Jacksonville Posts
Tom Waits Glitter And Doom Tour Dates (Mostly Southern)
Tom Waits Glitter And Doom Tour Dates Mostly Southern 5/6/08
Post - NFL Draft Newspaper Wrap Up
We found this article from a week or so back that is about NFL Network being
More Vintage GRITZ Articles Unearthed; Jimmie Van Zant, Jerry Carrigan, Jimmy Johnson Family
Today I'd like to bring back three more classic features from our GRITZ archives, for your enjoyment and information. The read more...
Mudcrutch & Gram Parsons' Florida Roots
Mudcrutch & Gram Parsons’ Florida Roots 4/27/08
SPF's NFL Draft First Round Log (Live All Day!!)
read more...
Next Skynyrd Album Will Have Nashville Influence
Gary Rossington says that
Skynyrd Will Cruise Again in 2009 with Frynds
I just got word that Lynyd Skynyrd will again host their southern rock cruise called the
Jimmy Farrar: "This Ain't Molly Hatchet !"
I spoke with our buddy Jimmy Farrar today about his band Gator read more...
Allmans Postpone Beacon Run as Gregg Allman Heals
The Allman Brothers Band have announced that they read more...
38 Years Ago Tonight: The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band played at Mercer read more...
Let The Sunshine In
I was listening to NPR on Saturday morning when I heard the bluesy sound of an acoustic guitar and a voice that reminded me of read more...
Blackfoot is Our Latest "Legends of Southern Rock" Entry
"Highway Song" and "Train, Train," "Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie" and "Wishing Well"- all of these read more...
Video: Jimmy Johnson and Alan Walden from Lynyrd Skynyrd Documentary
I have been aware of the Lynyrd Skynyrd read more...
Weekend Notes and Tom Dowd On Ronnie Van Zant
I really hope everyone is enjoying the new look of GRITZ, as well as our “Mothership” Swampland.com. The powers that be read more...
Picture of the Day: Allen Collins with Rossington Collins Band
The late great Allen Collins. This photo from Kent Griffith shows Collins during the first ever concert by Rossington Collins read more...
Adventures In The (Pig) Skin Trade On Super Bowl Sunday
Roving Notes On Super Bowl Sunday 2/3/08
Picture of the Day: Gary & Dale On Simple Man Cruise
Gary Rossington and his wife Dale Krantz Rossington take a break during January's Simple Man Cruise that brought fans up close and read more...
Allen Collins Band Singer Jimmy Dougherty Has Died
Skynyrd and Hank Return with Rowdy Frynds Tour 2008
(Nashville, TN)- Fans will have the opportunity to enjoy some of the best music imaginable when Rock & Roll Hall of Fame members, read more...
Picture of the Day: Rossington Jam
Today's photo was taken in 1987 during the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour. The Rossington Band was opening. On this night, Steve read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week 19, Part 4): Down By The River
12. Cincinnati Bengals and 13. St. Louis Rams - Our final Poll spots are held by two teams that have a connection read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week 19, Part 3): Teams at the Crossroads (aka the NFC South)
We've now gone through the first 7 teams in the T.I. Poll. So far, the entire AFC South has been covered as well as the read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week 19, Part 2): Teams "On the Verge"
This is SPF's group of teams that are "On The Verge" of reaching elite status. They all have challenges, but they are read more...
SPF's Divisional Playoffs Pre-Pregame Show (or T.I. Poll Week 19)
There are three SPF teams left in the Super Bowl hunt, but the news doesn't stop with them. Of the 4 current coaching read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Wild Card Weekend Edition)
We're mixing it up again going into the playoffs. In an up and down year, six of the 13 SPF teams made the playoffs. Two, read more...
SPF's Week Seventeen Pre-Pregame Show
Playoffs and draft slots. It's all on the line in a strange season-ending weekend in the Footprint.
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Seventeen)
It's the last week of the NFL season. There isn't much left to be decided. Two SPF teams (Washington and Tennessee) can read more...
Outlaws to Tour in 2008; Picture of the Day, Classic Outlaws
The Outlaws, who had just finished recording a new album when founding member Hughie Thomasson passed away, have announced that they read more...
SPF's Week Sixteen Pre-Pregame Show
SATURDAY NIGHT Dallas (12-2, 6-0 away) Carolina (6-8, 2-5 read more...
Picture of the Day: Grinderswitch
A classic photo of Capricorn Records recording artists, Grinderswitch, Dedicated to the memories of Dru Lombar, Joe Dan Petty and read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Sixteen)
SPF laid down the gauntlet before last weekend's games. Many teams answered the bell. With two games left in the regular read more...
SPF's Week Fifteen Pre-Pregame Show
It has been a largely disappointing season for SPF, but these final weeks can redeem or further decimate a team's momentum for read more...
In defense of Bobby Petrino (and Arkansas)
Tribal Fever prides itself about being on the pulse of college sports in the Footprint. We aren't here to sugarcoat it in any read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Fifteen)
SPF will say it - this has been a very tough year for pro football in the Swampland Footprint. Of our 13 teams, more than half read more...
SPF's Week Fourteen Pre-Pregame Show
SPF has been beating a few drums this year, but one is about letting players play. Coaches coach systems. read more...
John Sayles Interview
Mystery & Manners John Sayles Interview 12/8/07 On Thursday I interviewed
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Fourteen)
SPF has looked at the coach/QB relationship. Now, it's time to look at the owner/coach relationship. When this read more...
SPF's Week Thirteen Pre-Pregame Show
While Tribal Fever nation witnessed their conference championships this weekend, SPF has found a few of their own. There are read more...
TF Conference Championship Preview
Today is the day we find out whether it will be an all-Swampland matchup in the BCS Championship Game. If all goes according to read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Thirteen)
Coaching changes. They happen every year even though it seems as though jobs are more than safe. Changes are usually made read more...
SPF's Week Twelve Pre-Pregame Show
Leadership. Is it there? The leader(s) of each SPF team define that team to their fans. Already, Thanksgiving read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Twelve)
SPF often talks a team's style when it comes to identity. Style, though, is kind of a catch all. Dig a little deeper and read more...
SPF's Week Eleven Pre-Pregame Show
This week, more than any other this NFL season, the fan will find out who their teams are. Are teams going to the read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Eleven)
Week Ten was a very weird football weekend. Many of the SPF teams lost games. Few had important wins. It just seems read more...
Cowboy Take Me Away: The Scott Boyer Interview
GRITZ is happy to present an exclusive interview with one of the South's finest musicians and human beings, Scott Boyer. From his read more...
Picture of the Day: Jimmie Van Zant at CMA Awards
Jimmie Van Zant and his wfe Zohra at CMAs talking about his new read more...
SPF's Week Ten Pre-Pregame Show
SPF will stick by this point - no team set the NFL back more than the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens. This read more...
TF Saturday Preview: Everything's Still To Be Decided
Patrick Snow has it right. This year's
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Ten)
Everyone knows that football is the dominant sport in the Footprint, but it has always been college dominating the pro variety. read more...
SPF's Week Nine Pre-Pregame Show
It's it the "Clash of the Titans!" The Colts-Pats game deserves the hype that it is getting. Both teams read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Eight)
Things continue to settle out in the SPF Footprint. This week's big question is whether the South's best is the NFL's read more...
SPF's Week Eight Pre-Pregame Show
Much like yesterday's college slate, this week's SPF schedule features teams looking towards the season's end and where they want to read more...
TF Saturday Preview: Pole, er.. Bowl Position
If you aren't a Florida or Georgia fan, this weekend might be a good one to spend with the kids. This is a pretty thin weekend read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Seven)
SPF's season previews are looking pretty good so far. The teams we singled out like the Jags, the Texans, and the Dolphins have read more...
SPF's Week Seven Pre-Pregame Show
Getting on the same page. Coaches and players that have the same sense of urgency signify teams that are winning. The NFL read more...
It Was 30 Years Ago Today: Last Flight of The Free Bird
I only saw Lynyrd Skynyrd, the original Lynyrd read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Six)
Here we are again for SPF's weekly Team Identity Poll. Things have shaken up a bit. We are much closer to how we saw read more...
Online Radio Station Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd October 20th
SPF's Week Six Pre-Pregame Show
It's week 6 for the SPF teams. Four teams are basically done, but the rest have critical games that will go a long way to read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Five)
The rich seem to be getting richer (and the poor, poorer) in the SPF Footprint. There is happiness at the top, confusion in the read more...
SPF's Week Five Pre-Pregame Show
It's week five in the NFL season. Overall, the SPF Footprint is shaping up to be a year of the haves and have-nots. The read more...
SPF T.I. Poll (Week Four)
Just like in the college ranks, it was a bit of a crazy week in the SPF Footprint. Right now, there are more bad teams than read more...
SPF's Week Four Pre-Pregame Show
Welcome SPF fans! Here's today's slate. (SPF teams in BOLD) Early read more...
SPF T. I. Poll (Week Three)
Back to our weekly gauge of how each SPF team is resonating with its fans. First, let's take a look back at last week's Team read more...
SPF 's Week Three Pre-Pregame Show
Here we are again. Let Week Three begin! SPF Teams in BOLD Early read more...
Hughie Thomasson, Green Grass and High Tides Forever
Well, it took me a little longer than expected to gather the quotes from a few of Hughie's friends for our Hughie Thomasson
SPF Friday Fishwrap-up: the Cowboy/Redskin paradigm
We've just posted a new analysis of the Wayne issue in read more...
SPF T. I. Poll (Week Two)
Time for our Week Two "Team Identity" Poll. Things keep getting interesting, and that's how we like read more...
SPF's Week Two Monday: Playmakers making plays
THE "BEATING THE DEAD HORSE" THEME Our theme for this week is similar to last read more...
SPF 's Week Two Pre-Pregame Show
Each week, it will be SPF's pleasure to bring you the best pregame show on the Net. We provide our audience with clips from read more...
SPF Friday Fishwrap-up: LeBatard vs. Galloway
Another great southern tradition is writing. We have a whole section called Discourse that is dedicated to this read more...
Hughie Thomasson Memorial Coming Monday, Watch a Video Now
Hi Gang. We are all still trying to cope with loss of yet another friend and Southern rock icon,
SPF's T. I. Poll (Week One)
Team Identity. This is our constant gauge for the success or failure of NFL teams in the South. College football reigns read more...
SPF's Week One Monday: Channeling SEC over Big Ten
12 of our 13 SPF teams have played. Only the Bengals remain with a tough Monday Night battle against the read more...
Runnin' Down A Dream: Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Perform at the New York Film Festival
9/10/07 ...Runnin' Down A Dream: A new Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Film Showing at New York Film read more...
Picture of the Day: Hughie Thomasson and Henry Paul Getting Their GRITZ
Here's a shot of Hughie and Henry just after the Outlaws reunion, holding up their print copies of GRITZ Magazine. The photo was read more...
Hughie Thomasson Has Died
Hughie Thomasson, founding member of The Outlaws, read more...
SPF Week One Game Log
Thursday's game didn't do nearly what yesterday's college slate did to pump us up here at SPF. Our own James Calemine is
Sunday's slate & Long term troubles for the Jags in Jax
Phew! The 2007 previews are finally read more...
Swampland Sports Six-Pack for the week ending 9/2/07
Your weekly filter for the top sports stories around the South 1. Our biggest story of the week was the read more...
Picture of the Day: Blackfoot Strikes Again
This is a photo sent in by a GRITZ reader that features Greg T. Walker, Charlie Hargrett and Bobby Barth of Blackfoot rocking the read more...
New "Legends" Feature: The Allman Brothers Band
Dear Y'all, Swampland and Gritz are proud to present the latest in our series of Legends of Southern Rock. The one, the only read more...
Welcome Back!
Greetings to all you football fans around the Swampland footprint! Southern Pro Football is back to cover another NFL read more...
...A Call To Harry Crews...
7/27/07
CD and DVD releases for week of July 24, 2007
New Releases Billy Bob Thornton
IBMA Coming in October
The International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) annual World of Bluegrass takes place in Nashville, Tennessee October 1-7 at read more...
New Van Zant CD September 18th
On the heals of their gold CD Get Right With the Man and a Top 10 single, brothers Johnny and Donnie Van Zant are poised to read more...
Buffalo Returns, Brings Along Some Ol' Honk
In case anyone is wondering, the ol' Buffalo has been down for the count for a while lately, which explains my lack of blogging. read more...
A boom for Jacksonville's economy?
A new day may be dawning in Jacksonville. Long a read more...
Charlie Daniels, Ricky Skaggs to Appear On New Gospel Album
Charlie Daniels is participating is in a religious-themed CD of contemporary Christian songs done country-style. Time Life is slated read more...
We Pay Tribute To The Bad Boys of Southern Rock, Molly Hatchet
There's a gator in the bushes, he's callin' my name! Yep! This week Swampland.com is proud to tip the hat to some of the read more...
All Star Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd Out This Week
Stars of country, classic rock and southern rock show their respect for one of the greatest bands ever on a new tribute to read more...
Amoeba To Release Vintage Gram Parsons Performance(s)
3/20/07 On March 15, through invitation only, a listening party was conducted at South By Southwest to debut the Flying read more...
Get Front Row Seats For Skynyrd and Hank, Jr.
STUBHUB FORGES NEW PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE FANS EXCLUSIVE FRONT ROW ACCESS TO LYNYRD SKYNYRD, HANK WILLIAMS JR. SPRING TOUR
Willie Nelson On The Road Again
1/21/07 Willie Nelson takes his show on the road to the British Isles this week. Nelson prepares to tour in the states in the read more...
Swampland Salutes the Allman Brothers In Macon
1/14/07 ...Swampland tips a hat to the Allman Brothers... Last night Buffalo Smith and I attended a benefit in honor read more...
Concord Music Group Reactivates Stax Records
CONCORD MUSIC GROUP REACTIVATES STAX RECORDS; FAMED SOUL LABEL’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY TO INCLUDE REISSUES, NEW read more...
Jacksonville Reviews
Third And A Mile
Third And A Mile by William C. Rhoden ESPN Books
Street Survivors - Deluxe Edition
Street Survivors - Deluxe Edition 30th Anniversary (Geffen/UMe) Mere days read more...
Brothers of the Southland
Brothers of The Southland is one of the best of the plethora of “all star” bands playing today, and their debut CD is a read more...
Cocaine Angel
Cocaine Angel Damian Lahey Cinema Libre Studio By James Calemine This independent film was shot read more...
My Kind of Country
(Sony) I had someone remark the other day that I had not yet reviewed
Live At the Avalon Ballroom 1969
Live At The Avalon Ballroom 1969 Gram Parsons with The Flying Burrito Brothers Amoeba Records By James read more...
Song of America
Song of America Various Artists 31 Tigers Records By James Calemine This 50-song, 3 CD read more...
Feast of Snakes
Feast of Snakes Harry Crews Macmillan Publishing By James Calemine November in Mystic, Georgia, read more...
An All-Star Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd
(New West) No other band has been milked for all it’s worth more than Lynyrd Skynyrd. I’m not being cruel, just read more...
Dear Y'all - The Songwriter Sessions Vol. 1
Dear Y'all: The Songwriting Sessions Vol 1 Eddie Hinton Zane Records By James Calemine
Molly Hatchet, Junefest 2001
Molly Hatchet Junefest June 2, 2001 Silverbowl Las Vegas, Nevada The all read more...
Blackfoot / Wet Willie / Southern Rock Allstars
Blackfoot Wet Willie Southern Rock Allstars Iron Angels Bike Rally Angel City, Georgia
The Allman Brothers Band, Niagara Falls, CAN 6/23,
Allman Brothers Band June 23 & 24 , 2006 Niagara Falls Canada June 23 , 2006 Well read more...
Lynyrd Skynyrd / Shooter Jennings, Pittsburgh, PA
Shooter Jennings / 3 Doors Down Lynyrd Skynyrd July 14,2006 Post Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pa Well read more...
Gram Parsons - Fallen Angel
Gram Parsons Fallen Angel A Film By Gandulf Hennig (Rhino) Gram Parsons was one of a read more...
No Saints, No Saviors
No Saints, No Saviors My Years With The Allman Brothers Band by Willie Perkins
The Unsolved Murder of Lynyrd Skynyrd Bassist Leon
The Unsolved Murder of Lynyrd Skynyrd Bassist Leon Wilkeson by Dale Bowman (Jaguar Publishing)
Skydog: The Duane Allman Story
Skydog The Duane Allman Story by Randy Poe (Backbeat Books) I have been read more...
Jammin' For Danny Joe Brown
(GWP Records) One of the most emotional all-star jams in recent history took place at Orlando, Florida's Club read more...
Lyve: The Vicious Cycle Tour
(Sanctuary) Recorded live in Nashville at the Amsouth Amphitheater in July, 2003, Lyve is an excellent read more...
Back Where It All Begins
Back Where It All Begins - Live At The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum
Lyve - The Vicious Cycle Tour
Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve - The Vicious Cycle Tour (Sanctuary) Lynyrd Skynyrd is riding the wave of a true read more...
Drive Train
38 Special Drive Train (Sanctuary) This ain’t your father’s 38 read more...
Ghost Train From Georgia
Grinderswitch Ghost Train From Georgia (New South) On their first all-new album in 30 read more...
Under The Influence
Under The Influence A Jam Band Tribute To Lynyrd Skynyrd (Sanctuary) First came read more...
Playing Around - The Songwriter Sessions Vol. 2
(Zane) When the word went around that there was another volume of unreleased Hinton material about to hit that read more...
Hard Luck Guy
Eddie Hinton, the Muscle Shoals singer/songwriter, did not live to complete the 1999 Capricorn release Hard Luck Guy. In read more...
Kingdom of XII
Kingdom of XII Molly Hatchet (Sanctuary) 2000 Kingdom of read more...
Flirtin' With Disaster
Flirtin with Disaster Molly Hatchet (Epic) 1979 There’s no arguing the fact that read more...
Molly Hatchet
Molly Hatchet (Epic) 1978 Hatchet’s first album remains their finest to this day, read more...
Jacksonville ArticlesThe Top Ten Guitarists of the Southern Rock Era
The Greatest Guitar Slingers of The Southern Rock Era by Michael Buffalo Smith 1. Duane Allman
Southern Sporting "Events"
by Patrick Snow As I attended a Kentucky Derby function this past Saturday, it was never more evident that Southerners must throw a pretty good party. We are probably more known nationally for our college football crowds and pageantry, but the spring read more...
Gritz Legends of Southern Rock
A handful of bands from the Southern Rock Era have earned the title of "Legend." These are the bands that defined the genre and set the bar for all other bands in their wake. These are the few, the originals, the Legends of Southern Rock.
Snowman's 2008 Draft Wrap Up
The annual NFL Draft is now over, and the critics will have a field day with opinions on who did well and who faltered with their choices. I thought I would take a look at the Draft from the collegiate view and see who from our region will have the biggest impact on their new read more...
SPF's 2008 NFL Draft Awards
Although the NFL Draft still have rounds 3-7 to go, we at SPF think it is time to hand out some awards. Except in very rare cases, team's drafts are defined by their day one picks, and we learned a lot about how the SPF slate of teams are approaching the coming season - for better or worse. Let the cermony begin! THE "DAMN THE TORPEDOES read more...
Record Stores of the Swampland Footprint
ALABAMA CD Cellar Anniston AL Oz Music Tuscaloosa AL ARKANSAS Sound Warehouse Fayetteville read more...
Steve Grisham and Ghost Riders
As One Grits to Another... by Michael Buffalo Smith Steve Grisham is a Southern Rock road dog. A man with the Southern Rock running through his very veins. A Florida singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and engineer, Grisham, also known as “Grits,” is a former member of
Legends of Southern Rock: Blackfoot
by Michael Buffalo Smith 1969, Jacksonville, Florida: Charlie Hargrett, Rick Medlocke and Greg T. Walker form the band read more...
SEC: Conference King Once Again
By Patrick Snow It’s an argument that will never end-whose Conference is better? Fans will debate this topic vociferously every season, and the answer always tends to lie close to your address. I’m not sure that the Bowl games are the best way to evaluate league strength across college football, but it is basically all we have. Here’s my opinion read more...
Bah Humbug
By Patrick Snow Well it’s the end of the year, and soon you will be inundated with “Best of/Worst of” lists for 2007. Those lists will have the normal good (Peyton Manning/Appy State) and bad (Mike Vick/Bobby Petrino) perspective on a national scale. Instead of that, I thought I would look at some problems facing our Region. I hate to not be in the read more...
Way Down South With John Sayles
Way Down South with John Sayles By James Calemine John Sayles’ films command respect. His latest film, Honeydripper, takes place in Alabama during the 1950s. Honeydripper counts as Sayles’16th film which read more...
First Goal: Win Your Conference
By Patrick Snow 2007 - What a crazy and dramatic season of college football. It seems like the Number 1 or 2 position in the national polls is the most dangerous place to be this year. As hard as it may be for many teams to adjust to all the parity, I believe it’s been more difficult for the fan bases to change their perspective on this “new read more...
Colts and Patriots: Providing the Blueprint?
By Patrick Snow The NFL has historically been a ‘copycat’ league and here’s to hoping that the success of the Colts and Patriots influences more teams to build up their offense. When clubs had to adjust to the salary cap in the ‘90s, the theory of finding a quarterback to “just not lose the game” seemed to become very popular. read more...
The Great Southern Sportswriters Series
Writing and storytelling have always been deeply ingrained in Southern culture. The people that combined that art with the Swampland Footprint's passion for sports make the whole experience more special and unique. Swampland Sports is proud to offer this series of profiles of the best sportswriters our Footprint has to offer. You've already probably read them read more...
Enjoy the Season
By Patrick Snow Another college football season--another initial release of the BCS standings. This annual ritual seems to send everyone running to call a local talk show to scream about a Playoff system and how the middle letter should be removed from ‘BCS’. Enough already. If all that you’re worried about is how January turns out, you’re read more...
Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel
Floridian Mike Bianchi has seen the exponential growth in his state during his time as a read more...
Hughie Thomasson Remembered
The world of Southern Rock lost another champion on September 9, 2007 with the passing of Hughie Thomasson. The founding father of the “Florida guitar army” The Outlaws and a long time member of Lynyrd Skynyrd left us way too soon.
An SPF Tale of Two Waynes
After NFL's week one, Patrick Snow sounded the alarm. The Florida teams in the SPF Footprint were in trouble. It wasn't just about losing games. It was about losing their identity. The Dolphins were losing theirs. The Bucs were losing theirs. Even more read more...
SPF 2007 Team Previews
As promised, we have our 2007 Team Previews! Since fans can go to numerous places to read about rosters, statistics, etc, we at Southern Pro Football want to focus our 2007 previews on the teams and their connection to their area of the South. We will examine four categories: Background: Covering the past and recent history of the read more...
Tom Coerver: On Louisiana, China Sky and Hurricane Katrina
BACKWATER TALES FROM A GREAT SOUTHERN MUSICIAN by Michael Buffalo Smith Tom Coerver is a musician's musician. A good ol' Louisiana boy who has an inate ability to play just about any musical instrument he can get his hands on, including a
Sunshine State Swoon
Sunshine State Swoon By Patrick Snow Has professional football hit its lowest point in the state of Florida? I’m not trying to overreact to three Week 1 losses, but one has to wonder what direction the franchises in the Sunshine State are going. None of the three squads ran for over 90 yards as a team in Week 1, and it’s hard to see much read more...
Legends of Southern Rock: The Allman Brothers Band
by Michael Buffalo Smith The Allman Brothers Band is pretty much universally accepted as the premier Southern Rock band, the first, the founding fathers.
Legends of Southern Rock: Lynyrd Skynyrd
by Michael Buffalo Smith Lynyrd Skynyrd may very well be the most popular Southern Rock band of all time. After a skyrocketing climb to the top of the charts during the 1970’s, combined with exhaustive touring, the band who named themselves after their high school gym coach Leonard Skinner became a household name in the mid-seventies.
Legends of Southern Rock: Molly Hatchet
by Michael Buffalo Smith March 2007 For our third installment of Legends of Southern Rock, (our first being The Charlie Daniels Band and The Marshall Tucker Band) we return to Florida for a visit read more...
Ed King's Journal: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
ED KING'S JOURNAL: Skynyrd Guitarist's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Blog Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Artimus Pyle, Ed King and Bob read more...
Artimus Pyle 2006
ARTIMUS SPITS HIS VENOM AND RECOILS AN INTERVIEW WITH SKYNYRD ICON ARTIMUS PYLE by Michael Buffalo Smith September, 2006 Legendary Southern rock drummer and recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Artimus Pyle has a lot to be proud of. He has completed his “dream project,” a read more...
Duane Roland
Duane Roland: The Last Interview by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2006 When Duane Roland died at the age of 53 on June 19th, 2006, he was right in the middle of a major comeback as a member of Gator Country, reuniting him with other founding and former members of Molly Hatchet in a band that is truly on the verge of read more...
Derek Trucks
DEREK TRUCKS The Time of His Life by Derek Halsey May 2006 There are times in a lucky musician’s life when good things happen, one right after another. I use the word ‘lucky’ because there are far more musicians who don’t make the big time than who do. When Gritz Magazine interviewed guitar great read more...
Lynyrd Skynyrd's Well Deserved Hall of Fame Induction
Would You Still Remember Me? LYNYRD SKYNYRD'S WELL DESERVED HALL OF FAME INDUCTION by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2005 Eight years. Eight long years of watching one of the South’s all time greatest bands make the list on nominees to The Rock and Roll read more...
Blackfoot
BLACKFOOT ON THE REUNION By Michael Buffalo Smith December 2005 In one of the best surprises of recent Southern Rock history, the hard rocking, take no prisoners band Blackfoot has reunited and are touring again. We caught up with the band during rehearsals, where we interviewed founding read more...
The Jam for Duane: 2005
THE JAM FOR DUANE: 2005 by Mitch Lopate November 2005 Jam For Duane October 27-29 2nd Street Music Hall Gadsden, AL I’m tellin’ ya and I mean it with no disrespect: three men looked down from the Big Music Studio Room in the Sky read more...
Al Kooper
AL KOOPER Black Coffee and Some Lynyrd Skynyrd, Please by Michael Buffalo Smith October, 2005 No introduction is necessary. If you listen to rock and pop music, you know who Al Kooper is. For those of us entangled in the world of "Southern Rock," he is best known as the man who "discovered" Lynyrd Skynyrd. read more...
Rickey Medlocke
RICKEY MEDLOCKE by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2004 These days Rickey Medlocke is touring the world as one of the “three guitar army” of Lynyrd Skynyrd, blowing the minds of Southern rock audiences from Europe to Clemson, S.C. But before he joined the read more...
Tony Smotherman
Yngwie, Skynyrd and The Queen of England by Levin Sheridan March, 2004 Tony Smotherman is one of the most outstanding of the new breed of guitar slingers. GRITZ caught up with Tony for this exclusive interview somewhere in Florida.
Jo Jo Billingsley (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
JO JO BILLINGSLEY of LYNYRD SKYNYRD by Michael Buffalo Smith July 2003 As one of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Honkettes, Jo Jo Billingsley enjoyed world wide fame, playing stages from Japan to England to all of the best venues in the good ol’ USA. In an exclusive read more...
Larry "L.J." Junstrom
Larry Junstrom Recalls His Days with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Talks About His Band, .38 Special by Scott Greene July 2003 In read more...
Dale Krantz Rossington
Rossington-Collins, The Rossington Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd by Michael Buffalo Smith Summer 2003 She may be in the background as a backup singer for Skynyrd now, but there was a time when Dale Krantz was the full-throttle lead vocalist leading the Skynyrd survivors first major outing following the plane crash read more...
Gary Rossington
GARY ROSSINGTON - THE HEART OF LYNYRD SKYNYRD by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 2003 When I called Glasgow, Scotland bright and early at around 7 a.m., wiping sleep from my eyes, read more...
Dickey Betts 2002
BLUE SKIES AND TOMBSTONE EYES Dickey Betts and The Great Southern Reunion by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 2002 About two years lafter we first spoke with him, Dickey read more...
Barry Lee Harwood (Rossington Collins Band)
DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME Barry Lee Harwood On Life After The Rossington Collins Band by Scott Greene May 2002 When the Skynyrd plane went down in the swamps of Mississippi, like so many of you, I thought the music had died along with those we all loved and respected. But when the surviving members read more...
John Galvin (Molly Hatchet)
GALVINIZED METAL An Exclusive Interview With Molly Hatchet's Keyboard Wizard John Galvin by Michael Buffalo Smith May 2002 John, were you an original member of Molly Hatchet?
Alan Walden
Skynyrd, The Allmans and Otis Alan Walden's Career in Rock and Soul by Michael Buffalo Smith January 2002 Anyone who has read anything at all about the history of Southern Music is familiar with the Walden name. Phil Walden and his brother Alan did more for Macon music during the sixties and read more...
Artimus Pyle 2001
Street Survivor: Artimus Pyle on his friend Allen Woody, the new APB album and life in general by Michael Buffalo Smith December 2001 Hi Artimus. I’d like to begin this second interview by asking you to share with your fans a little about how you knew the late Allen Woody, read more...
Celebration of Life Event, 2001
On the Road in Florida Celebrating Life in St. Augustine by Michael Buffalo Smith November 1, 2001 The Celebration of Life memorial Concert and benefit was held on October 20, 2001 in the beautiful St. Augustine Amphitheater in St. Augustine, Florida. Organized by Artimus Pyle read more...
Jeff Carlisi (.38 Special)
The Guitarist Talks About 38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Big People by Scott Greene October 2001 Jeff Carlisi, Architect? Were it not for a recession, he could be designing buildings instead of crafting guitar licks in bands such as 38 Special, Big People, and Brian Howe. And what is it about the West Side of read more...
Ed King 2001
Ed King: A Second Helping Waking up to The Strawberry Alarm Clock by Michael Buffalo Smith September 2001 Ed King is a walking rock and roll lesson. From his teenage success with The Strawberry Alarm Clock to his cult status as guitarist for everybody’s favorite Southern Rockers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, read more...
Red Dog Campbell
The Original Road Dog Red Dog Campbell’s Thirty-Three Years with The Allman Brothers Band by Michael Buffalo Smith August 2001 He’s the most famous “roadie” on the planet, no matter how you slice the pie. Joseph “Red Dog” Campbell, the hard working, hard tripping, read more...
Leon Wilkeson Memorial
The Cat in The Hat - Remembering Leon Wilkeson July 27, 2001 "If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me? I must be traveling on now, there's just too many places I've got to see." - RVZ We had been planning our August interview for a few weeks, thanks to connections via my new friends Tony Bullard and read more...
The Great Molly Hatchet Give Away, 2001
THE GREAT MOLLY HATCHET GIVEAWAY ROCKS LAS VEGAS by Michael Buffalo Smith, 2001 The First Annual "I Love Molly Hatchet" contest wrapped up in Las Vegas, Nevada June 1-3, 2001, with first place winner Larry Simeur and his fiancee Suzanne Arnold joining the band and GRITZ as special guests at the read more...
Charlie Hargrett
From Blackfoot to Black Molly Charlie Hargrett is Still Rocking Hard by Scott Greene January, 2001 One of the best bands to rise to the top during the heyday of great Southern rock music was Blackfoot. This four- man power band featured killer twin guitar players and a rhythm read more...
Dru Lombar
Dru Lombar Recalls Grinderswitch, Joe Dan and Southern Rock of the Seventies by Michael Buffalo Smith June 2001 (prior to the reformation of Grinderswitch, the death of Joe Dan Petty and ultimately the death of Dru in 2005) Jacksonville, Florida may be best known for some other well-known rock and read more...
Jakson Spires 2001
Jakson Spires: On Blackfoot and The Southern Rock Allstars by Michael Buffalo Smith June, 2001 Most people remember Jakson Spires as the hard-working drummer for the heavy Southern Rock band Blackfoot, but these days he is playing as hard as ever in a hot band called The Southern Rock Allstars featuring Dave read more...
Dave Hlubek
Playin’ in The Allstar Band Dave Hlubek Talks About Molly Hatchet, The Southern Rock Allstars and TV by Michael Buffalo Smith May 2001 Dave Hlubek needs no introduction to fans of Southern Rock. As the co-founder of Molly Hatchet as well as one of its most prolific songwriters, Hlubek read more...
Larry Howard
The Southern Rock of Ages Former Grinderswitch guitarist Larry Howard talks about his old band, his friends like The Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker Band and his journey toward a higher calling. by Michael Buffalo Smith April 2001
Van Zant
BROTHERS IN ARMS Donnie and Johnny Van Zant Talk About Their Brother, Their Parents, and Their Second Collaborative Album By Michael B. Smith March, 2001 Perhaps no other name in Southern Rock conjures up as many images as that of Van Zant. Like the Pettys in NASCAR, their family name is forever etched into read more...
Bobby Ingram
Gypsy Trail Bobby Ingram Carries The Molly Hatchet Torch Into The 21st Century by Michael Buffalo Smith February, 2001 Molly Hatchet has established quite a legacy for themselves as a hard-driving, read more...
Dickey Betts 2000
BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGINS An Exclusive with Dickey Betts by Michael Buffalo Smith November, 2000 The words, "no introduction is necessary" come immediately to mind as I sit down to write a foreword for the following personal interview with one of rock and roll's living legends, Dickey Betts. A founding member of read more...
Riff West
Still Jammin' for Danny Joe Riff West's Life in Molly Hatchet, Foghat, White Witch and Service to All Creatures Great and Small by Michael Buffalo Smith October, 2000 Tell us a little about where you were born and raised. I was born in Texas, and grew up just about read more...
Remembering Eddie Hinton
Remembering Eddie Hinton "A Musician's Musician" by Dick Cooper Winter 2000 Eddie Hinton was a jewel. The many facets of his talent shone independently, and the whole was much greater than its parts. And like any jewel the light shinning on it enhanced its beauty. Eddie was a musician's read more...
Greg T. Walker
Greg T. Walker Recalls Blackfoot and Talks About the Here and Now by Scott Greene July 2000 If you were choosing a rhythm section for a Southern Rock Hall of Fame band, Greg T. Walker would be first off the vine. His place in Southern music is set in stone and he will always be remembered as a member read more...
Danny Chauncey (.38 Special)
Rockin' Into The Night An Interview with Danny Chauncey by Scott Greene (Photos by Michael Buffalo Smith) Summer 2000 What do a Norwegian composer, a Czech child prodigy, a legendary folk group, "King of the Mountain Blues", The Beatles, Gregg read more...
Jimmie Van Zant
COUSIN TO COUSIN Jimmie Van Zant Carries On Ronnie's Tradition with Love and Respect by Scott Greene, June, 2000 When you think of the name Van Zant, the three brothers from the West Side of Jacksonville, Florida come to mind. Two remaining brothers carry on the family traditio started by theeir older brother read more...
Don Barnes
There’s Still Something Special About .38 The Don Barnes Interview by Michael Buffalo Smith February 2000 One of the hardest working bands of the ‘80s and ‘90s, still going strong into the new millennium, is .38 Special. With a string of Top 40 hits a mile long, the band just read more...
Artimus Pyle 1999
His Tonka Toys Were Real An Exclusive Interview with Artimus Pyle by Michael Buffalo Smith November 1999 He was the second drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd but most fans know him as THE drummer for the South’s most popular band. Artimus Pyle played on the band’s best-loved albums, read more...
Danny Joe Brown
Still Beatin’ the Odds An Exclusive Interview with Danny Joe Brown by Michael Buffalo Smith November 1999 When you talk about Southern Rock legends, one of the names that will always come up will be Danny Joe Brown, the founding lead singer for those bad boys of Southern Rock known read more...
Ed King 1999
THE KING OF SOUTHERN ROCK THE ED KING INTERVIEW by Michael Buffalo Smith June 1999 Ed King was one of the original members of Lynyrd Skynyrd and when the group reunited at the 1987 Volunteer Jam, Ed once again joined forces with the surviving members of one of the read more...
Gregg Allman
Midnight Rider An Audience with Gregg Allman by Michael Buffalo Smith Spring 1999 Warren Haynes and Allen Woody had just left The Allman Brothers Band to pursue Gov’t Mule full time, and Jack Pearson was in as guitarist and O'Teil Burbridge as bassist when we sat down with Gregg Allman in 1999. read more...