He was the last living founding member of the classic band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Sweet Home Alabama And Free Bird. Guitarist Gary Rossington died Sunday at the age of 71, the American rock band announced. “Gary is now with his Skynyrd brothers and family in heaven and he is playing well, as he always does,” the band wrote on Facebook.
Lynyrd Skynyrd did not specify the cause of death. Rossington suffered from heart issues and underwent emergency heart surgery in 2021, according to a post from the band at the time.
Historic Solo
Born in 1951 in Florida, Rossington founded the first iteration of Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1964 with drummer Bob Burns and bassist Larry Junstrom. His guitar solo in Free Birda song nearly ten minutes long, is considered one of the greatest in rock history.
The guitarist survived several serious accidents in the 1970s, including a car crash in 1976 and the infamous 1977 air crash in which three band members died.
Trump support
The band had split up after vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines and backing vocalist Cassie Gaines died in the crash. But it had reformed in 1987 with new members, including Van Zant’s younger brother, Johnny, on vocals. Rossington was the only surviving original member of the band, which has continued to perform ever since and is scheduled to tour in July.
Lynyrd Skynyrd is one of the right-wing rock groups that took to the stage on the sidelines of the 2016 Republican Convention, during which Donald Trump was nominated as a candidate for the presidency of the United States.