Lynyrd Skynyrd Rocks Winterland In 1975

Former Lynyrd Skynyrd and Strawberry Alarm Clock guitarist Ed King died yesterday. The news of King’s passing was confirmed by a note on his official Facebook page. King was a crucial part of the Skynyrd sound during his original tenure in the band which spanned 1972 – 1975. He co-wrote the group’s biggest hit “Sweet Home Alabama” with Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant and also contributed to “Saturday Night Special,” “Workin’ For MCA” and more. This week’s Throwback Thursday features pro-shot footage from Skynrd’s April 27, 1975 visit to Winterland in San Francisco just before King departed the band.

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s performance at Winterland featured the three-guitar attack of King, Rossington and Allen Collins. The lineup was rounded out by frontman Ronnie Van Zandt, bassist Leon Wilkeson and drummer Artimus Pyle. Skynyrd was touring in support of their third studio album Nuthin’ Fancy and stopped in San Francisco one month after the LP’s release.

The band opened with “Whiskey Rock-A-Roller” off Nuthin’ Fancy and included four more tunes from the record into their 11-song set. Lynyrd Skynyrd also treated the capacity crowd to “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Don’t Ask Me No Questions” and “Sweet Home Alabama” off 1974’s Second Helping, a cover of J.J. Cale’s “Call Me The Breeze” as well as huge hits “Free Bird” and “Gimme Three Steps” from their debut album (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd).

King wound up leaving the group by the time the tour was finished. “I’ve just found out about Ed’s passing and I’m shocked and saddened. Ed was our brother, and a great songwriter and guitar player. I know he will be reunited with the rest of the boys in Rock and Roll Heaven,” reads a note from Gary Rossington regarding King’s death. Rossington is the sole original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd that continues to tour with the group.

Watch Lynyrd Skynyrd’s performance at Winterland from April 27, 1975:

Tracklist

• 0:00:00 – Whiskey Rock-A-Roller
• 0:04:06 – I Ain’t The One
• 0:07:56 – The Needle And The Spoon
• 0:12:35 – I’m A Country Boy
• 0:17:19 – Gimme Three Steps
• 0:22:30 – Don’t Ask Me No Questions
• 0:25:59 – Saturday Night Special
• 0:31:25 – Railroad Song
• 0:36:24 – Call Me The Breeze
• 0:42:49 – Sweet Home Alabama
• 0:48:18 – On the Hunt
• 0:54:34 – Freebird