Gary Rossington

Gary Rossington
Gary Rossington performing in 2008
Background information
Birth name Gary Robert Rossington
Born (1951-12-04) December 4, 1951
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Genres Blues rock, boogie rock, hard rock, Southern rock
Instruments Guitar
Years active 1964–present
Associated acts Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Rossington Collins Band, The Rossington Band

Gary Robert Rossington (born December 4, 1951) is an American musician best known as a founder of southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, in which he is the sole constant member. He plays lead and rhythm guitar. He was a founding member of the Rossington Collins Band along with former bandmate, Allen Collins.

Early life

Rossington's mother recalled that he had a strong childhood interest in baseball and aspired as a child to one day play for the New York Yankees. Rossington recalled that he was a "good ball player" but upon hearing The Rolling Stones in his early teens he became interested in music and ultimately gave up on his baseball aspirations.[1]

It was Rossington's love of baseball that indirectly led to the formation of Lynyrd Skynyrd in the summer of 1964. He, Ronnie Van Zant, and Bob Burns became acquainted while playing on rival Jacksonville baseball teams and the trio decided to jam together one afternoon after Burns was injured by a ball hit by Van Zant. They set up their equipment in the carport of Burns' parents house and played The Rolling Stones' then-current hit "Time Is on My Side". Liking what they heard, they immediately decided to form a band.[2] Naming themselves The Noble Five (with the additions of guitarist Allen Collins and bassist Larry Junstrom) they would later change the name of the band to The One Percent before eventually settling on the name Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1969.

Rossington grew up in a single parent household and says that early in their relationship, it was Van Zant who become somewhat of a father figure to him. He credits Van Zant, who was three years his senior, with teaching him and his fellow bandmates how to drive a car, as well as introducing them to "all that stuff you learn when you're 14, 15, 16".[2]

According to a New York Times article, Lacy Van Zant, patriarch of the Van Zant family, once went to West Jacksonville's Robert E. Lee High School to plead Rossington's case to school administrators after the fatherless Rossington was suspended for having long hair. Lacy Van Zant explained to the assistant principal that Rossington's father, who died shortly after Rossington was born, had died in the Army and that Rossington's mother needed the money Rossington made playing in his band. Lacy Van Zant further explained that, like his own sons, they were working men and long hair was part of the job.[3] It's not known if the elder Van Zant's efforts were successful, but Rossington later dropped out of high school to focus on Lynyrd Skynyrd full time.[2]

Music career

Rossington's instrument of choice was a 1959 Gibson Les Paul which he had purchased from a woman whose boyfriend had left her and left behind his guitar. He named it "Berniece" in honor of his mother (whom he was extremely close to after the death of his father).[4] Rossington played lead guitar on "Tuesday's Gone" and the slide guitar for "Free Bird". Along with Collins, Rossington also provided the guitar work for "Simple Man."

On Labor Day weekend in 1976, Rossington and fellow Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins were both involved in separate auto accidents in their hometown of Jacksonville. Rossington had just bought a new Ford Torino, and hit an oak tree while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. The band was due to go on tour in a couple of days, but had to postpone this tour due to Rossington's accident. The band members were not at all pleased with Rossington, and fined him $5000 for the delay caused to the band's schedule. Van Zant and Collins wrote the song "That Smell" based on the wreck, and Rossington's state of influence from drugs and alcohol at the time.[5]

Rossington was one of twenty passengers who survived the infamous October 20, 1977, plane crash near Gillsburg, Mississippi, that claimed the lives of Lynyrd Skynyrd members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and three others. As the passengers braced for impact, Rossington recalls hearing what sounded like hundreds of baseball bats hitting the plane's fusilage as it began striking trees. The sound got louder and louder until Rossington was knocked unconscious; he awoke some time later on the ground with the plane's door on top of him.[2] Despite breaking both arms, legs, wrists, and ankles, as well as his pelvis, Rossington would eventually recover from his injuries and play on stage again (albeit with steel rods in his right arm and right leg). Though his right leg was almost completely severed in the crash, doctors were able to successfully re-attach it. Days later, Rossington was informed in hospital by his mother that Van Zant and the others had been killed.[2]

Though in time Rossington fully recovered from the severe injuries sustained in the crash, he battled serious drug addiction throughout the next several years, largely the result of his heavy dependence on pain medication taken during his recovery from the plane crash.

Rossington co-founded the Rossington Collins Band with Collins in 1980.[6] The band released two albums, but disbanded in 1982 after the death of Collins' wife, Kathy.

Along with his wife, Dale Krantz-Rossington, he then formed The Rossington Band, which released two albums in 1986 and 1988, respectively.

As of late 2017, Rossington still plays in the Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup. With the death of keyboardist, Billy Powell (January 28, 2009), Rossington is the last original band member left in the reformed Lynyrd Skynyrd Band.

Personal life and interests

Gary Rossington and wife Dale Krantz-Rossington married in 1982 and have two daughters.[7][8]

Rossington suffered a heart attack on October 8, 2015 after which two Lynyrd Skynyrd concerts had to be cancelled.[9]

References

  1. ↑ Services, Wailer Website. "The Official Lynyrd Skynyrd History Website – History Lessons". www.lynyrdskynyrdhistory.com. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd, Passion Pictures, Directed by Stephen Kijak, 2018
  3. ↑ Dewan, Shaila K. (26 December 2004). "Southern Man". Retrieved 10 June 2017 – via NYTimes.com.
  4. ↑ "Gary Rossington - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  5. ↑ Note: The specific lyrics that refer to the car wreck are: "Whiskey bottles and brand new cars, oak tree you're in my way. There's too much coke and too much smoke."
  6. ↑ Dillon, Charlotte. "Biography: Gary Rossington". AMG. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Don't Ask Me No Questions –". planetjh.com.
  8. ↑ "Life Beyond Skynyrd: Guitarist Gary Rossington and Wife Dale 'Take It On Faith' (Interview) - Rock Cellar Magazine". 9 December 2016.
  9. ↑ "Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Gary Rossington Suffers Heart Attack". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 10 June 2017.

See also

1977 Mississippi CV-240 crash

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