Thirty One Years Ago Tonight: Remembering Ronnie Van Zant and Co.
Posted: Oct 19, 2008Every year at this time, my mind goes back to The Greenville Memorial Auditorium, 1977. It was 31 years ago tonight. As I type, it is 7:30 PM, and I remember it like it was yesterday. I was so excited at the age of 20 to be attending a concert by one of my favorite rock bands. I was so excited to get backstage, and meet everyone. There's no use in telling the story again, since I went into great detail last year on October 19th. Maybe you will look back with me, and re-read the article and the interview with Artimus Pyle about that night that I posted in 2007.
All I can add is that it still brealks my heart to this very day. I still think about Ronnie and all the others I met that night that are no longer here. I still dream of what Lynyrd Skynyrd would sound like today, and what side projects Ronnie would have done by now, had the tragedy never happened.
But it did happen. And the SWAMPLAND flags are at half mast this week. Ronnie sang it, "If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me?' We sure do, Ronnie, and always will my brother.
Keep it Real. Keep it Southern.
Buffalo
Comments
copperhead says...
I am with everyone else. What could have been. I kind of feel that Ronnie would have done a Van Zant country thing at some point
rebyll says...
I was in my room doing home work and listening to the radio when the DJ came on and announced that their plane had gone down in route from Greenville to Baton Rouge. It wasn't till the next morning that I found out how tragic it really was. Merle Haggard is my favorite Country artist and I would have LOVED to hear him and Ronnie together. Maybe someone can do one of those voice over things like they did with Bocephus and Hank or Ronnie and Johnny. Imagine Hagg and Ronnie singing "All I Can Do Is Write About It In A Song" or "Railroad Song" or "Made In The Shade"!!!! Oh well. Wishful thinking....
OhioGuy says...
Lynyrd Skynyrd accomplished alot in a short time. A tremendous group. R.I.P. to all who have left and God Bless the survivors.