Lynyrd Skynyrd Announces Farewell Tour

Elton John isn’t the only touring icon about to embark on a farewell tour. Southern Rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd have just announced the “Last Of The Street Survivors Farewell Tour.” The tour, which is sponsored by SiriusXM, spans early May through September 1.

The band was formed in 1964 by Ronnie Van Zant, Bob Burns, Allen Collins, Gary Rossington and Larry Junstrom using the moniker My Backyard. Sometime in the early ’70s, the group changed its name to Lynyrd Skynyrd and soon became international superstars thanks to such songs as “Free Bird,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “The Ballad Of Curtis Loew” and “Simple Man.” A tragic 1977 plane crash took the lives of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines and several crew members. Skynyrd took a decade off and then reunited with Ronnie’s brother Johnny Van Zandt as frontman and have been touring ever since. The current lineup features Gary Rossington, Johnny Van Zandt, Rickey Medlocke, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Chase.

Last Of The Street Survivors Farewell Tour begins at the Coral Sky Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida on May 4. From there, the group hits Tampa, Dallas, Houston, Phoenix and then heads up the California coast. Skynyrd returns to the road on June 22 to kick off a Northeast leg before embarking on a string of Midwest dates. The tour is currently slated to end at Lakewood in Atlanta on September 1.

“It’s hard to imagine, after all these years, the band that Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins and myself started back in Jacksonville, would resonate for this long and to so many generations of fans. I’m certain they are looking down from above, amazed that the music has touched so many,” said Gary Rossington, original and founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Lead vocalist, Johnny Van Zant added, “we’ve been blessed by these great songs and the messages they carry to the fans. It’s been a true honor to try and fill in my brother’s footsteps for the past 31 years, keeping the music and his spirit, alive.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd will be joined on stage by numerous friends throughout the tour, including but not limited to: Kid Rock, Hank Williams Jr., Charlie Daniels Band, Bad Company, Marshall Tucker Band, 38 Special, Blackberry Smoke and Blackfoot. Tickets for the tour go on sale to the general public starting Friday, February 2 at 10:00 a.m. local time at LiveNation.com.

[Free Bird]

[Hat Tip – Ultimate Classic Rock]