26 Photos Inside Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1970s Heyday

Cameron Fetter Published 21 hours ago in ftw

Lynyrd Skynyrd took the world by storm in the 70s. Anybody who was around back in those days knows you can’t understate their success. They were on top of the world until the tragic plane crash in 1977 that claimed the lives of three of their members, along with other passengers.

Their legend has lived on though, and it’s hard not to imagine what their career would have looked like without the awful tragedy that befell them. Despite it, their legacy survives today. Take some time out of your day today to remember these Southern rock icons.

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1.
Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1973.
2.
Lynyrd Skynyrd in Jonesboro, Georgia in 1973
3.
Skynyrd live in Oakland in 1976.
4.
Lynyrd Skynyrd on stage at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, PA. June 11, 1977.
5.
High school gym teacher Leonard Skinner holds the latest album by a band of his former students- Lynyrd Skynyrd.
6.
Members of Lynyrd Skynyrd hanging out backstage with David Johansen at RFK Stadium in Washington DC in 1976.
7.
Lynynrd Skynyrd performing live at the Oakland Coliseum, July 1977.
8.
Lynyrd Skynyrd playing with guns while partying, 1974.
9.
Lynyrd Skynyrd boarding the plane the night of their crash, October 20th 1977.
10.
One of the last photos taken of Ronnie Van Zandt, lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1977.
11.
Ronnie Van Zandt onstage with Skynyrd less than 24 hours before their plane crash.
12.
Lynyrd Skynyrd perform to a huge crowd in England, 1976.
13.
Skynyrd circa 1976-1977.
14.
Ronnie Van Zandt performing with a black eye, circa 1974.
15.
Lynyrd Skynyrd being photographed for the album cover of Street Survivors in 1977.
16.
Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1973
17.
Allen Collins and Artimus Pyle hanging out with a monkey in 1975.
18.
Lynyrd Skynyrd backstage at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in 1977.
19.
Ronnie Van Zandt shakes hands with promoter Bill Graham as Skynyrd takes the stage in 1977.
20.
Ronnie Van Zandt backstage with girls in 1976.
21.
1976 photoshoot with Lynyrd Skynyrd.
22.
Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd perform in Atlanta, Georgia in 1975
23.
Lynyrd Skynyrd performing in Ashbury Park, New Jersey, in 1977, just three months before their tragic plane crash.
24.
Lynyrd Skynyrd approach the stage in Oakland in 1976.
25.
Lynyrd Skynyrd posing by their trailer backstage in California in 1976
26.
Ronnie Van Zandt performing in Atlanta in 1975

1.
Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1973.
2.
Lynyrd Skynyrd in Jonesboro, Georgia in 1973
3.
Skynyrd live in Oakland in 1976.
4.
Lynyrd Skynyrd on stage at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, PA. June 11, 1977.
5.
High school gym teacher Leonard Skinner holds the latest album by a band of his former students- Lynyrd Skynyrd.
6.
Members of Lynyrd Skynyrd hanging out backstage with David Johansen at RFK Stadium in Washington DC in 1976.
7.
Lynynrd Skynyrd performing live at the Oakland Coliseum, July 1977.
8.
Lynyrd Skynyrd playing with guns while partying, 1974.
9.
Lynyrd Skynyrd boarding the plane the night of their crash, October 20th 1977.
10.
One of the last photos taken of Ronnie Van Zandt, lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1977.
11.
Ronnie Van Zandt onstage with Skynyrd less than 24 hours before their plane crash.
12.
Lynyrd Skynyrd perform to a huge crowd in England, 1976.
13.
Skynyrd circa 1976-1977.
14.
Ronnie Van Zandt performing with a black eye, circa 1974.
15.
Lynyrd Skynyrd being photographed for the album cover of Street Survivors in 1977.
16.
Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1973
17.
Allen Collins and Artimus Pyle hanging out with a monkey in 1975.
18.
Lynyrd Skynyrd backstage at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium in 1977.
19.
Ronnie Van Zandt shakes hands with promoter Bill Graham as Skynyrd takes the stage in 1977.
20.
Ronnie Van Zandt backstage with girls in 1976.
21.
1976 photoshoot with Lynyrd Skynyrd.
22.
Ronnie Van Zant and Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd perform in Atlanta, Georgia in 1975
23.
Lynyrd Skynyrd performing in Ashbury Park, New Jersey, in 1977, just three months before their tragic plane crash.
24.
Lynyrd Skynyrd approach the stage in Oakland in 1976.
25.
Lynyrd Skynyrd posing by their trailer backstage in California in 1976
26.
Ronnie Van Zandt performing in Atlanta in 1975