Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991- Gary Rossington, Leon Wilkeson, Billy Powell, Ed King

In June 1991 Lynyrd Skynyrd released an album which was highly significant in their long, colorful history. Entitled Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991, it was the band’s sixth studio album but, more importantly, the first new studio album since 1977’s fateful Street Survivors; their first since the tragic plane crash that year claimed the lives of three bandmembers; their first to anoint original Lynyrd Skynyrd lead singer Ronnie Van Zant’s youngest brother, Johnny, as their permanent singer. Highly signicant, too, was the return of original guitarist Ed King, who had bailed midway through the notorious 1975 “Torture Tour” amid accusations of intra-band physical abuse. And sadly, Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991  would be the first album without original guitarist Allen Collins, who had died a year earlier due to complications from a deadly car crash. Because of these implications, there was great anticipation for the release, so in May 1991 I headed to Lynyrd Skynyrd‘s hometown of Jacksonville FL to interview the band members in preparation for hosting the North American World Premiere broadcast on almost two hundred radio stations. Now with the passing of Gary Rossington, the last original member, we present these classic rock interviews as an encore of Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 World Premiere in tribute to them all. – Redbeard