I started off with that riff and Ronnie was sitting on the edge of the couch, making this signal to me to just keep rolling it over and over.. I wish there was better / more material of him telling stories, talking guitars etc. Gary James' Interview With The Guitarist for Strawberry Alarm Clock and Lynyrd Skynyrd Ed King It's not often that you get to talk to someone whose been in not just one, but two legendary groups. I started off with that riff and Ronnie was sitting on the edge of the couch, making this signal to me to just keep rolling it over and over. We had a very small budget, and when I say small, I think it was about a million-and-a-half dollars to do a movie. Either way, we put a stop to it., Rossington: We didnt like the tones and sounds that Tom was getting. [5] Guitarist Rossington noted years later that King was the most business-minded member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, relating a story of how King would stock up on food items during stops on tour and then re-sell the items to his bandmates at a 500% markup when they later got hungry on the bus. Steve was a great player but I wouldnt put him above Ed. A California native, King was a founding member of the psychedelic Sixties band Strawberry Alarm Clock, known for their hit Incense and Peppermints. He offered to join Skynyrd when, opening for the band at the Jacksonville, Florida, bar the Comic Book Club in 1968, he heard them rehearsing the song Need All My Friends. It wasnt until 1972, however, when King would sign on with Skynyrd, temporarily replacing bassist Leon Wilkeson and then becoming a full-fledged member as third guitarist. And I hate myself for that now, Rossington frowns. The audience has grown to love the new guys, too.. He co-wrote Sweet Home Alabama with Lynyrd Skynyrd and man can he can SHRED on guitar! In fact West had deputised for Rossington at a New York gig after the latter broke his hand in a fist fight. The trouble. Anything you wrote with him was pretty easy. He died, presumably from cancer at his Nashville home on August 22, 2018. We were playing a lot of the new tunes, he remembers, things like That Smell and I Never Dream, and they were going over really good with the audience. But long hair was part of their look. Gary is a trooper. Very sad to hear of his passing. [5] The band referred to this unique new setup with King as the "Three Guitar Army". That band, called The Saturday Night Special Band, played several shows that can be found on YouTube. But as the dazed and blood-splattered collective approached a private house they were astonished to receive shotgun fire. He was a guitarist for the psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock and guitarist and bassist for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 to 1975 and again from 1987 to 1996.[3]. Hed stop and buy $100 worth of Slim Jims and have him in a briefcase and, driving an hour or two, you get hungry, hed sell them to us and triple the price, he said. But we were constantly fighting each other on one occasion I even got my teeth knocked out by Ronnie. King was one of the guitarists in the reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987, and played a major role. What is giving Ronnie Wood his tone in this song. It was here that several of the original band members met and became friends. It just got a little too nutty for me. His work with Strawberry Alarm Clock and ofcourse Lynyrd Skynyrd will forever be remembered. The strangest memory of my life is that when that plane came down I wasnt knocked unconscious like all the rest. Ed King Discussions. Judy Van Zant wants all the money and all the control. He appeared on the bands first three albums, Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd, Second Helping, and Nuthin Fancy. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). The new albums definitely of the same calibre, insists Rossington. Randall remained with Skynyrd until 1993. Allen and Billy didnt wanna get up on it, but Ronnie was gung-ho and told em if it was his time [to die] then it was his time; we were going. At the beginning I had my doubts about doing this, he admits. The album was released on October 17, 1977. Hes already scared everybody [in the band] into playing their best in years., And Van Zant was right. More than a quarter of a century later, Rossington still recalls the tours few completed gigs in Miami, St Petersburg, Lakeland and Greenville with a strange mixture of warm contentedness and chilling foreboding. She never mourned Ronnie Van Zant's death. But because of their frivolous, greedy lawsuits with their asshole attorneys, we ending up having to focus the movie on my story. I had [a crash] when I was young with my uncle, and then I had one in the Marine Corps on a search-and-rescue mission for a downed pilot, an air mishap with a helicopter. All rights reserved. News Channel 5 in Nashville, where King lived, reported that the cause of death was cancer. 40 years after its release, the song still receives regular airplay and the famous riff remains part of the lexicon of rock and roll. And we play Lynyrd Skynyrd music better than any band in the world. So this is the real story of the plane crash - not a dramatization, but the way things actually happened?It's exactly what happened. I was still in FL in those days, in Tampa. One of my first thoughts was: Thank God its over I dont have to get beaten up anymore., Even without asking anyone, I knew in my heart that Ronnie was dead, Powell continues quietly. But there were many more gigs ahead, the most glamorous of which was an opening slot for the Rolling Stones at Knebworth Park. It was a devastating loss for the band on the rise, and it changed them forever. He was 68. As part of Lynyrd Skynyrd's famed three-guitar attack, King co-wrote "Sweet Home Alabama" and created the signature lick, as well as the sweet solo that is such an unforgettable part of the 1974 hit. Myself and him got in around six big, bad knockout fights, but thats just the way wed been brought up. The subject had frustrated Johnny immensely the last time he spoke to Classic Rock. When Wilkeson rejoined the band King switched to lead guitar turning Skynyrd into the guitar army band, famous for its guitar fireworks. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sharon and his family. Kings death was announced on August 23. His stint with the band was brief, however, and Powell rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd when the band reformed and remained a member until his death. He was 68. Leslie was a little too egotistical and wild for us, and I dont think it wouldve worked., The new guitarist was eventually hired at the recommendation of backing vocalist Cassie Gaines. Powell wasn't a founding member and also wasn't a native of Florida. At that point, I could hear [sound engineer] Ken Peden and [drum technician] Marc Frank behind me, yelling for me to wait. Leons replacement was ex-Outlaws man Ean Evans, who joined former Damn Yankees drummer Michael Cartellone in the groups engine room. After admonishing Rossington in his hospital bed, Van Zant took his security guard Gene Odom aside and told him things would have to change. Mountains Leslie West was among those considered for the job. Earlier that same year, Powell had come a cropper on his motorbike, Collins had driven a jeep over an embankment, fracturing his skull in the process, and drummer Artimus Pyle had shattered his leg in another alcohol-related incident. Johnny saidyes. Its name was inspired by the band's high school gym teacher, named Coach Leonard Skinner (via CNN). King met members of the future Lynyrd Skynyrd when they were opening for Strawberry Alarm Clock in early 1968. Why did members of Lynyrd Skynyrd choose to name their band after their high school gym teacher? Well Known for: He is best known for being the guitarist for the rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock as well as the guitarist and bassist for the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He'll stick his head in the sand and let other people do his dirty work for him. You cant blame the pilots; they obviously wouldnt have flown if they knew what was gonna happen., Among the main recipients of Van Zants bullying, Billy Powell makes an astonishing admission of the thoughts he was having as he lay dazed and wounded in that Florida swamp twilight: You want the truth? he asks. After a bitter legal battle, drummer Artimus Pyle was finally able to tell his version of Lynyrd Skynyrd's tragic plane crash in the recent movie Street Survivors. He chipped in with I Know A Little and the country-blues workout Aint No Good Life. At the end of the movie, I say I loved being the drummer of Lynyrd Skynyrd. We had to quit doing that song for a while.. Coincidentally, King and Gaines shared the same birthday. Same level? Right after the crash, I actually had to fly to two or three different hospitals for special operations. We did try Leslie but we didnt get along, Rossington explains. Ultimately, King quit Lynyrd Skynyrdin 1975. Finally, after maybe 10 15 minutes, he got up and sang a verse and a chorus. Of the several surviving bandmates, one of them was Billy Powell. The deadly crash changed the band forever. An iconic guitar owned by Ed King of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and that once was stolen from the "Sweet Home Alabama" co-writer at gunpoint, is now in the custody of the King of Americana, Jason Isbell. He did one album with the band. We thank his many friends and fans for their love and support of Ed during his life and career.. A mere three days later, three band members were dead, killed in the plane crash that, ironically, painfully, stupidly, turned them into a legend. Its all part of my story and its made me who I am.. We were selling out everywhere we went. He was marvelously talented that riff in Sweet Home Alabama? He died in Nashville, Tennessee home. Lynyrd Skynyrd's story is one of desire, fate, extraordinary talent, and survival. The song came real quick. Most things I've read are some version of "too much chaos": I think the other guys in the band alienated him, somewhat, too, as he was the west coast guy. Kings guitar playing & songwriting skills were essential to Skynyrds first three albums. The band often found itself in physical fights, reportedly fueled by Van Zant. I spent long periods of time on the phone with them. Ed King, the Strawberry Alarm Clock expatriate who'd been hired to play bass on debut album Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd had switched to guitar, ripped off notes that nibbled at the far ends of psychedelia, his Stratocaster filling the psychic gap between Collins' Gibson Firebird and Rossington's Les Paul. According to King, his guitar tech had not been around to change his strings because he had been thrown in jail, along with Van Zant, following an altercation with police. The farmer later explained that hed heard reports of escaped prisoners on the loose in the area. Wed just started to do cocaine. The plane floated and you could feel your stomach roll up into your oesophagus Everybody on the plane gasped. I was injured so I couldn't yell too loud, but I told them, "You wait." So, at the end of that documentary, which is called Uncivil War, Jake totally sides [with me] and says, "Poor Artimus, you know the guy has saved lives and is a hard-working member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, yet they steal all of his money and don't allow him to be a part of the band.". A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. About the decision to leave the band, King said "well, I was out of my mind for quitting. And Johnny, I think his reaction was, "Well, it must have been a ricochet." (@kirstenkayyyy) August 23, 2018, Sad to hear of the passing of Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Ed King. that was great. They made the audience wait for three hours, and when they did play they were too Quaaluded [powerful downers] out. In a new interview, Pyle . Certainly, as Rolling Stone recently reported, theyre now having their first hit single since Jimmy Carter was in the White House in the shape of Red, White And Blue. As the story goes, the name of the band was inspired by Lee High gym teacher, Coach Skinner. On the road and drinkingwatch out! Formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the southern rock music band was originally composed of guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, bassist Larry Junstrom, drummer Bob Burns, and vocalist Ronnie Van Zant. Here are some of the most poignant messages of support: #BREAKING: Legendary guitarist Ed King passed away yesterday at the age of 68. sws1 Member Messages 13,309 Aug 26, 2017 #13 27sauce said: Not how I would describe him at all, based on how he presents himself online, anyway. So there's a lot of relief to have it finished, because it's been a hard-fought battle. That's his problem. Johnny saidyeah. According to founding drummer Bob Burns, "Leonard Skinner" was an in-joke before the gym teacher Leonard Skinner even entered the picture. He touches on it in this interview too - basically he got tired of the drama, I worked with Al Kooper for a bit in the 80sonce asked him who was the best guitar player he ever worked with. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Wed write a song in the morning and record it in the afternoon, which wasnt ideal. Ed King dead: Lynyrd Skynyrd star Gary Rossington reveals 'shock' in tribute to guitarist Subscribe Now : https://goo.gl/FpXBSN Ed's family announced the ne. She celebrated it, and she hit the lottery. I'm a drummer in a rock band that runs bulldozers and flies airplanes. King told Louder Sound, I always knew something would happen to them after I left. In a separate interview, King said about the crash, I could see something coming, but I didnt know it was that. The 15 drummers they've gotten since I left, they can't play the drums properly. Burns happened to be a drummer and was a friend of guitarist Gary Rossington. Right away, King proved to be an asset to Lynyrd Skynyrd, contributing many of the riffs that made the bands sound so iconic. He left on the understanding that he would rejoin once he regained his health, but the band did not allow him to rejoin.King, along with all pre-crash members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, were inducted into the . there was a recent thread with a video interview with Ed, and of course, that question. Ed now plays guitar with the group. As the reality of their plight had dawned, the pilots informed air traffic control in Houston that the aircrafts altitude had dropped from 12,000 feet to just 4,500. I had to play on old strings and I broke two strings during Free Bird. After, Ronnie was riding me, and a lightbulb went off and I said, Thats it. I went back to my room, packed up my stuff and left.. Theres not many changes in it. I said the only way I would do it is if I came out and played at least seven songs. Powell was one of them and his nose was almost severed from the accident, and he had a knee injury, per Ultimate Classic Rock. They use him; he's their cash cow. King lived in Nashville & was a influential figure in the guitar community. Right after that show we told him to quit the band he was with, he was coming with us. Just like when Jake Tapper interviewed Judy Van Zant and the rest of the band members, Billy Powell and Gary, he could tell that they were not telling the truth and that they were covering up. The co-writer of "Sweet Home Alabama," "Saturday Night Special," and one of the seminal members of Lynyrd Skynyrd during the band's heyday has passed away. As I say in the beginning of the movie, some people that were on the plane have a totally different recollection. I know he will be reunited with the rest of the boys in Rock & Roll Heaven., Now Available: 134 Rock-n-Roll Legends Crossed the Rainbow in 2017 - A Tribute to their Lives Dismiss, Rock-n-Roll Music by The Beatles in Paris 1965, Guaranteed to Blow Your Mind, Anytime - Freddie Mercury, 134 Rock-n-Roll Legends Crossed the Rainbow in 2017, https://rockandrollparadise.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/21-Rock-n-Roll-Music-Live-Evening-Show.m4a, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C11MzbEcHlw, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZnodJJ7l_I, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZf41UudAbI, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWz9VN40nCA, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dC0DseCyYE, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV2kH2yPwUw. Gaines was killed in a plane crash along with his sister Cassie Gaines and Van Zant on October 20, 1977. Using all the discretion he could muster, Odom made it his business to arrive first at each venue, removing one of the two bottles of whisky and another of the three bottles of champagne supplied on the groups backstage rider. So, in the middle of the night, I just walked out. He was forced to leave Lynyrd Skynyrd again in 1996 due to congestive heart failure. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee 2006. So I thought I was qualified to tell the story. I wasn't able to be in on the total process of the editing and such. The physical education instructor was not a fan of the long hair trend the then-teen boys were sporting. It's a movie about something that really happened, so it's not just some frivolous flick that we put together. We thank his many friends and fans for their love and support of Ed during his life and career.. King co-wrote "Sweet Home Alabama, & more.70s-era @skynyrd cant be touched and remains my favorite band above all. It didnt last long, of course. It was always me and Allen Collins that fought, Powell explains. It's supposed to be the farewell tour. I always tried to keep out of Ronnies way when he was drunk, or avoid pissing him off at the very least. You cant keep that away from folks unless they want it themselves.. ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd Announce Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour, Gary Rossington Calls Current Lynyrd Skynyrd a Tribute Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd Hanging It up in the Next Year or so, Lynyrd Skynyrd Show Enduring Rock N Roll Spirit in Los Angeles, Damon Johnson Talks Gary Rossingtons Return to Lynyrd Skynyrd, Lynyrd Skynyrd Add More U.S. Ed left during a tour, as talked about in post #7. He rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987 but left for good in 1996 due to health issues. The message from his family read, It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Ed King who died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on August 22nd, 2018. That wasnt even work. Of course, a man who attended a Catholic high school during his formative years would have some type of allegiance to faith. Ronnie Van Zant, Ed King, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Bob Burns, Leon Wilkeson, Billy Powell performing Sweet Home Alabama May 12, 1974 in Hamburg Germany shortly after release of single in USA. Van Zant was, perhaps inevitably, the most irate that Dowd had fled to Toronto to work on Foot Loose And Fancy Free with Rod Stewart, and insisted that Dowds name be stripped from the credits. When Ed King passed away in August 2018, the Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist left more than classic songs like "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Saturday Night Special" as his legacy. I know he will be reunited with the rest of the boys in Rock and Roll Heaven. There was a leak, so when the pilot cut out the one engine to use the other it had been spewing fuel. But the band would reunite a decade after the accident for their tribute tour in 1987 (per Country Rebel). He was a gentlemen till he started drinking. Hed been arrested for drunkenness five times already on tour, with nine shows being cancelled. Powell along with the newest lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd had been on tour since late 2008. ", Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. They didnt arrive until 10 minutes before we went on. The song came real quick. Most people just don't know that because his star burned out so tragically early. Ed King, the legendary guitarist who wrote the iconic "Sweet Home Alabama" guitar riff, and whose voice can be heard at the start of the studio recording counting the song off . King was one of the co-writers of Sweet Home Alabama. The announcement was made via Kings Facebook page. You must log in or register to reply here. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."[18]. Rock band Aerosmith had intended to fly on the very plane that permanently transformed Lynyrd Skynyrd. King is now retired and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 with Lynyrd Skynyrd. But he heard they played guitar and just told them they were now in his band. King says that it was the Beatles who inspired him to become an accomplished guitar player. A message on Kings Facebook confirmed his death: It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Ed King who died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on August 22nd, 2018. Unfortunately Ed King died on. He lived through a plane crash, how can he let booze screw it up for him?. With fatherhood on the horizon, the 29-year-old had realised it was time to consider settling down. Gary Rossington and Billy Powell had both recently turned 50 years old, were currently clean of drugs and thoroughly proud to be so. I was only 22 years old at the time. Halfway through the process, I had to distance myself from Cleopatra films, in order for them to be able to win the lawsuit in the court of appeals. Every verse, theres like a new wrinkle added to it, but it pretty much stays the same. Without a second's hesitation he said "Ed King. Worse, at another gig, in North Carolina, Van Zant lost his voice following a lengthy booze and coke binge, and stumbled offstage midway through the performance. Fortunately, Johnny guffaws when I suggest that with Edge Of Forever Skynyrd had reached the point of shitting or getting off the pot. We werent really in limbo, we just didnt have any material written, Rossington shrugs now. With the planes fuel tanks empty there were at least no fires or explosions, but most of the passengers who survived suffered serious injuries that caused them permanent physical damage.
