Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Gary Rossington Dead at 71, Last Living Founding Member

Gary Rossington, the final unique member of legendary rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died.

The guitarist, behind such memorable songs as “Freebird” and “Sweet Home Alabama,” handed away Sunday, in accordance with a press release launched by the band.

Although his reason behind demise was not disclosed, Rossington suffered from a sequence of heart-related points over time, together with a coronary heart assault in 2015. He additionally acquired an emergency coronary heart process in 2019.

Members of Skynyrd paid homage to Rossington of their assertion, “It is with our deepest sympathy and unhappiness that we’ve to advise, that we misplaced our brother, buddy, member of the family, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington, at the moment.”

They continued, “Gary is now along with his Skynyrd brothers and household in heaven and taking part in it fairly, like he at all times does.”

As chances are you’ll recall, Rossington was aboard a aircraft that crashed after it ran out of gas over Mississippi in October 1977, killing three of his bandmates: lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and his brother and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines.

Three different passengers additionally died, together with the group’s assistant highway supervisor Dean Kilpatrick.

Rossington miraculously survived, however his arms, legs, ankles, and pelvis had been shattered.

It took 10 years … however the band received again collectively in 1987 and Rossington rejoined it with a brand new line-up. Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Rossington was 71.