Lynyrd Skynyrd History 5

Rickey and Johnny

In the wake of the Columbine High School tragedy, The Never Forgotten Fund was established
to raise over $1,000,000 in initial scholarship funding.

Every year, 12 students and 1 teacher will be awarded a $13,000 college scholarship,
each one in the name of one of the 12 students and 1 teacher killed in the shooting at
Columbine High in April, 1999.

Every year, teachers across the state of Colorado will be asked to submit one student and one teacher from their school that best exemplifies community service students and teachers who have taken the initiative to build a better future for their school and their community.

From these entries, a committee of teachers, KOA radio talent, Colorado residents, and
Colorado government officials will select that year's recipients.
All 13 recipients from the Class of 1999 will be Columbine High School students.

Other recent concerts run by KOA and sister station, KTCL have already raised part of the monies needed.
In addition, the touring cast of "Les Miserables" chose to donate more than $20,400 from the show's two final Denver performances to the fund. The August 10, 1999 concert, which was promoted by Bill Graham Presents/Chuck Morris Presents will be held at the Fillmore Auditorium, and will feature two live performances by CMC recording artists,
Lynyrd Skynyrd, one of America's best loved bands, along with opening act Scottish rock legends Nazareth .
Wal-Mart presented a live simulcast of Skynyrd's first performance (from 6-7 PM MDT) in the digital music departments
of 2100 Wal-Mart outlets across the country. The show was also simulcast in every Wal-Mart store on their in-house
radio network.

Lynyrd Skynyrd, whose members have also suffered and survived the personal loss of friends and loved ones, and have persevered and continued their lives and dedication to their music, wanted to contribute to the healing process of the families and loved ones of the victims of the Columbine High massacre. In October, 1977, the band's private plane crashed in a Mississippi swamp, killing band founder/frontman Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and vocalist Cassie Gaines.

During the past 12 years, the band has successfully continued its career and today is enjoying huge success as a recording and touring band. Surviving band members Gary Rossington (guitar), Leon Wilkeson (bass), and Billy Powell (piano)
are joined by lead singer, Johnny Van Zant (younger brother of Ronnie), guitarists Rickey Medlocke (former leader of Blackfoot) and Hughie Thomasson (former leader of Outlaws) and drummer, Michael Cartellone (Damn Yankees).

"Not a day goes by that we don't think about Ronnie and Steve and Allen, (Collins, another founding band member who died in 1990 following complications from a major car accident)," states Rossington, "but we truly believe that by continuing the band's legacy we are making the most good
out of our tragic losses. " Adds Van Zant, "We are hoping that just this small gesture on our part can help in some way. Not just financially, but emotionally.

For more than 30 years, Lynyrd Skynyrd has been one of American rock's icons Their catalogue continues to sell between 25,000-40,000 copies a week, understandable when you realize it contains such classics as "Gimme Three Steps", "What's Your Name", "That Smell", "Sweet Home Alabama," and ,
of course, the incomparable "Freebird."

Hughie and Gary

Young and old fans alike continue to flock to their live shows, and there's not a music fan in the world who isn't familiar
with their history and their legacy. But the true test of any band's relevance in the rock world comes out from what they used to do, but from what they are doing now, and Lynyrd Skynyrd's music continues to stand the test of time.
Lynyrd Skynyrd is not simply a classic act, but a modern band ready to plow ahead into this new century.

Their last 3 CD's, 1997's "Twenty", 1998's "Lyve From Steeltown," and their most recent, "Edge of Forever", all on CMC International Records, have helped re-establish Skynyrd as one of a handful of rock and roll bands that continue to create and perform significant music rather than resting on their past laurels. "We could easily just keep going out and performing all the old hits, and people would probably always come to see us," explains band founder/guitarist Gary Rossington, "but the truth is, that's not why we're still trying to do this. We believe we still have plenty of great rock and roll to us, and we'll keep playing and recording for as long as we fell that way."

Rickey Medlocke

A few years back, Rossington and the frontman since the band re-formed in 1987, Johnny Van Zant, put together what Rossington refers to as "...the final line-up for the band forever and ever.." when they recruited two of American rock's premier guitarists in Blackfoot's Rickey Medlocke and Hughie Thomasson of The Outlaws.

Along with newest member, Michael Cartellone of Damn Yankees fame on
drums, Lynyrd Skynyrd enters the 21st century as a talent-filled supergroup -
not only as players, but as performers and songwriters as well.

Hughie Thomasson

"We've been through so many drummers over the years," laughs Van Zant, "but Michael's finally what we've needed.
He's steady and he's creative, and he's brought a whole new energy to the band." Both Thomasson and Medlocke have brought years of experience as successful band leaders and hit songwriters to the whole process.

Their first album together, "Twenty" was a powerful first step forward for the band, though all the members agree that it was a difficult recording process because some of them had never worked together before. "I think," explains Rickey Medlocke, "that we were still learning how to work together on 'Twenty', but in spite of that, we made a strong album that still holds up." Tracks off that album, like "Voodoo Lake" which is included on this "Then And Now" compilation, topped rock radio charts for months, and let CMC and Skynyrd know just how far this line-up of the band would be able to go.

"Lyve From Steeltown" was a way for this line-up to show off their performances of some of the band's most classic songs, and it's filled with old hits performed with new energy and authority that has brought a whole new audience of fans right into the band's longtime following. "We have kids of all ages there with their parents, maybe even their grandparents," says original pianist Billy Powell, "these kids are just hearing these songs now at our shows, so we figured "Steeltown" would give them what made them appreciate us on a CD."

But it was last years offering, "Edge of Forever" that actually brought this line-up of the band into their own and has finally allowed the band and its fans to think in terms of today and tomorrow, not only yesterday. Songs like "Preacher Man," and "Workin" were major rock radio hits for the band, and the haunting "Tomorrow's Goodbye" verifies the broad scope of creative and musical talent in Lynyrd in the 21st century.