Really held my interest!
December 30, 2025
Absolutely fantastic.
January 6, 2024
"Free Bird!!"
December 19, 2016
I actually would assign a 3.5 stars. I didn't know too much about the band, but liking the music of Lynyrd Skynyrd I picked this book up at a book sale, and it certainly was worth my time.
This book was written by a life-long friend of Ronnie van Zant, and this provides a unique perspective. The book feels honest and well-balanced in the sense that both positive and negative character traits are presented and that none dominates. It is stated at some time that the author does not want to write too much about the hard-hitting life of rock stars on the road as this aspect has been covered in countless other biographies, and that is okay. Nevertheless, it does become clear that Lynyrd Skynyrd was a band with its more than fair share of drug and alcohol abuse.
What I am missing is that in spite of having read it I have no real idea who the various people were as the picture painted is somewhat incomplete. I have no particular understanding of Ronnie's personal life and motivation (or that of other band members), his relationship to his wife etc. , but since this is not an autobiography this is maybe understandable. However, third-party narratives and insights such as interviews with Ronnie's wife, daughter and brother could have addressed this which, in my opinion, would have made this a stronger book.
But this is not what this book is. It is a personal account written by a close and lifelong friend who spent a lot of time with the band and who himself was severely injured during the crash, and as such it is a worthwhile read that would complement a more "complete" biography.
This book was written by a life-long friend of Ronnie van Zant, and this provides a unique perspective. The book feels honest and well-balanced in the sense that both positive and negative character traits are presented and that none dominates. It is stated at some time that the author does not want to write too much about the hard-hitting life of rock stars on the road as this aspect has been covered in countless other biographies, and that is okay. Nevertheless, it does become clear that Lynyrd Skynyrd was a band with its more than fair share of drug and alcohol abuse.
What I am missing is that in spite of having read it I have no real idea who the various people were as the picture painted is somewhat incomplete. I have no particular understanding of Ronnie's personal life and motivation (or that of other band members), his relationship to his wife etc. , but since this is not an autobiography this is maybe understandable. However, third-party narratives and insights such as interviews with Ronnie's wife, daughter and brother could have addressed this which, in my opinion, would have made this a stronger book.
But this is not what this book is. It is a personal account written by a close and lifelong friend who spent a lot of time with the band and who himself was severely injured during the crash, and as such it is a worthwhile read that would complement a more "complete" biography.
September 20, 2016
A great story written by someone who has seen it all and literally survived to tell his story. The book begins and ends on October 19, 1977, the "day the music died" for the band. The author is a childhood friend of Ronnie VanZant and doesn't make exaggerating claims; he mainly sticks to the facts of the childhood, creation and development of the band and its songs, and some attention to individual members, both former and "current" as of the crash date. He writes in great detail about the events of the crash; he suffered a broken neck as a result and didn't know for some time about the death of his childhood friend. The book also provides the author's speculation as to possible causes of the crash.
He includes pictures and a full list of concert dates from September 16, 1973 in Jonesboro, Georgia to that fateful night of their last show--October 19, 1977 in Greenville, South Carolina.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning the real history of this band. I had the wonderful chance to meet Donnie VanZant in a "honkey-tonk" bar in 1997 in Anderson, SC where the dance floor was rocking and "shine" was pouring out the back door. Oops, did I say that? He was very much the Southern gentleman, providing an autograph and pleasant but brief conversation. One can only wonder.. what if?
He includes pictures and a full list of concert dates from September 16, 1973 in Jonesboro, Georgia to that fateful night of their last show--October 19, 1977 in Greenville, South Carolina.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning the real history of this band. I had the wonderful chance to meet Donnie VanZant in a "honkey-tonk" bar in 1997 in Anderson, SC where the dance floor was rocking and "shine" was pouring out the back door. Oops, did I say that? He was very much the Southern gentleman, providing an autograph and pleasant but brief conversation. One can only wonder.. what if?
April 3, 2009
This is the worst written book that I have read in years. The author, Gene Odom, claims to have been best friends with Ronnie Van Zant since grade school yet he gives us very few intimate details. The writing is so anemic that once Odom comes across a gem he writes it several times. He will write the exact same line once in the first few chapters, again as the caption for a photo and a third time toward the end of the book. Doesn't anyone edit this stuff?
Where are the rock 'n roll road stories? That is what we are looking for! He is so protective of the image/memory of Ronnie that he never states the obvious: Ronnie was an alcoholic, heavy drug user (addict?) and an all-around asshole. Just a down-right mean man whenever he was drunk, which was the majority of the time. Odom, tell it like it was, not the rose-tinted view that you wish were reality.
If you want a chronicle of the band's many members and tour schedule this is the book for you. If you want substance you would do better to read the online articles and move on.
Where are the rock 'n roll road stories? That is what we are looking for! He is so protective of the image/memory of Ronnie that he never states the obvious: Ronnie was an alcoholic, heavy drug user (addict?) and an all-around asshole. Just a down-right mean man whenever he was drunk, which was the majority of the time. Odom, tell it like it was, not the rose-tinted view that you wish were reality.
If you want a chronicle of the band's many members and tour schedule this is the book for you. If you want substance you would do better to read the online articles and move on.
February 26, 2024
Serviceable biography of band from RVZ lifelong friend, but somehow lacks depth where it needs it and brevity where the pace lags. Gene does a good job addressing some myths and misconceptions head-on, and his explanations are generally cogent. For those wondering (as Gene was on the plane), this includes the most comprehensive technical analysis of the plane crash I've yet read. Overall, though, it's an inconsistent read. Essential for fans, but not the scholarly objective biography the RVZ-era band still deserves.
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May 13, 2012Certain occasions--Christmas?--provide an opportunity to show off anti-elitist
generosity: wrapping up a copy of LYNYRD SKYNYRD: REMEMBERING THE FREE BIRDS OF SOUTHERN ROCK for a friend and closet fan of the group
doesn't
mean, after all, that you'll be forced to sing "Sweet Home Alabama" in
pixilated chorus on New Year's Eve.
(originally published in the NASHVILLE SCENE / Village Voice Media)
(originally published in the NASHVILLE SCENE / Village Voice Media)
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