Rock and Roll Garage

Ronnie Van Zant was one of the founders and the vocalist of Lynyrd Skynyrd from its inception until his tragic death alongside other band members and crew in 1977 when the group's plane crashed. Nine years later, in 1989 the band was reformed with Ronnie's younger brother Johnny, who has been the group's vocalist for almost 40 years. In an interview with WDHA, the musician said that he believes that his brother's spirit led him to join Lynyrd Skynyrd. Johnny Van Zant believes his brother's spirit led him to join Skynyrd "The way he sang these songs was just so cool and different. And I've had people go, 'Well, you're not singing as good as Ronnie.' I said, 'I never will. I didn't write them, but I'm here to carry it on. And I sing it the way I sing it, the way I think it should be sung.'" "For me, Ronnie, even to this day, was never the person that other people see, or listen to him sing. He was just my bigger brother who picked on me, wanted to make me tough, you know? And still, I get that. That's who he was to me." "He was the guy that…I'm wearing a Beatles shirt today, that if I said, 'Man, I love that shirt that you got,' he's be like, 'Go get me one of yours.' You know, take it off. So he was that guy who we'd talk fishing. That's who I come to whenever I think of him." "I know that he's there every night, and I know that he had a lot of me being here, being put in this position. I really feel that spiritually," Johnny Van Zant said (Transcribed by Ultimate Guitar). The current band, which has no original members since Gary Rossington passed away in 2023, is still touring and right now are on the road celebrating the 50th anniversary of the band. Their current line-up has Rickey Medlocke (Guitar), Johnny Van Zant (Ronnie’s young brother – vocals), Dale Krantz-Rossington (Backing vocals), Carol Chase (Backing vocals)< Michael Cartellone (Drums), Mark Matejka (Guitar), Peter Keys (Keyboards), Keith Christopher (Bass) and Damon Johnson (Guitar). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdaFgud8QcA&pp=ygUTbHlueXJkIHNreW55cmQgMjAyNQ%3D%3D

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