Quote:
Originally Posted by William930t
I haven't seen the Netflix documentary but I hope tells the story in depth
Growing up in Jacksonville's Westside from late 60's-70's, I followed the band because they were cool, made the news, friends of older friends, and put out some relevant music to the times. My RPDS school bus drove right by the Leonard Skinner Realty office daily. Skinner was the by-the rules gym teacher at Lee High School that didn't take a liking to the long haired boys, saying they wouldn't amount to anything. He later became a realtor. The making of the band is really a great story. Ronnie, Alan, Gary, Leon and Billy had incredible talent from the start. Later with Artimus on drums and the addition in 1976 of Steve Gaines the band was headed to incredible stardom. Everything changed the night of October 20, 1977, THE plane crash. Simply a huge tragedy and loss. Survivors said it was over, nothing heard for 10 years. Then a loose reformation and a 1987 tribute tour that's still going. Johnny Van Zant does his best to honor his older brother's legacy. Many original members have since died off, and remaining ones are bickering. One thing is for sure, in the short time of 1973 to 1977, they still have be considered one of the greatest Southern rock bands of all time! Neat fact: I didn't know it until after the crash that my father was family physician/cardiologist to parents Lacy and Marion Van Zant, made me even more of a fan.
Some of the live material is better that the studio cuts, here is my current favorite:
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I went to school right across the street from Riverside Presp.Day school.
As a kid, I wasn't a fan, even though (and he may have been in the special, he was in the Showtime one) my cousin Billy was Ronnie's best friend from little league until the crash, they even flew him up with them when they were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He feels guilty because Ronnie wanted him to be the road manager before the crash. Ronnie would listen to him, so he feels that he could have delayed the flight.
They are buried near our family plot, so when I go to visit my Grandmother and Great Aunt (Billy's mother) I pay my respects.
The old places
