Gary Rossington: Founding Member of Lynyrd Skynrd Passes Away
The band announced on Facebook that Gary Rossington , a the sibling, pal, cousin, kin, buddy, muse, and axeman, passed away today. “Gary is currently in paradise with his Beloved brothers and family, acting nice as he usually does. Please remember Dale, Mary, Annie, and the entire Rossington family in your prayers and respect their need for solitude at this trying time.”
Gary Rossington, a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, passes away at 71
The last remaining founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gary Rossington, passed away on Sunday at the age of 71. There was no mention of a cause of death.
According to Rolling Stone, Rossington avoided dying several times. He manages to survive a 1976 collision in which he rammed his Ford Torino into a tree. Which served as the basis for the band’s warning song “That Smell.” Two broken arms, a fractured leg, a perforated stomach. Also a ruptured liver were among the injuries. He sustained in the 1977 plane disaster that also claims the lives of guitarist Steve Gaines. Backing singers Cassie Gaines, and singer Ronnie Van Zant.
He informed Rolling Stone in 2006, “It was a heartbreaking thing.
“You can’t just discuss it casually and not feel anything about it. Rossington endured a quintuple bypass treatment in 2003, had a heart attack in 2015. Also underwent a number of further cardiac operations throughout the years. Most recently, in July 2021, Rossington left Lynyrd Skynyrd to recover after another procedure. At recent performances, Rossington would play a few songs and occasionally sit out the entire night.
In Jacksonville, Florida, on December 4, 1951, Rossington was born.
After his father passed away, his mother reared Rossington. Rossington and his new mates sought to balance their passion of baseball with their band once they met drummer Bob Burns and bassist Larry Junstrom.
According to Rolling Stone, Ronnie Van Zant met his future bandmates after hitting a line drive between opponent Bob Burns’ shoulder blades during a crucial Little League game. That afternoon, at Burns’ Jacksonville residence. Rossington, Burns, Van Zant, and guitarist Allen Collins got together to jam “Time Is on My Side” by the Rolling Stones.
Furthermore, Despite all the controversy and band members’ passing. Rossington told Rolling Stone that he had never thought of Skynyrd as a tragic band. At Having been inducting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the band in 2006, he says.” It’s not a tragedy to me; it’s just life.. The positive, in my opinion, exceeds the bad.
For more latest news, Click here.