16/10/2024
I was listening to Dolly Parton singing Free Bird from her Rockstar album. It reminded me that fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd may want a rundown for the band’s past and present members. Here it is.
Lynyrd Skynyrd has seen many lineup changes throughout its long history. Here’s a breakdown of the key members, their roles, and the reasons they left the band. The list is separated into founding, past, and current members.
Founding Members:
1. Ronnie Van Zant (1964–1977) – Lead vocals
• Left: Died in a plane crash in 1977.
2. Gary Rossington (1964–2023) – Guitar
• Left: Passed away in 2023, the last original member.
3. Allen Collins (1964–1990) – Guitar
• Left: Paralyzed in a car accident in 1986, died in 1990.
4. Larry Junstrom (1964–1970) – Bass
• Left: Replaced before the band’s breakthrough. He later joined .38 Special.
5. Bob Burns (1964–1974, 1976–1977) – Drums
• Left: Left in 1974 due to stress from touring. Played in the 1976 reunion but left again.
6. Billy Powell (1970–2009) – Keyboards
• Left: Passed away in 2009.
Key Past Members:
1. Ed King (1972–1975, 1987–1996) – Guitar
• Left: Left in 1975 due to health issues. Rejoined in 1987 but left again in 1996 due to more health concerns.
2. Leon Wilkeson (1972–1977, 1979–2001) – Bass
• Left: Died in 2001.
3. Steve Gaines (1976–1977) – Guitar, backing vocals
• Left: Died in the 1977 plane crash.
4. Artimus Pyle (1974–1977, 1987–1991) – Drums
• Left: Survived the 1977 plane crash. Left in 1991 due to conflicts with band members.
5. Hughie Thomasson (1996–2005) – Guitar, backing vocals
• Left: Left to reform The Outlaws. Passed away in 2007.
6. Rickey Medlocke (1971–1972, 1996–present) – Drums (early), Guitar (present)
• Originally left to pursue a different musical direction. Rejoined on guitar in 1996.
7. Johnny Van Zant (1987–present) – Lead vocals
• Currently the lead vocalist after taking over following the band’s reformation in 1987.
8. Michael Cartellone (1999–present) – Drums
• The band’s current drummer.
Notable Session and Touring Musicians:
1. Dale Krantz-Rossington (1987–present) – Backing vocals
• Joined during the reformation period and is the wife of Gary Rossington.
2. Carol Chase (1996–present) – Backing vocals
• A longtime backing vocalist with the band.
3. Mark Matejka (2006–present) – Guitar
• Replaced Hughie Thomasson in 2006.
4. Peter Keys (2009–present) – Keyboards
• Joined after Billy Powell passed away.
5. Robert Kearns (2012–2017) – Bass
• Left to pursue other projects.
Departure and Cause of Leaving Summary:
• Many members left due to tragic deaths (Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Leon Wilkeson, Billy Powell), while others left due to health or personal reasons (Ed King, Bob Burns, Allen Collins).
• Conflicts with other band members or management (Artimus Pyle) and desire to pursue other projects (Hughie Thomasson, Robert Kearns) also contributed to lineup changes.
Lynyrd Skynyrd continues to perform with a mix of legacy and new members, keeping the band’s music alive.
