He was the man. I always thought of Ed as the Mentor. he had already achieved success when he started playing with these guys. I grew up playing this music and listening to it of course. I contacted Ed on facebook a few years back. I had some great photo's taken of the band at a venue that i was working in as a stage hand of the tribute tour. Much to my surprise he answered me and many of my questions about the band. He said he didn't want any more pictures of himself and thanked me for offering. He quit because Ronnie was a dictator and actually punched him one night in Pittsburgh. My brother was actually at that show and he told me that Ronnie and a few of the guys were drunk and the show sucked. the roadies actually had to bring a couple of stools out for them because they were having issues performing properly drunk. i told Ed that. He said yes that was the night. his last night on stage ever with Ronnie.

@wavygr hmm

@wavygr In my mind it's just Rossingtons cover band using the name. No way his line up should be using the name they just ain't got Skynyrds soul. RIP the real Skynyrd.

You should check out the KZfaq video of Ed King and Marty the guitar guy. Ed King quit and left in the middle of the night. In the video, Ed says that Ronnie was a "raw genius" and probably would come back if RVZ would have called him. Ronnie didn't. I don't doubt that Ronnie could be a "dictator," however Ed had some issues too, and wasn't taking care of himself either. Ronnie was the leader of the band. Sometimes the leader has to step on some toes and Ronnie definitely did. Ed King was a great guitarist. Thought Ed's solo on Am I Losin' was exquisite and one of the best. However, Steve Gaines was a great fit when he came on board. Street Survivors album with Steve Gaines and his influence speaks for itself. Lynyrd Skynyrd didn't miss a lick with Steve Gaines in the band.

@@terrihilder8217 First of all comparing the draft dodging steve ganes to ED KING is a joke and disrespectful. Ed was better than the dope head. As far as Ronnie few realize that the drunk was going to far!

I was shocked also

Yea. 1977 two very talented performers who are 100 million times more profitable in death then in living but it's a pattern the media is not allowed to discuss and after 50 years this trend just keeps on continuing. Death all by design

Yes he loved Skynyrd. And he was a younger man then and was probably a fan. Maybe he had chance to interview Ronnie and the band back then. If so, he knew how special they were. My guess is that he met and/ or interviewed Ronnie. Like i said, when you met Ronnie, it became an experience you could never forget! And i think Tom was there with them from the beginning. God bless you Tom, i know the hurt also.

@@acgillespie It's very true. The band became a legend after the plane crash. In another interview here on KZfaq doctors recall fans asking if "Leonard" was OK. The doctor was saying, "Who the hell is Leonard?" The average fan wasn't all that familiar with who was who in the band. They new songs like Sweet Home Alabama, Freebird, Saturday Night Special and many others but back then you didn't have cable TV or internet only radio and TV. They probably didn't even have vcrs in the 70's. There were no cell phones. Our soda bottle were made out of glass. We watched Monday Night Football and boxing together as a nation. Nobody was interviewing Skynyrd on TV and making them household names. There was a tragic sense of loss though because people understood that people in a band that represented the South had died young in an untimely way. I was 14 and almost to fifteen and I didn't really even know who the band was. The only music I had heard by Skynyrd was from my brother's 8 track tape player in his old Ford truck. Anyway, much of this cult of death is people feeling some sense of loss. Some people probably "cared" in a virtue signaling sort of way. This let others know you were a good person. I questioned a white kid I knew who was carrying on about Kobe Bryant. He was wearing jerseys and shoes. He was always letting people know about his special clothing or his Air Jordans. He did seem to like watching basketball with his father who he only got to see on weekends. Anyway, this post went on way too long.

I think he was one of the reporters that broke the story the day of the plane crash

For Christ's sake he was there

I'm sorry but Artimus is a liar. He broke the blood oath for greed. He was talented but I don't care for him. I only trust Gene Odom on all things Skynyrd

Johnny carried the on as a tribute to his brother and all the other members ,and don't! Forget the honkettes, they added so much soul to a wide variety of their music, I also think Ronnie's ability to write songs was just as much if not more, an form of artistic expression.

Me aswel karen they were one of the best bands ever

Get out your guns ol'boy and start shootin! .... What do you mean American band?.... These guys have touched people's hearts and souls all over the world.

Wow. That’s something else man 👍

Porn

@@kimrice6978 Its not rare. Buttload for sale on the net. Both covers.

My friend has that album still sealed never opened remember they recalled it and reprinted it with no flames on the front cover after the plane went down you were supposed to take your record in and trade it

I also have the original album with the flames on the cover which bought just as it was released as well. It's a special record.

Yea... Right up until he threw Artimus to the wolves! POS said get this Artimus wasn't going to get help, he was running cuz he was scared!!! SCARED!! WTF ! Like a scampering kitty Kat! Ya know like Da F GARY!?!? lots might not know that while he was busy "running away" he finally came to a farmhouse were he came frantically out of the woods covered in blood and understablly a lil panicky and started to approach the owner as he was hollering for help he was greeted with a blast from a shotgun that Winged him spun him around and dropped him! The Measure of a Man is what his friends either have or do not have to say about him. After I die if I have one friend that says something a 10th as sincere admiring and loving as what I've heard Artimus say about Ronnie I'd be Beyond satisfied with my life on this Earth! Angels and fuselage indeed!

Even though the band was established. I believe Ronnie would be proud of his replacement. Johnny did help carry on.

Bob C. Just wondering what was it like? Did you even realize at the time that you were witnessing greatness? I went with my mother to see Elvis when I was really young. Slept most of the way through the show. How I regret that now.

Saw them once in Philadelphia You just KNEW you were in the presence of an incredible band.

I did as well. First Show 'Charlie Daniels' opened, second, 'Outlaws.'

I saw them along with the allman brothers in atlanta 1974...RIP..their music will live on..

I consider myself blessed to have seen them once. No show since has ever topped it.

Stephen Dmyterko you arent a true skynyrd fan if you dont know how to spell it

I've seen the band many times back in the 70's and they were pretty much the best live band around then. These days they're pretty much a cover band as the only living member is Gary Rossington. Yet little brother Johnny does a good job on vocals & if you weren't lucky enough to see the original band, I do recommend seeing them today. I've seen them right when they started playing again with Johnny, King, Powell & Rossington. People who hadn't seen the original wouldn't know the difference.

Freewheelin' Franklin thank you 🙏🏻

I hear Ronnie thought he was a badass. I would have loved to been able to give him an attitude adjustment.

Lynyrd Skynyrd w/ Ronnie VanZant is the BEST southern rock & blues band EVER! You grandkids need to start playing the guitar and keyboard now so you can take the torch and play Skynyrd, this is the greatest band !!! Ronnie was the best, his band the best, they earned their hall of fame, love Skynyrd, forever!

They don’t look like him at all. You want them to, so you think they do.🙄They have three other grandparents, a father etc. and of course you think they look like the famous relative. Here’s another eye roll for you.🙄

@@blueberrycobbler if that's your opinion - it's YOUR opinion. It's America, and you're entitled to your blindness. LoL

You shore got that right

I was at that concert! It was great.

We attended the lakeland show as well out of orlando before the tragedy

"He was a much better man than people realized".....You my friend are 100% right about that! Ive met him and he had a wonderful strong sense of values and could be such a kind person! Do not be quick to judge him, people. Unless you ever got the chance to meet him, then you never knew all the rest of Ronnie. And that was one great, wise and kind gentleman with integrity. They dont make them like that anymore!

Free Bird was played into the ground, I can hardly listen to it anymore. The best song was Simple Man, followed by Was I Right or Wrong and Curtis Lowe. 38 Special tribute to Skynyrd, Rebel to Rebel. Everyone should know.

No. She was about to be cut off. She's only his widow because he didn't get a chance to present the divorce papers.

@@Rednick82 Perhaps but people are still interested in her and the child.

Agreed

We’re is all the information. Is there a in-depth book ? Personal?

Tammy Michelle Van Zant, not sure what her last name is now, has a song and video here on KZfaq. I don't know if her mother is still living.

Patrick .Stryker not even close to the real thing

There was a gentleman's agreement after the crash never to use the name, wasn't there?

Yes, thank Lacy! What an incredible man he was. He taught his children well. They had respect, manners, loyalty and values. If only other young people where brought up the way the Van Zant children were, i do think this world would be a better place for that!

I bet Ronnie's grandson has a fist like a boxer, like Ronnie , don't mess with him

Seems too much entitled brattyness around, slack parents don't discipline or instill basic manners; we all suffer! *Think Ronnie was getting wiser about fighting, in a '76 interview he said 'Now, instead of people punching each other out, we just levy a fine. Hitting him does no good. Breaking up a hotel room doesn’t change anything. The best way to hit a man is in his pocket' He was maturing, evolving; heartbreaking he didn't get longer on that path - 'I’m 27 now & I’ve got a baby girl & I plan to stick around & watch her grow up. I also plan to collect for the last 10 years of self abuse' 😢 RIP, RIG x

@@ljbull33 🙄

I was looking through the comments to see if anyone else thought so

I hope Ronnie VanZant's grandchildren can sing like Ronnie, and any Skynyrd is better then no Skynyrd I love the band, it is the BEST!

poor kid

She sure does,big time! Glad to see her get on stage. It came full circle! Ronnie would be so happy!

@@floydfletcher4313 troll

He didn't die in the plane crash though. He died later on.

Great bassist with some cool hats.