Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American Southern rock band, described by All Music Guide's Stephen Thomas Erlewine as "the definitive Southern rock band, fusing the overdriven power of blues-rock with a rebellious, Southern image and a hard rock swagger." http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:51u67uu0h0jd~T1 The band reached prominence during the 1970s, under the leadership of vocalist and primary songwriter Ronnie Van Zant, until his death in 1977.

Controversy

• Fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd have been increasingly vocal about the band being overlooked for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Some fans attribute this to their controversial Southern image, which includes use of the Confederate flag, perceived to be racist by some. However it should be noted that this was also used by other contemporary Southern artists, including Elvis Presley and Dolly Parton. Another speculated reason is the fact that only two original members still remain in the band, leading to criticisms that the current band is merely a shadow of the original band. Interestingly enough, the song "Free Bird" does make The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list. Country singer Charlie Daniels posted an online letter and petition directed to the Hall of Fame in February 2005, encouraging fans to sign it in support.
• Since his death in 1977, rumors have existed that Ronnie Van Zant was buried in a Neil Young T-shirt as a supposed curse against him, although truthfully there was no feud between the two (see above, band history). Some fans believe this rumor was the reason the gravesites of Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines were broken into on June 29, 2000, in Orange Park, Florida. Others believe that this desecration was motivated by the 1986 Dead Kennedys track A Commercial http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/6558/BEDTIME_.HTM#15 which mockingly refered to exhuming the bodies of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Van Zant's casket was dragged onto the grounds, but was not opened. Gaines' cremated remains, which were in a plastic bag in an urn, were scattered on the ground near his site. 99% of his ashes were recovered. The families decided to move their remains to an undisclosed location, leaving the mausoleums as memorials for fans to visit.