Sole surviving member of Lynyrd Skynyrd honours fallen bandmates on new release

Mon, 28 Sep 2009

Gary Rossington, the only surviving original member of rock legends and LickLibrary featured artists Lynyrd Skynyrd, has honoured his deceased bandmates Ean Evans, Leon Wilkeson and Billy Powell on forthcoming Skynyrd album ‘God and Guns.’

Set for release tomorrow, (Sep 29th) the album features Rob Zombie guitarist – and hotly-tipped replacement to Zakk Wylde for Ozzy Osbourne – John5. Zombie himself helped out with backing vocals on the song ‘Floyd.’

‘Gods and Guns’ will be the twelfth studio album from Lynyrd Skynyrd, and features songs co-written by Hughie Thomasson, before his death in 2007. ‘Still Unbroken’ the first single taken from the new album, was written after the death of original Skynyrd bassist Leon Wilkeson in 2001. The single grew in popularity after gaining exposure through a WWE event earlier this month (Sep 9th). ‘Simple Life’ was released in August ‘Storm’ and ‘Gifted Hands’ are the final two tracks on the twelve song album, and tributary to Evans and Powell respectively. 

Speaking of the loss of Billy Powell, Rossington says ‘I’d been with him so long, and we’re family. We were together more than with our families probably. I can’t remember a time without Billy.’ Having recently toured with Kid Rock, it seems that the new Skynyrd line-up still has much life in it. Speaking to Billboard, Gary Rossington said ‘…all I’ve ever known is to keep going. That’s the way we felt in the original band, so I guess that’s still in my heart.'

Lynyrd Skynyrd will celebrate the new release of ‘God and Guns’ with a show at the Beacon Theatre, New York City, NY on October 1st before embarking on a fifteen date US tour, beginning October 15th in Toledo OH, and winding up in Seneca, NY.  There is also word that they may continue to tour with Kid Rock in 2010.

God and Guns will go on release from tomorrow, September 29th.
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