Lynyrd Skynyrd

Flytjendur

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  Lynyrd Skynyrd

  More than a half century after the release of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s critically acclaimed debut album

  ‘Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd,’ they resonate as deeply with their multi-generational fan base

  today as when they first emerged out of Jacksonville, Florida in 1973. Few ensembles have had the

  deep impact in creating a lifestyle as Skynyrd has. The band travels forward with a primary mission

  of celebrating a legacy that honors all whom have had a resonating contribution to the lives of

  hundreds of millions of fans globally. Former members Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Allen

  Collins, Steve Gaines, Ed King, Billy Powell, Bob Burns, and Leon Wilkeson alongside others will

  forever remain significant contributors to this indelible repertoire and the band’s colorful history.

  Today, Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks on with a current line-up featuring Johnny Van Zant, Rickey

  Medlocke, Damon Johnson, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Robbie Harrington, Peter

  Keys, Carol Chase and Stacy Plunk.

  The rock and roll powerhouse continually tour, and as Van Zant shares, “It’s about the legacy of

  Lynyrd Skynyrd, and what it stands for, what the fans are all about. There’s nothing like getting out

  there playing a great show with Skynyrd and seeing people love this music.”

  With a catalog of over 60 albums, billions of streams, tens of millions of records sold, and the

  introduction of Hell House whiskey, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Lynyrd Skynyrd remain a cultural

  icon that appeal to all generations.

  Prior to his passing in March of 2023, the last surviving original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd Gary

  Rossington expressed an earnest hope that the band's music would continue to be performed even

  after he wasn't around. At the time, he shared, “Y'know, when we started this band...we always

  wanted to be in front of people hearing our songs. I want our music to endure because I've seen

  people...when they don't play anymore, they kind of fade away and people quit talking about them.

  You don't hear their songs or see their image on the Internet or anything. We wanted to stay around.

  That was our dream, for the band to play and play our music and let that be heard." That dream has

  been fulfilled, perhaps even more profoundly than Rossington and the other founding members could

  have ever imagined.

  "This is all about the music and keeping it alive and keeping those guys alive through the music,"

  explains Johnny Van Zant, who stepped into his late brother and original Skynyrd frontman Ronnie

  Van Zant's spot back in 1986 and has been there ever since. "People want to hear it, and they want to

  hear it played live. I have people all the time saying, 'Thank you for carrying it on so we can

  experience it.'"

  Rickey Medlocke, who was with the band during 1970-71 and returned, at Rossington's invitation, in

  1996, adds that, "Gary expressed many times his wishes that the music didn't perish with him, that

  the legacy of the music would continue, not just on the radio or TV or in soundtracks but for the band

  to take it to the fans, go out and make sure that we delivered it 100 percent. That's what we do."

  During its first phase -- from the mid-60s to 1977 -- the band redefined the concept of Southern Rock

  on five studio albums and the incendiary, breakthrough 1976 live set One More From the Road -- all

  of which went Top 30 on the Billboard 200 chart. Ronnie Van Zant's poetry was launched skyward

  by the guitar artistry of Rossington and Allen Collins and, at different times, Ed King and Steve

  Gaines. One anthem after another hit rock radio stations and they continue to be played widely on a

  daily basis today.

  After four decades as the front man of the band, Johnny Van Zant remains honored to be representing

  not only his brother but the Skynyrd Nation as a whole. He shares, “Those guys were like my

  brothers, too. I used to hear 'em play at the house. I heard those songs being written. I was maybe too

  young to appreciate them at the time but I grew and grew and really understood that God gave

  (Ronnie) the gift to hit people in their heartstrings, and it's just lasted. It's been generational, and it

  amazes me every night to see people, parents and their kids and their grandkids, just singing these

  songs back to us."

  For Medlocke, who fronted the band Blackfoot for a great many years, rejoining Skynyrd brought

  him full circle back into the band he'd helped develop some of those 70s hits with. "He offered me a

  dollar-fifty and a Snickers bar," Medlocke says with a laugh.

  Skynyrd's second phase has certainly been a productive one -- 10 more studio albums, including

  Christmas Time Again in 2000, and Top 30 releases such as Vicious Cycle and Gods & Guns. There

  have been more hits, too, such as "Keeping the Faith," "Good Livin's Hard to Find" and a rendition of

  Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightning," among others. In 2006 Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock

  and Roll Hall of Fame.

  The band’s most recent release, CELEBRATING 50 YEARS: LIVE AT THE RYMAN is filled with

  highlights that made a special night only more so. John Osborne of country's Osborne Brothers adds

  his guitar to "Working for MCA," while Jelly Roll duets with Van Zant on a moving "Tuesday's

  Gone." Third Van Zant brother Donnie comes on board for "Red White & Blue,” Shinedown's Brent

  Smith puts his touch on "Simple Man,

  " and Marcus King joined the band for “Saturday Night

  Special.” Johnny Van Zant shares, “I love seeing that this music has touched other artists like that.

  When you've got Metallica doing 'Tuesday's Gone' and (Creed's) Scott Stapp telling me, 'Man,

  Skynyrd got me through my darkest times,' it just makes me feel good that my brother and those guys

  touched so many people like that." The greatest pull quote of all time might be the simple thought

  shared by Jellyroll who offers, “In the South, there's Jesus Christ, and then there's Lynyrd Skynyrd,

  right there beside each other.”

  For the Van Zants and Medlocke, however, the night's highlight wasn't even on stage. "The four us --

  me, Donnie, Rickey and Gary -- were in this tiny dressing room, crammed in with our suitcases and

  stuff, just telling jokes and laughing and talking about the old days and eating cold pizza. That's a

  memory I wouldn't change for the world."

  In true Skynyrd fashion the road goes on -- if not forever, then certainly for the foreseeable future --

  and with considerable pride and great reverence, respect and rock 'n' roll hell-raising. As Ronnie Van

  Zant's widow Judy Van Zant Jenness says, "the Lynyrd Skynyrd family is unified in this decision to

  keep the Free Bird flying for as long as possible.”

  For more historical detail visit: https://www.lynyrdskynyrd.com/history

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  Foreigner

  With ten multi-platinum albums and sixteen Top 30 hits, Foreigner is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world with a formidable musical arsenal that continues to propel sold-out tours and album sales, now exceeding 75 million. Responsible for some of rock and roll’s most enduring anthems including “Juke Box Hero,” “Feels Like The First Time,” “Urgent,” “Head Games,” “Hot Blooded,” “Cold As Ice,” “Dirty White Boy,” “Waiting For A Girl Like You,” and the worldwide #1 hit, “I Want To Know What Love Is,” Foreigner continues to rock the charts almost 40 years into the game.

  Founded in 1976, Foreigner’s debut album produced the hits “Feels Like The First Time,” “Cold As Ice” and “Long, Long Way From Home.” The album Double Vision followed, as did a string of hits like “Urgent,” “Juke Box Hero” and “Waiting For A Girl Like You.” Those songs helped give Foreigner’s next album, 4, its impressive run at #1 on the Billboard chart. At the zenith of 80’s sound, Foreigner’s fifth album, Agent Provocateur, gave the world the incredible #1 global hit,” I Want To Know What Love Is.” This musical milestone followed the record-breaking song “Waiting For A Girl Like You.”

  At Foreigner’s core is the founder and Songwriters Hall of Fame member Mick Jones, the visionary maestro whose stylistic songwriting, indelible guitar hooks and multi-layered talents continue to escalate Foreigner’s influence and guide the band to new horizons. He reformed the band after a 2002 hiatus and selected lead singer Kelly Hansen to help write an inspired new chapter in the history of Foreigner. One of rock’s greatest showmen, Hansen is known for his innate ability to connect with the crowds. As a front man and lead vocalist, Hansen is among the most respected, consummate professionals in rock and roll. With a 35-year career that spans almost every area of music, from the role of lead vocalist to producing and engineering, Kelly has the unique ability to advance and excel when faced with new challenges.

  Mick also brought in bassist Jeff Pilson, multi-instrumentalist Tom Gimbel, guitarist Bruce Watson, Michael Bluestein on keyboards, and Chris Frazier on drums. An unprecedented new level of energy lead the group to a re-emergence of astounding music that speaks to long time Foreigner fans and younger generations. With renewed vitality and direction, Foreigner hit the Billboard charts again with the 2005 release of their live greatest hits album, Extended Versions. Can’t Slow Down followed in 2009 and entered the Billboard chart in the Top 30, driven by two Top 20 radio singles, “In Pieces” and “When It Comes To Love.” To follow was the release of the band’s 3-disc set, Feels Like The First Time, which included an acoustic CD with an intimate and unique re-interpretation of many Foreigner classics, studio re-records by the new lineup and a live performance DVD showcasing the group’s exceptional live energy.

  Foreigner experienced another surge in popularity when several of their hits were featured on the Rock of Ages soundtrack, including “I Want To Know What Love Is,” “Juke Box Hero” and “Waiting For A Girl Like You” – more songs than any other one band on the soundtrack. Hollywood quickly took note, and several more tracks were featured in hit films “Anchorman 2,” “Magic Mike” and “Pitch Perfect,” sending Foreigner downloads up 400%. The video game industry was soon to follow with the blockbuster release, “Grand Theft Auto V”. Downloads continued to soar after their worldwide #1 hit “I Want To Know What Love Is” was featured as the 2015 season finale end title of “Orange Is The New Black.” Foreigner hits have also recently been included in such primetime TV shows as “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" and “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” among others. Hot Blooded is on the trailer for the Angry Birds movie and has been streamed more than 6 million times. The high visibility of Foreigner’s songs continues to introduce the band’s music to a whole future generation of fans, exemplified by Jack Black’s version of “Juke Box Hero” in Kung Fu Panda 3.

  In June 2013, Mick Jones was inducted to the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. A multi-talented and multi-dimensional “musician’s musician,” Jones has also written songs such as “Bad Love” with Eric Clapton and “Dreamer” with Ozzy Osbourne, and produced records for others including Billy Joel’s Storm Front and Van Halen’s 5150. A Grammy and Golden Globe-nominated songwriter, Jones is the winner of the prestigious British Ivor Novello Songwriter Award for “The Flame Still Burns”, the soundtrack music for the film Still Crazy.

  In May 2014, Atlantic Records Chairman Craig Kallman presented Mick Jones with RIAA gold and platinum digital awards for six Foreigner songs. These awards signify 500,000 and 1,000,000 downloads of Foreigner hits. That is more individual awards than any other heritage rock band, and an illustration of Foreigner’s resonance in the digital era.

  The year continued with Foreigner’s headline run in The Soundtrack of Summer US amphitheater tour. The hits compilation album of the same name was released to coincide with the tour and immediately hit the Billboard Top 200 chart, peaking at #64. For most weeks during the tour, Juke Box Heroes joined The Soundtrack Of Summer in the Billboard Top 200 making Foreigner the only Classic Rock band to have such a remarkable presence in today’s chart.

  Recent albums like Juke Box Heroes, a new compilation of digitally recorded Foreigner hits, and The Best of Foreigner 4 & More, recorded live from The Borgata, continue to chart, with Billboard recently releasing their “Greatest of All Time” lists featuring Foreigner hits in every category. Catalog sales often eclipse those of AC/DC, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Van Halen and most of their Classic Rock peers (Source: Nielsen SoundScan Top 200, September 15, 2013).

  Foreigner made headlines again in the summer of 2015 by joining mega act Kid Rock on his “Cheap Date: First Kiss Tour,” rocking amphitheatres and stadiums across the United States. One of the only heritage acts to commence a tour of this magnitude, Foreigner gained in legions of new fans as part of this legendary partnership.

  The year 2015 also brought Foreigner’s partnership with Ford’s Drive 4 UR School campaign, where Ford joined Foreigner’s successful high school choir promotion in several markets, donating funds and allowing winning choirs the chance to join Foreigner onstage.

  In February 2016, Foreigner released their first-ever live acoustic album In Concert. Unplugged. The band’s royalties will be donated to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) and the album is available exclusively via Amazon. Foreigner recorded this unique acoustic album at a once-in-a-lifetime private concert hosted by Edsel B. Ford II on August 24, 2015 at the Ford Motor Company Conference & Event Center in Detroit, MI.

  Foreigner kicked off 2016 with a much hailed unplugged appearance on The Today Show on February 11th followed by a short run of New York area sold out acoustic shows culminating with an epic concert at The Lincoln Center as part of the acclaimed American Songbook Series.

  Foreigner is one of the most viewed YouTube artists with anywhere between 700,000 and 900,000 weekly viewings of their songs (Source: Next Big Sound).

• Six Gun Sally