Life is good for Gary Rossington.
The Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist recently celebrated his 60th birthday and his 30th wedding anniversary.
“I love it,” Rossington said of turning 60. “I never thought I would live to be this old when I was younger. I feel like I’m 21 in my mind. It feels good to keep going and I feel fortunate to have made it this long.”
Rossington, a simple southern man, is a founding member of Skynyrd and the only original member that still tours with the band. He keeps himself young, playing good ol’ fashioned Southern rock.
“I walk and work out a little bit and keep on rocking,” he said. “I think that keeps you young and seeing young people having a good time.”
Lynyrd Skynyrd began its world tour in April and release a new album, Last of A Dyin’ Breed earlier this month.
The present-day lineup consists of the guitar trio of Rossington, Rickey Medlocke and Mark Matejka, vocalist Johnny Van Zant, bassist Johnny Colt, drummer Michael Cartellone, keyboardist Peter Pisarczyk and backup vocalists Dale Krantz-Rossington and Carol Chase.
Skynyrd, which began in 1964, disbanded in 1977 but reformed in 1987.
“We’re a big family now, like the original guys,” Rossington said. “We’ve been together longer than the original band. Everybody loves it and tries to represent them good, do the music good, talk about them and keep the name alive.”
Jambands.com caught up with Rossington during a tour stop in Iowa.
You’re the only founding member of the band still touring, what keeps you going?
I just want to keep it going and keep playing with the guys we got now and spread the word of Skynyrd and bring the songs that Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, me and everybody wrote back in the ’70s with the original band—and just kind of tell the story and keep their names alive and the name of the band alive.
What does it mean to you on a personal level to be only original member of the band and represent the glory of the past?
It’s just something I want to do and can do and I just feel real strong about—playing the songs and doing interviews like this one today. It’s about everything—telling about the old guys in the band and of course, we still create. We’re songwriters, so we like to do a new album every few years just to get it out. But it’s still about the original band and everything that was and still is going on.
How have you evolved as a guitar player?
I just keep playing as a good as I can and keep practicing and learning new things. I just try to keep my own style and do what we’re doing for 45 years now.
How would you describe your playing?
It’s pretty simple. I like try to think that I have my own style because I can’t really play like anyone else very well. I try to play like other people, it just doesn’t work too good I guess. I just try to play like me and try to do it the best I can. Even though we’ve played the same songs for a long time, we try to play them as best and perfect we can every night and do it for the people who might only see us once and or never did get to see us or really know about us.
Have you ever thought about writing an autobiography?
I was asked a couple times but nothing came about. If anyone wants to do a book, let them to come me. I’ll do it. I just need someone else to write it because I don’t write too good.
Forty-five years in the industry, you must have some great stories?
You can’t help but to have a bunch of stories. Crazy and wild things have happened through the years when you’re in the business so long. I’ve seen a lot.
How many live shows do you think you have played?
I don’t know and I don’t know if I could guess that. I would have to sit down with a calculator. A lot, a lot. We do about 80 to 100 shows now a days. We used to do two to three hundred a year.
How would you assess the current state of Southern rock?
Southern Rock I think is changing—not really changing—it’s just kind of what it is today. We try to keep it alive doing what we’re doing and I know the Allman Brothers still play a lot. There’s Blackberry Smoke and Black Stone Cherry—there’s a few southern bands around coming up but I don’t really see it anymore and that’s why we called this last album The Last of Dyin’ Breed, ‘cause I feel like all the southern bands and other rock n’ roll bands that toured in the ’70s and ’80s and even back in the ’60s … there’s not many left, only a handful that I know of, maybe two hands. There’s not a lot of guitar blues bands around anymore. I hope it comes back around. I’m sure it will someday.
One band I wanted to ask you about is Drive By Truckers.
They’re from Muscle Shoals and we learned and grew up in Muscle Shoals with The Swampers: David Hood, Jimmy Johnson, Roger Hawkins and Barry Beckett and all them guys, and we just love them. They [Drive By Truckers] are the sons of those guys. They’re good boys, they’re good friends, and they’re a real good band.
And where do you feel Lynyrd Skynyrd fits into the overall history of Southern rock?
I don’t know. We just wanted to be a hard-working band and people respect that we try hard and work hard. We did that that and still are and we just wanted to be known as that hard-working simple band. We just walked out in blue jeans and T-shirts. It’s just a real deal thing—playing for real as a band—that’s all Southern music is.
Are you aware that Phish covers “Curtis Loew?”
That’s great. I’m glad they do it. I think it’s a cool thing. It’s big compliment when someone wants to do one of your songs. I’m happy for it.
And how much do you know about the jamband scene and all the festivals?
I hear about it a little bit, I would like to hear more and do more and play at them [festival]). It’s a big jam and that’s what guys like me do. I’ll try to find out more about it and check it out even more.
How’s the tour going?
We’re doing real good. We’re going to start doing some of our new songs in the set. It’s always fun to do a few new ones. And the people seem to be coming and enjoying it, so we just love it. We love to play and see all the emotions, the faces and people singing the lyrics with Johnny and some of them cry at “Freebird” or “Simple Man.”
Your wife has been in the band since its reformation in 1987. What’s it like touring and working with your wife?
A lot of people say that they don’t see how we could do it since we’re together all the time. We’ve just gotten used to it and now we can’t do it without each other. It’s just one of them things. It’s good – I’m glad she’s with me.
What’s the makeup of the audience?
We have a song called “Skynyrd Nation”: it’s three generation of fans. We got fans our own age that we grew up with and they all have had kids and now their kids. We see young and old out there. I like to say some of the people been through a lot of times and they’ve heard the music, so they remember the things they’ve done in life and it reminds them of certain songs and it makes them emotional. It’s great to see it when you’re playing.
What’s the feel of the new record?
It’s kind of an old style record. We try to do it like we’ve always done it and just play and write the best we could. I’m real proud of this album. We’re happy with the songs and it was just a fun thing to do.
Are there any tracks that you’re most proud of?
I really like “Mississippi Blood.” It’s a cool track, it’s fun to play and it’s kind different than today’s stuff. “Last of a Dyin’ Breed” and “One Day At a Time” are both fun to play.
You were supposed to make a special guest appearance at the Allman Brothers Band 40th Anniversary celebration at the Beacon, but you had to postpone because of health issues…
I love them guys—they’ve always been a big inspiration and always been a big fan of theirs. I love Gregg and Duane.
Duane had a big influence on you.
I knew him a little bit. Just really proud to have known him. Right now our guitars are in the Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and my guitar is right next to his and I love that.
Of all the songs in Skynyrd’s catalog which one speaks to you when you play it?
I love to play “Simple Man.” It’s a moody song, the people sing all the words, and like I said, it’s one of those songs where you see some people crying and we usually play it for the soldiers in the military every night. We’re big supporters of the military and we try to do as much we can for them. It’s a real touching song every night.
