Agreed

There'll never be another like him. He was one of a kind...

Says u

A voice of unrivaled authenticity.

He never wrote anything down on paper, according to some band mates. He remembered all lyrics to all the songs he wrote.

he'll yea friend wish I could have been there I would have tripped like a free bird with ya

Bart Hogan Me too....but I never got to see em.😳✌

Hey, I'm that drunk scalper. You owe me $4.50 dammit. Plus interest.

That's awesome man

@@a.mnmemories4289 plus inflation

@Gerald Dixon Cummings Gary said "Ronnie would be doing an interview and be cool and collect.Without warning drink would kick in,He would snarl at whomever "Just how in the hell you think you getting out this door" .

Unless drunk....bandmates painted a different picture

@M Fisher He was apparently quite a scrapper and used a razor for "backup", Rossington said he would not hesitate to use it if needed...

You gotta understand something the last year of Ronnie Van Zants life he was really getting cleaned up, he was actually going into the hotel rooms after each city instead of going to the bars like some of the other band members..

I see people saying he didn’t like guns cuz he could not he could not hurt someone with a gun, he wants violent tho he just had a drinking problem

@@chucky2569 that's when my friend was dating him, and she said he wanted to cash out, move to hawaii, and just chill.

I agree with everything but the chill part. He was a hell raiser, beating the crap out of his own bandmates. Busting out their teeth

He was a bully and ahole

Another one I wish we had back is Cliff Burton,Metallica bassist who died in a bus crash,the guy was a musical genius,he was also a laid back down to earth type of person.

​@@nimitz1739Bet he managed to have them thinking that if they didn't stick with him, they'd amount to nothing. Control freak. Written all over the stories they've told about him. It's unfortunate that the alcohol had Ronnie by the balls. I'll bet he had some issues that would be quite surprising if anyone knew of them. But...the music...what can one say? The yin/yang of life

As young as Ronnie was when he passed away, all the songs he wrote , he had been around the the world,and had lived many years😝

Rock period

@@gregorylensegrav208 yea you are right but he was most def a Southern Rocker!🤘

We will agree he was very special we're both big fans and he is sorley missed damn he was awesome@@jayjohnson9668

Amen to that. Seems like guns and Skynyrd go hand in hand to me.

Ronnie was shot. Thats why he thought people were not smart enough to have them. Thats what the song says too.

+Thelonesniper101 Ronnies view on handguns was based on what was happening in the world back at that time. Not the present times.

Except what's happening today is much worse. You have mentally ill people able to buy a fucking arsenal then going out shooting up schools and movie theaters. Then you have delusional assholes thinking they need a gun to stop these other crazy fuckers. It's a total clusterfuck of gun humping inbred shitbags. Ronnie would be even more against guns.

The majority of gun crimes are committed by people who have no diagnosis of mental illness.

@ scott nasta RVZ was never an Orange Park boy until he bought a house on Brickyard Rd as a man.

Never

Hi

He could've been my fishing teacher. I bet it would be peaceful fishing with him

Anybody that wants to fish with Ronnie is a friend of mine! Ronnie was the real macoy! People like him really do grow on trees!

Him and Duane Allman ✌️🍑🎶

how is he a genius im genuinely curious

@@deebo865 I only reserve the title "genius" for fellow humans who display exceptional ability. I guess most folks assign that word to people for their intellectual contributions to society, but also creative contributions. As a bias, I suppose, I tend to give this word "genius" to more artists than deep thinkers. IQ is not a hard and fast rule for me to admire the genius skills of another human. I would include Salk, Sly Stone, Wozniak, Lamar (Hedy), Musk and other historical/contemporary artists in the basket of , "genius". Since you are genuinely curious about my personal thoughts on Ronnie Van Zant, you've probably read this far, so I'll continue. RVS died at the age of 29, a long-haired, bare footed, eye-liner wearing, gun control activist, composer from the deep Southern part of the united states after a half of dozen hit records and the architect of an actual musical "movement". Southern Rock and Roll. Elvis gets RocknRoll (even if he lifted it). BBKing gets the blues (even though there are more prolific players). Cobain gets Grunge (even though he sites other bands as artifacts before him). RVS's music came from the ether. There was nothing like it (or him) before. It's like the story of a 9 year math genius born in a shack in the poorest parts of India. RVS was a unicorn. He spawned countless imitators after that did not come close to his artistic heights. Today's version of Skynyrd is a prime example. Note: Lynyrd Skynyrd was HIS band. No ifs ands buts. Read up, or watch personal testimonial. It was the Ronnie Van Zant band. Apparently, he was very particular about every aspect of the music, therefore we can credit him with everything they created. Even his bandmates speak of passing every artistic choice past him. Plain spoken, poet lyrics, like the words of Hemingway. Hard driving rhythm against dreamy ballads and sometimes razor sharp commentary on current events like an operatic score. He was political, but a genius stays out of politics. He was controversial, but a genius stays out of conflict. He was adored by women (and probably men) but a genius goes fishing instead. I sincerely hope that you asked your question with an open mind, hoping to learn more about why many, many people (like myself) consider RVS a Genius, rather than asking as a contrarian, without hearing his music, or reading his lyrics, or listening to his rare interviews. If you are the later, then I assume you are the same type of person who gives movie reviews based on 2 minute movie trailers and food reviews base on the menu photos instead of taking the time to try everything on the menu. If that's what's going on here and you are simply a contrarian, then I can only offer you this Free Bird -i1ii. Genius gen·ius /ˈjēnyəs/ exceptional intellectual OR creative power or other natural ability. The shoe fits. Ronnie Van Zant was a genius. When you change the world with YOUR music, or your writing, or your film, or your remarkable discovery, I suggest you humbly bow down to the greatness and genius of Ronnie Van Zant. Peace.

You can't be Southern and Suggest that we throw away all our guns.

@@aaronswanson9761 Well that's a really dumb statement. At what Latitude and Longitude COULD you begin to "throw away all the guns then?" Indiana/Kentucky boarder? WTF does the South have to do with it? You don't think folks in Michigan listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd and shoot guns? You don't think people in North Dakota don't sleep with a loaded gun next the night stand. The South? Wow!!! Ronnie VZ was one just man with his own position on guns and killin'. The South = Guns. That's about as stupid as saying The North = IQ. Regional loyalty is the poison dividing a national. Keep up the good work as a soldier of failure.

@@deebo865 if you are to much of a dull wit to figure it out.. . 😂

Sho right

Are you on medication?

Him and ted ted Nugent as President and vice President would be AWESOME

Yeah pretty much made it on watchable for me

+1besieged King of North, East, South, and West rock. Haven't heard a bad song from them, wish they would play more of their stuff on the radio, everyone think all they are is Sweet Home Alabama, Freebird, and Tuesdays Gone. Soo, soo many great songs that don't get airtime for some reason.

+TomRock81 I know! It truly makes even a fan just sick. I refuse to listen to a station that plays only those three. We have one station here that has added Simple Man and Curtis Loew every now and then. As for TODAY'S Skynyrd, they just should've stopped after Ronnie died, but there were two greedy people. I won't mention names, (cough, Judy, Gary) but those greedy people wanting more money gets THE WORST frontman just because he looks like his brother. I love Donnie and .38 Special, but Johnny, just made his career off his brother. I have zero respect for him and that song he wrote for Ronnie before he joined Skynyrd was stupid, but....he wrote it and sang it solo. He should've kept going solo. I would've had more respect for him.

+Tammy Sigmon I cannot judge what the band did after Ronnie died but my favorite all time band is the original Skynyrd band, but they suffered much tragedy & loss so the band did what bands do banded together with a few new people. I know Johnny is not Ronnie but he does put his heart into his songs I listen to 99.5% of the band Ronnie sang in. I have heard pros and cons of the tribute band , I guess it is what it is. I have a few of the newer bands cd's but find the first band much to my tastes till i die. I rarely hear the other songs of the first band either, they were well hidden , so they should make a comeback with those songs. All of the former songs, if it takes a strong vocalist well, Ronnie had a daughter does she have a son or 2 who could fit the bill as well? I know Johnnie does a great job on Ronnie's songs but in time he too will retire or go out singing... Who is next to try to fill Ronnie's shoes. I think a grandson or nephew or ? my thoughts and opinions. any Skynyrd is better than no Skynyrd to me.

+1besieged amen brotha

I'm pretty sure Skynyrd didn't have a song called "38 Special." Maybe you're confusing "Saturday Night Special" with the band Ronnie's brother Donnie was in called .38 Special.

Yes!!

1/18/75 and it was a Saturday

INDEED HE DID! Especially mine!❤️❤️❤️

I believe the crime rate was much worse in the 70s. In the book Freakonomics they talk about this and how crime peaked in the 70s then slowly ebbed all the way through the 2000s. Their theory is it was due to several factors, but mainly Roe v. Wade which curbed the number of fatherless children that ultimately wind up involved in criminal stuff. That all aside, I'm also a huge fan of Ronnie Van Zant and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

@ gail Yeah, all that plus the fact that he was arrested 12 times ( or more not sure ) So Yeah, they all could be 'bad' from time to time. Leon was the pacifist. Billy was the 'hide behind the other's coat tails and Allen and Gary could hold their own in a tight spot. If there was a microphone available Artie would be calling the fight, because you know how he loved the sound of his own voice.

@ Gail Too bad you can't ask Billy Powell how 'gentle' Ronnie was when he (Ronnie ) punched out Billy's four front teeth.

I am from Florence. They were staying at Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge on Florence Blvd. My mother was the assistant manager there. I met most of the band there in 1975. I was 15 years old. I had a crush on Cassie.

I am interested in what is the time period of your growing up in Nashville. I m curious because of the same general idea with me. Save, I lived outside the city limits of Nashville, in Rutherford county.

I agree that the band is not the same without Ronnie, he was the heart and soul of the band.

Jessica Thomson I agree but I still respect the guys trying to carry it on.

Just a tribute band without Ronnie and Allan..seriously

No Shit Sherlock thanks Mr Obviously

We used to have bb gun wars! I've been shot with a bb gun several times, I quit the day Mike chason had got a gas powered semi auto for Christmas and was tearing bark off the tree I was hiding behind ! I threw my gun down and surrendered

This is true. It was Donnie, he was about 11 or 12 and Ronnie was 16. And it was the leg. In the calf i believe.

Because SNS was about guns

Do t ask me no questions! I think you sir have a underrated comment

@ Southernborn Well I did live in Jax ( on the Westside ) and still do. Sorry Bud, but your description of violence in the city in the 70s is just plain wrong. At that time, you could still walk down the street at night and not fear for your life. The crack epidemic had not yet heated up. Murder ? Every day ? That's an outright lie. You could still let your kids walk to school and play outside on a summer night without fear of them being killed, kidnapped or sexually assaulted. I'd give anything for things to be like they were in the 70s in Jacksonville

@ Amanda School shootings are rarely, if ever committed by handguns.

​@@TheFruitloop186No way you missed her point,though. Or Ronnie's. Salute no bullets to the head,I say.

Ronnie Van zant had guns

Good story....thanks for sharing🇺🇸

They all had guns

@@Sam-fc8ik he clearly says he has an 1874 flintlock.. do you have actual proof he owned others after this interview? Specifically hand guns

@@jaredfullmer5104 kzfaq.info/get/bejne/f6d9o6yfp8m7dIU.html there ya go

Me too.

+Cousin Figel I received a copy of the FAA crash report if you read this carefully the truth is there as well as the company who leased Skynyrd's band the plane, as well as inexperienced pilots who disobeyed the FAA tower's instructions to LAND prior to crash, the pilots were negligent as they failed to check the gas tank with a dipstick as required. There is more to this but I am only telling you this part I found/read. Also, I believe Ronnie & the others who died should not have died young, the blame does lay on the shoddy scrap metal junk airplane and pilots. my thoughts and opinions.

+1besieged Actually a lot of it is Ronnie's fault. He was a bully and very demanding and persuasive. That plane had been acting up for a long time before the night of the crash. It was acting up bad before the takeoff, and a bunch of them did not want to get on the plane. Ronnie bullied them into getting on. And on top of that, the pilots weren't exactly the best either. But if Ronnie had common sense, and he knew about the planes problems, he would not have bullied his band to getting on that plane when it was clear, they were scared because the plane had been acting up bad, backfiring, shooting flames out the engine, etc.

bully what kinda pussy term is that wtf

Look I'm a die hard Skynyrd fan and I was a friend of Ronnies growing up in Mississippi and a groupie for them in 73, it's safe to assume that the piece of shit plane caused the trouble in the first place but there are multiple reports that a majority of the people on the plain didn't want to fly in it when it broke down the first time but Ronnie "insisted" that they all did, well if you knew Ronnie like I did you know when Ronnie insisted on doing something it usually meant him in your face with his finger on your chest. Is he to blame on the wreck? Absolutely not, but there probably wouldn't have been that many people on board when it did go down if it wasn't for him God rest his soul

James Clark Ronnie didn't grow up in Mississippi Jacksonville Florida is where he roamed

No he just was anti-gun.

​@@panosanest7625There was zero false persona with Ronnie Van Zant!

Wow I would have been shaking like a leaf on a tree

False. No proof of your flag statement.

@ Beetlebump I guess that's why he wore a variety of Tshirts with the Confederate flag emblem off stage too, right ?

@Matt Beeman yeah I think you are correct. I think the members had different politics

I've never heard that before It could be true but in these time I dont think he would be much of a liberal but I can't speak for the man

@@jakeshaw6827 They played for several democrats fundraising shows. They were liberal.

Don't specter he was cause on cheatin woman he says gonna get that pistol gal gonna shoot you and all your pals lol

The later Skynyrd is a tribute money maker band.

@@panosanest7625 yep making money for ronnie's family, thecollins family Gaines family the Powell's and Wilkerson clan something wrong with that bub

@@davidcoleman4291 Gee, that was nice of them to cut them in.

@@robertthomas1569 gee whiz never understand you people

bullshit

I totally agree. I agree with everything he stood for minus gun control.

@ Jackson Troy Self preservation is the oldest, most basic of human instincts. So how would you protect your family if need be, or would you just say ' Here we are shoot my wife and kids first please " Numbnuts

@ james crowe Forrest High... sorry about what they did to your school in the name of what ? Prejudice, racism,? This entire world has gone nuts.. Now they've targeted Ronnie and the boy's school Robert E lEE. I wondered how long it would take to change that name...

@ james crow My daughter graduated from Ed White

I'm from Texas and I'm all for protecting yourself but the gun culture in this country really is just too much and unnecessary