Next Skynyrd Album Will Have Nashville Influence
Gary Rossington says that Lynyrd Skynyrd plans to include the long bootleged song "Cottonmouth Country" recorded many years ago by the original band with Bob Burns on drums, on their upcoming album. The cut was produced by Al Kooper, but never released officially. The new studio album is expected out in early 2009, and rumor has it that it may be their final studio album.
This will be Skynyrd's first of new material since 2003's "Vicious Cycle," and Rossington says that he, frontman Johnny Van Zant and guitarist Rickey Medlocke have been spending time in Nashville working with songwriters.
"We're not doing a country album," Rossington told Billboard Magazine "but Skynyrd's always had a little bit of country blood in us. That's where we come from." He says the group has at least 20 songs ready for consideration and hopes to hit the studio in April or May. The group hasn't yet determined who will be producing, though Rossington says the band members will likely co-produce with whomever they choose.
Skynyrd just embarked Friday on another leg of the Rowdy Frynds Tour with Hank Williams, Jr., and .38 Special, and they will be featured as a part of Kid Rock's Rock N Roll Revival show on May 15 at New York's Madison Square Garden and subsequent dates later this summer.
There will be some big surprises this summer at the Skynyrd shows. Gary has stated that the band will include a lot of old songs from their vast catalog as well as songs by Blackfoot, Rossington Collins Band and Donnie Van Zant. An idea I (among others, I a sure) suggested during my interview with Gary in 2003.
I have a call in to management, and will be speaking with Rossington again soon regarding the band's Nashville songwriting connections and upcoming events. Stay tuned.
Keep it Real. Keep it Southern
Buffalo
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Comments
t_bassman_1 says...
Classic southern rock-----keep it alive---cuz there is no new rockers out there , it takes all of us old timers to rock SOUTHERN style!!!!!!!!!!!!!
skynfan says...
Well guys don't hold your breath on hearing any RCB or Blackfoot and for sure no Donnie songs any time in the near future. And as far as this being the last Skynyrd Album I don't belive this to be the case either. I spent 4/20 with the band in Spingfield IL. And not one band member knew anything about any of this. So unless Bubba was lieing to me right to my face I don't belive any of this to be true. Cotton Mouth will be on the next album for sure. That I do know to be true. But this artical stirred alot of stuff up in the Skynyrd camp over this weekend. I don't know where this info came from but I was told by Gary himself that it was wrong. Now if you do catch them this Summer, If your a die hard Southern Rock fan you'll hear that when Ricky plays the intro to Sweet Home He is actually playing Mother, a killer old Blackfoot tune. Just like Brother Hughie used to play Sign of the times (japan bonus track unreleased in the U.S.) as the intro. I aint tryin to dog no one round, but as much as I would love to see some blackfoot songs and real obscure Skynyrd Songs this Summer it just aint gonna happen. Skynfan
tylerslsc.rr.com says...
Look I saw these guys during the Steel Town Tour . Hughie, Medlock , and Rossington. Blew the roof off. However they should use the talent in the band and let the old Skynyrd rest. They could make a name with who they are now. I like Van Zants CDs. Its sad though Southern Rock Ledgends are fading away. Who will take there place. Copperhead
katiedid says...
Yes, you ARE the only one wayne's world! There will ALWAYS be a Lynyrd Skynyrd! Get over it dude!
waynep says...
Am I the ONLY ONE who thinks they should give up this charade? Come on guys. let the Lynyrd Skynyrd name retire before you tarnish it any further. You can all follow Johnny's lead and have solo projects.