Latest news with #GaryRossington
Forbes
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Lynyrd Skynyrd Reaches A Billboard Chart For The First Time
Lynyrd Skynyrd debuts on Billboard's Top Streaming Albums chart with All Time Greatest Hits as ... More 'Sweet Home Alabama' surges around the July Fourth holiday. CIRCA 1975: Lynyrd Skynyrd (L-R Allen Collins, Leon Wilkeson, Gary Rossington, Artimus Pyle, Ronnie Van Zandt and Billy Powell) pose for a portrait circa 1975. (Photo by Michael) Lynyrd Skynyrd scored a career-defining hit with 'Sweet Home Alabama,' the song that pays tribute to the southern state. As with so many musical projects that feature the name of anything related to the United States — or which evoke patriotism in general — 'Sweet Home Alabama' experiences a notable boost in popularity around the country's birthday each year. As consumption of the tune grows, it helps the group's most popular compilation soar once more. This year, Lynyrd Skynyrd even manages to debut on a Billboard tally the rock band has never appeared on before, thanks largely to renewed attention around its most famous tune. Lynyrd Skynyrd's Greatest Hits Set Debuts All Time Greatest Hits appears on multiple Billboard charts this week, climbing on all of them. As the compilation rises on several lists, it debuts on the Top Streaming Albums ranking, coming in at No. 44. Lynyrd Skynyrd lands on the list of the most played full-lengths and EPs on platforms like Apple Music and Spotify in the U.S. for the very first time. That's a major accomplishment for a project released a quarter-century ago and packed with songs that became hits long before then. Lynyrd Skynyrd Joins Katy Perry and Tom Petty Lynyrd Skynyrd earns one of three debuts on the Top Streaming Albums chart this week. Somewhat surprisingly, none of the projects that appear on the list for the very first time are brand new, except to this one tally. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers launch Greatest Hits at No. 31, while Teenage Dream, Katy Perry's biggest full-length, opens at No. 47, many years after it took over the globe with one smash after another. "Sweet Home Alabama" Lifts on Several Charts An increase in streams, particularly of 'Sweet Home Alabama,' helps All Time Greatest Hits climb on three additional Billboard tallies. The set returns to the top 10 on the Top Rock Albums list, jumping from No. 20 to No. 9. It also gains considerable ground on both the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart and the Billboard 200, landing at Nos. 11 and 45, respectively. 'Sweet Home Alabama' also finds its way into the top 10 on the Rock Streaming Songs ranking. It's clear that Americans revisiting the tune around the Fourth of July had a major impact not just on the track's position itself, but also on the compilation on which it's featured.
Forbes
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Lynyrd Skynyrd Charts Its First Bestselling Album — Half A Century On
Lynyrd Skynyrd's Celebrating 50 Years: Live at the Ryman debuts on two U.K. rankings, earning the ... More band its first win on the albums sales chart. JANUARY 1975: Lynyrd Skynyrd (L-R Ed King, Leon Wilkeson, Artimus Pyle, Billy Powell, Allen Collins, Ronnie Van Zandt and Gary Rossington pose for a portrait in January 1975. (Photo by Michael) More than half a century after Lynyrd Skynyrd released its debut album Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd, the band still claims a global fanbase. The Southern rock outfit remains so beloved that even retrospective live collections can become commercial wins, which is a relatively uncommon feat for most acts, especially those that have been around as long as Lynyrd Skynyrd. The band's reach extends to the United Kingdom, where this week the group earns a brand new win on the charts. Celebrating 50 Years: Live at the Ryman Debuts on the Charts Celebrating 50 Years: Live at the Ryman debuts on two purchase-focused tallies in the U.K. This week, the set opens at No. 47 on the Official Physical Albums chart and No. 51 on the Official Albums Sales list. The latter roster, which isn't limited to any one genre, language, or format, is where the band collects its most exciting placement at the moment. Lynyrd Skynyrd's First Bestselling Album More than 50 years into its time as a band, Lynyrd Skynyrd earns its first hit on the Official Albums Sales chart. Celebrating 50 Years becomes the group's debut bestselling effort in the U.K. It's worth noting that for many years, the Official Albums chart — the main ranking of the most consumed titles in the country — was powered solely by sales, until streaming activity was factored in. Once that change occurred, the Official Albums Sales list was introduced, long after some of Lynyrd Skynyrd's biggest wins. One of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Top Performers Out of the six projects that Lynyrd Skynyrd has sent to the Official Physical Albums chart in the 20 years since Greatest Hits debuted, Celebrating 50 Years ties as the group's third-highest-peaking effort. Opening at No. 47, it matches the band's Greatest Hits collection and trails only another greatest hits set, which peaked at No. 16, and God & Guns, which debuted and stalled at No. 35 more than 15 years ago.
Forbes
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Lynyrd Skynyrd Honors A Late Band Member With A New Bestseller
Lynyrd Skynyrd's Celebrating 50 Years: Live at the Ryman debuts at No. 22 on the Top Album Sales ... More chart, honoring Gary Rossington's final show. NASHVILLE - DECEMBER 31: Mark Matejka, Rickey Medlocke, Damon Johnson, and Keith Christopher from Lynyrd Skynyrd performs on NEW YEAR'S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE'S BIG BASH, a star-studded entertainment special hosted by GRAMMY®-nominated artist Elle King and ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT's Rachel Smith. The celebration to ring in the new year will air LIVE Sunday, Dec. 31 (7:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT, 10:30 PM-1:05 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the special airs). (Photo by Dokk Savage/CBS via Getty Images) In March 2023, Lynyrd Skynyrd lost founding guitarist Gary Rossington, who passed away at the age of 71 at his home. The beloved musician's final show with the rock group took place the year prior in Nashville — and, thankfully, it was recorded. Now, Lynyrd Skynyrd has honored Rossington and given fans a career retrospective with Celebrating 50 Years: Live at the Ryman. Taped at the famous Nashville venue, the project brings Lynyrd Skynyrd back to one of Billboard's most competitive albums charts and scores one of the top debuts in America this week. Celebrating 50 Years: Live at the Ryman Debuts Celebrating 50 Years opens at No. 22 on the Top Album Sales chart, Billboard's ranking of the bestselling projects of any style throughout the United States. The set opens with 4,400 pure purchases, according to Luminate. Lynyrd Skynyrd Follows Lorde, Russ and Barbra Streisand This week, the group earns the twelfth loftiest debut, as it's a busy period for exciting new arrivals. The Top Album Sales chart is led by Lorde's Virgin, and the loftiest four spaces are claimed by brand new efforts. Behind Lorde comes Beautiful Chaos by Kasteye (No. 2), Wild by Russ (No. 3), and The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume 2 by Barbra Streisand (No. 4). Lynyrd Skynyrd's Many Bestsellers Throughout the years, Lynyrd Skynyrd has sent 19 projects to the Top Album Sales chart. Somehow, despite being one of the most beloved American rock acts in history, the group has never reached No. 1. In fact, the musicians have never even cracked the top 10. Celebrating 50 Years becomes Lynyrd Skynyrd's first new placement on the Top Album Sales tally since the spring of 2021, when Live at Knebworth '76 opened at No. 14. Lynyrd Skynyrd's All Time Greatest Hits As Celebrating 50 Years appears on the Top Album Sales chart, Lynyrd Skynyrd's All Time Greatest Hits continues to find space on several other albums rankings – but not the purchase-only tally. At the moment, the group's compilation lives on the Billboard 200 (No. 92), the Top Rock & Alternative Albums chart (No. 24), and the Top Rock Albums list (No. 20).
Fox News
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Lynyrd Skynyrd members share late guitarist Gary Rossington's wish for the band
Before he died, Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist and founding member Gary Rossington told fellow band members Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke that he wanted the band to continue after he was gone. "He knew his health was getting bad and he had told me, he said… 'I've spent my life carrying on this legacy, and after I'm gone I don't want to see this band go away,'" Van Zant told Fox News Digital. He continued, "So we brought in Damon Johnson to play guitar and Gary kind of mentored him, you know, some and came to rehearsal and, you know, he wanted this music to go on, man. I don't think me and Rickey would be here if Gary said, 'Hey, after I'm gone I want this to go away.' So, we're carrying out his wishes as long as we can." Van Zant explained that Rossington had come off the road as his health began to decline and was just doing special performances, like his last show at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium in November 2022. Rossington died in March 2023. He said Rossington would generally "come in and play a few songs 'cause his heart was getting bad, and he knew his health was getting bad." On Friday, in honor of Rossington, the band released the record "Celebrating 50 Years — Live At The Ryman," which turned out to be his last show. "This was never supposed to be a live release," Van Zant said. "It was done for PBS. And after Gary passed, we were like, you know what? We think all the fans need to have this in their collection… and what they loved about the band. And Gary, you know, loved the fans and I know he'd probably be going, 'Hell yeah, put it out!'" Medlocke said he thought Rossington would be "very proud" of the recording. "He knew his health was getting bad, and he had told me, he said… 'I've spent my life carrying on this legacy, and after I'm gone I don't want to see this band go away.'" "It was a great night," he said. "The band was on it, and I think that he would give a thumbs up and say, 'Yeah, I love it, man. We did great out there.' It was real special for us, you know?" Van Zant said the band felt more at ease that night than a typical recording session. "It was a night where it – you know, usually when you're taping stuff, you know, you're kind of tight and everything," he explained. "And that night was just real casual. It was kind of like, 'OK, let's go play a show like any other show.' So, I mean, the difference was that it was at the – they call it the mother church of Nashville there, Ryman – and being on that stage is a pretty amazing thing in itself." Van Zant said it doesn't surprise him that Lynyrd Skynyd is still popular with younger generations because he was a fan before he joined in 1987. The band originally formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, and included Rossington and Van Zant's brother, Ronnie Van Zant, along with Allen Collins, Larry Junstrom and Bob Burns. "I loved the music and never thought that I would be a part of it, never wished to be a part of it," he said. "I wish in 1977 that awful plane crash didn't happen, and we could all be here together." He said he was asked to join the band in 1987, "and Ronnie was the alpha dog and the father figure and to have all those guys in the room, you know, asking me to be a part [of the band], I really couldn't turn it down, and you know, warmed my heart, and it still does to the 'til today." WATCH: Lynyrd Skynyrd founding member wanted the band to continue after his death Ronnie Van Zant was killed in a plane crash in October 1977 when the band's chartered flight bound for Louisiana ran out of fuel. Five others were killed in the crash as well, including band member Steve Gaines. Rossington was injured in the crash. Van Zant and Medlocke said they want to work hard to honor Rossington and the other members who aren't around anymore. "I don't want to get off the bus of life one day and have him to whoop my a--," Medlocke joked of Rossington. "You know what, man? I'll really be honest. And I think Johnny feels the same way. I look over there and I still to this day, missing him incredibly. And Damon's doing a great job, no doubt, you know, but there's a thing that, you know, when you played with somebody that long, you know, you don't ever get over it. And his spirit is all over that stage, as is the rest of the guys that have gone on before us." He said he takes "that spirit, I put it into energy and I go out here and play for fans 8 to 80 years old, you know what I mean? So, it's all about those iconic songs that really connect with people" who want the band to "come out there and play them live." "Celebrating 50 Years – Live At The Ryman" is out now.
