I managed to get to see the reformed Lynyrd Skynyrd at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. I was still at school when the band were involved in the tragic plane crash so I never got the chance to see the original band. The band had a particular significance to my first wife and I as Freebird was the song that was playing when I finally plucked up enough courage to speak to her just after the band (Dawnwatcher) had finished playing at the Mayfair in Sunderland on 27th August 1979! It was a Mayfair tradition to play Freebird after the band finished just like it was a tradition to sit on the dance floor when they played Stairway!
The reformed band had Ronnie’s brother, Johnny Van Zant, as its lead vocalist and much to my relief had started playing Freebird again! This was the last time I remember seeing Jesus at a gig (the festival guy not the bloke from the bible!)
Support was Christmas Island and the set list was:
Smokestack Lightning
I Know a Little
Saturday Night Special
What’s Your Name
Simple Man
The Ballad of Curtis Loew
Gimme Three Steps
Call Me the Breeze
Backstreet Crawler
Sweet Home Alabama
Free Bird
This was a great night. I had a front row ticket courtesy of the band. Headed back to their hotel after the show. Good times. All the best, Iain