Longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Johnny Van Zant is living proof of the ongoing vitality of southern rock.
Nearly 40 years after he joined Skynyrd in his late-brother's stead, and two years after the passing of the band's last remaining cofounder, Gary Rossington, Johnny and company are still busy.
Fans still want to hear Lynyrd Skynyrd's music and share it with new generations, and as long as he's able to keep going, it's what Ronnie would have wanted, Johnny tells Q104.3 New York's Ken Dashow in a new interview.
"We've all got to go to that place upstairs, and I don't want to get there and Ronnie kick my ass," Johnny laughs. "I've got to get it all!"
Skynyrd is about to release a landmark concert album, Celebrating 50 Years - Live at the Ryman Auditorium later this month. Held in late-2022, the concert finds Skynyrd performing music from its classic catalog with a parade of special guests, including Jon Osborne, Marcus King, Jelly Roll, Donnie Van Zant and Brent Smith.
The concert was also Rossington's last with the band, as he passed away a few months later.
"We had such a great, great night there reminiscing," Johnny says. "And who was to know that that was going to be Gary's last show with us? I really didn't think that night that was going to be his last show with us. We just laughed, and they brought us cold pizza (laughs), like what used to be on our rider.
"We just had a blast and all the guests were wonderful. You just know when you're doing something like that, I guess you're caught up in the moment where you don't realize exactly how special it is until aftermath, you know? For me, I look back on it and I go, 'What a night!' If I could live it 100 more times I'd do it."
Skynyrd gets back on the road this month. Go here for their tour dates.
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