Lynyrd Skynyrd is a Southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1964, the group originally included vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, bassist Larry Junstrom and drummer Bob Burns. The group split up in 1977 following a plane crash which resulted in the deaths of three band members including Van Zant, and serious injuries to other band members.

The band reformed in 1987 with Van Zant's younger brother Johnny on vocals alongside members of the 1970s lineup. This was originally planned to be for a single tour, but the band has remained active since. The current lineup features guitarist and vocalist Rickey Medlocke (from 1971 to 1972, and since 1996), lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant (since 1987), backing vocalists Dale Krantz-Rossington (since 1987) and Carol Chase (since 1996), drummer Michael Cartellone (since 1999), guitarist Mark Matejka (since 2006), keyboardist Peter Keys (since 2009), guitarist Damon Johnson (since 2021) and bassist Robbie Harrington (since 2025).

History 1964–1977 Lynyrd Skynyrd was formed under the name My Backyard in 1964, which was later changed to The Noble Five, and again to One Percent. The group originally included vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, bassist Larry Junstrom and drummer Bob Burns, all of whom were students at Robert E. Lee High School. After performing live for several years, the band recorded for the first time in 1971, when Junstrom and Burns were replaced by Greg T. Walker and Rickey Medlocke, respectively. The following year, Walker was replaced by the band's original choice of bassist Leon Wilkeson, and Medlocke moved to third guitarist as Burns returned on drums. Medlocke had left by the end of the year. Billy Powell had also been added as the group's first keyboardist, having worked as a roadie since 1970.

Shortly before recording began for the band's debut album (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd), Wilkeson left Lynyrd Skynyrd and was replaced by Ed King. Later during the sessions the bassist returned, with King subsequently taking up the role of third guitarist. Burns remained for 1974's Second Helping, but left in January 1975 due to touring fatigue, with Artimus Pyle taking his place. King left on May 26, 1975, two months after the release of Nuthin' Fancy. He was replaced the following year by Steve Gaines, who was recommended by his sister Cassie Gaines after she had recently joined as one of the band's touring backing vocalists, The Honkettes.

On October 20, 1977 – three days after the release of the band's fifth studio album Street Survivors – a chartered plane on which the members and crew were travelling crashed in Gillsburg, Mississippi. Six people died in the accident, including band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines; many of the other passengers on board were seriously injured, including Wilkeson who was left in a critical condition and reportedly declared dead three times. The group disbanded after the crash. In 1978, a collection of previously unreleased recordings from 1971 and 1972 was released as Skynyrd's First and... Last. The following year, the surviving members (with the exception of Wilkeson) reunited at Volunteer Jam for a performance of "Free Bird" with Charlie Daniels and his band.

1987 onward In July 1987, Lynyrd Skynyrd announced their reforming for the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour, with returning members Rossington, King, Wilkeson, Pyle and Powell joined by new lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie's younger brother. Collins, who was unable to join the reunited group after a car accident the previous year left him paralyzed from the waist down, chose Randall Hall from Collins's eponymous band to take his place on guitar. After the band's first post-reformation studio album Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991, Pyle left suddenly after a show in August, with Kurt Custer taking his place. Hall left in 1993 after the release of The Last Rebel, later suing the remaining members of the band for $500,000. Custer followed Hall out of the group the next year in order to focus on his solo career.

Hall and Custer were replaced by Mike Estes and Owen Hale, respectively, both of whom performed on the 1994 album Endangered Species. King was forced to leave the band in 1996 due to health problems, with Hughie Thomasson brought in to take his place; Estes left around the same time, with former drummer Medlocke returning to the band on guitar as a result. Hale left in late 1998 after the Twenty Tour; he was replaced first by Jeff McAllister. Kenny Aronoff played on Edge of Forever but did not join and Michael Cartellone took over in 1999 after the dissolution of the Damn Yankees. On July 27, 2001, longtime bassist Leon Wilkeson died in his sleep of natural causes. He was replaced by Ean Evans, who had earlier substituted for Wilkeson at several shows the previous year.

Thomasson left Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2005 to reform his previous band Outlaws, with his replacement Mark Matejka joining early the next year. The band was forced to change its lineup twice in 2009 due to deaths in the group – first, longtime keyboardist Billy Powell died of a heart attack on January 28; and later, bassist Evans died of cancer on May 6. Peter Keys was later brought in to replace Powell, while Evans was replaced by Robert Kearns. Kearns remained until 2012, when he was replaced by former Black Crowes bassist Johnny Colt. Keith Christopher replaced Colt in mid-2017. Gary Rossington, the band's last founding member died on 5 March 2023.

Official members Current members ImageNameYears activeRoleRelease contributionsRickey MedlockeJohnny Van Zantlead vocalsall Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Southern by the Grace of God (1988) onwardDale Krantz-Rossingtonbacking vocalsCarol Chase1996–presentall Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Twenty (1997) onwardMichael Cartellone1999–presentall Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Edge of Forever (1999) onwardMark Matejka2006–presentall Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from God & Guns (2009) onwardPeter Keys2009–presentall Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Last of a Dyin' Breed (2012) onwardDamon Johnson 2023–present guitarnoneRobbie Harrington2025–presentbass

Former members ImageNameYears activeRoleRelease contributionsGary Rossington guitarall Lynyrd Skynyrd releasesAllen Collins all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from "Need All My Friends" / "Michelle" (1968) to Legend (1987)Ronnie Van Zant1964–1977 Bob BurnsdrumsLarry Junstrom1964–1971 bassGreg T. Walker1971–1972Leon WilkesonBilly Powellall Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) (1973) to Live from Freedom Hall (2010)Ed KingArtimus Pyleall Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Nuthin' Fancy (1975) to Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 (1991), except Skynyrd's First and... Last (1978)Steve Gaines1976–1977 Randall HallKurt Custer1991–1994drumsThe Last Rebel (1993)Mike Estes1993–1996Owen Hale1994–1998Debbie Davis-Estes1994–1996Hughie Thomasson1996–2005 all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Twenty (1997) to Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve: The Vicious Cycle Tour (2003)Jeff McAllister1998–1999drumsnoneKenny Aronoff1999Edge of Forever (1999)Ean Evans2001–2009 all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Vicious Cycle (2003) to Live from Freedom Hall (2010)Robert Kearns2009–2012noneJohnny Colt2012–2017Keith Christopher2017–2025bass

Other contributors Current touring musicians ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsStacy Michelle2023–present backing vocalsStacy Michelle substituted for Dale during Rossington's recovery and has stayed on touring.

Former touring musicians ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsRelease contributionsCassie Gaines1975–1977 backing vocalsJoJo Billingsley1975–1977 Leslie Hawkins1975–1977Carol Bristow1987–1988Southern by the Grace of God (1988)Debbie Bailey1991–1994none

Touring substitutes ImageNameYears activeInstrumentsNotesByron GloverguitarGlover performed with the band after Ed King's departure and also substituted later on. He also appeared on:Greg Martin1992Martin filled in for Ed King on several dates of the band's 1992 tour due to an injury.Tim Lindsey1993bassLindsey substituted for Wilkeson at several shows in 1993 during The Last Rebel Tour.Rick Wills1999Wills substituted for Wilkeson at several shows in July 1999 during the Edge of Forever Tour.Pat Buchanan2007guitarFilled in for Gary in 2007.Raquel Jonsen (Johnson)backing vocalsRaquel substituted for Dale during Gary's recovery at various points.Andy LowmanguitarAndy temporarily filled in for Byron.Joey Huffman2008keyboardsHuffman substituted for Powell at several shows in 2008 during the Rock & Rebels Tour.

Timeline

Official member timeline

Touring musician timeline

Lineups PeriodMembersReleasesJune 1964 – February 1971Ronnie Van Zant – vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Larry Junstrom – bass Bob Burns – drums"Need All My Friends" / "Michelle" (1968) Lynyrd Skynyrd (1991) – three tracks Collectybles (2000) – nine tracksFebruary 1971 – April 1972Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Greg T. Walker – bass, backing vocals Rickey Medlocke – drums, vocalsStreet Survivors (1977) 2001 reissue – one track Skynyrd's First and... Last (1978)April 1972 – June 1972Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Rickey Medlocke – guitar, vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Bob Burns – drumsnoneJune 1972 – August 1972Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Bob Burns – drums Skynyrd's First and... Last (1978)August 1972 – October 1972Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Bob Burns – drums Billy Powell – keyboards, pianoOctober 1972 – June 1973Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Ed King – bass, guitar, backing vocals Bob Burns – drums Billy Powell – keyboards, piano(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) (1973)June 1973 – January 1975Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Ed King – guitar, backing vocals, bass Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Bob Burns – drums Billy Powell – keyboards, pianoSecond Helping (1974)January – May 1975Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Ed King – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Artimus Pyle – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, pianoNuthin' Fancy (1975)May 1975 – June 1976Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Artimus Pyle – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, pianoGimme Back My Bullets (1976)June 1976 – October 1977Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Steve Gaines – guitar, vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Artimus Pyle – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, pianoOne More from the Road (1976) Street Survivors (1977) Band inactive October 1977 – January 1979January 1979Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Artimus Pyle – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, pianonone Band inactive January 1979 – June 19, 1987June 19, 1987 – August 1991Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Ed King – guitar, backing vocals Randall Hall – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Artimus Pyle – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano with Allen Collins – musical director (until January 23, 1990)Southern by the Grace of God (1988) Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour (1988) Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 (1991)August 1991 – February 1993Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Ed King – guitar, backing vocals Randall Hall – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Kurt Custer – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, pianononeFebruary 1993 – June 1993Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals