If you’ve ever let loose to Free Bird – or been a fan of either of these legendary bands – you won’t want to miss this glorious throwback.
Charlie Daniels & The Charlie Daniels Band continue to pay tribute to their iconic friends. Sharing a long history, the CDB goes back decades with Lynyrd Skynyrd – and the tragedy that befell them.
“In honor of the 43rd anniversary of the tragic Lynyrd @Skynyrd plane crash,” Charlie Daniels writes on Twitter, “here is the CDB and the surviving members of Skynyrd performing an instrumental of “Free Bird.”
The plane crash Daniels references is, of course, one of the most heartbreaking travesties in all entertainment history.
‘Free Bird’ Down: Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash
In 1977, there were few bands that could rival Lynyrd Skynyrd. The motley crew of southern rockers were riding high on instant classics like Sweet Home Alabama, Simple Man, and of course – Free Bird.
In a year packed-full of sold out concerts, however, the band’s history would change forever. While flying from South Carolina to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for a concert – something went wrong. Reports claim their plane ran out of fuel. Whatever the cause – what followed still feels unreal:
Attempting an emergency landing, the pilot took the aircraft down – and struck trees before he could hit ground. The plane ripped apart in Gillsburg, MS… claiming the lives of “both pilots, guitarist Steve Gaines & his sister & backup singer Cassie, roadie Dean Kilpatrick & Charlie’s dear friend & Skynyrd lead singer, Ronnie Van Zant.” – TeamCDB/BW
Skynyrd was never the same, and took a decade-long hiatus after their immense loss.
Watch Legendary Charlie Daniels Band & Lynyrd Skynyrd Throwback:
For the 43rd anniversary of this immense loss, The CDB is sharing an incredible throwback to honor their fallen friends.
Within, “members of the CDB and Lynyrd Skynyrd perform an instrumental of the Skynyrd anthem, “Free Bird” at Volunteer Jam V at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, TN on January 13, 1979. The Jam was the first time the surviving members of Skynyrd had performed together since before the tragic crash that claimed the lives of both pilots, guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister (and Honkette) Cassie, roadie Dean Kilpatrick and lead singer, and dear friend of Charlie’s, Ronnie Van Zant.”
[H/T Charlie Daniels Band]
