49 Years After Tragedy Took Three of Its Members, Lynyrd Skynyrd Reminds Fans Their Music Lives On

Lynyrd Skynyrd marked the anniversary of the 1977 plane crash that killed singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and others, sharing a photograph to honour those lost. The band said their music and spirit continue to resonate, keeping the musicians’ legacy in view.

The crash happened on 20 October 1977, after a concert in Greenville, South Carolina, as the group travelled to a show in Louisiana. The aircraft ran low on fuel and crashed in a Mississippi field; those killed included Van Zant, Gaines, his sister Cassie, two pilots and the band’s assistant road manager. The band later returned to performing with Van Zant’s younger brother Johnny.