Lynyrd Skynyrd to play The Bob Feb. 29

3:57 p.m., Jan. 15, 2004--Legendary rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, best known for hits such as “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Saturday Night Special,” will perform at 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 29, at the Bob Carpenter Center.

Tickets at $34.50 and $39.50, are available in person at the Bob Carpenter Center box office, or by calling Ticketmaster at (302) 984-2000, where a service charge will be added to the ticket price. For information about UD events, call (302) UD1-HENS.

The band took its name from Leonard Skinner, a high school gym teacher who disciplined band members Gary Rossington and Bob Burns for the length of their hair during the 1960s.

Besides “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Saturday Night Special,” the band also is known for “Free Bird” and “Gimmie Three Steps.” The band has had its share of tragedy, including the October 1977 plane crash that killed lead singer and cofounder Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister, back-up vocalist Cassie Gaines, along with several crew members. The survivors, including Gary Rossington, Leon Wilkeson, Allen Collins, Billy Powell and Artimus Pyle, reunited in January 1979, for a special appearance at Charlie Daniel’s volunteer Jam V.

Although Collins survived the plane crash, he did suffer paralysis and later died in a car accident. Most recently, Lynyrd Skynyrd lost bassist Leon Wilkeson, who died during the making of their latest album, “Vicious Cycle.”

The current lineup includes original members guitarist Gary Rossington and keyboardist Billy Powell.

Article by Jerry Rhodes

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