Lynyrd Skynyrd Returns with "God and Guns"

One of my favorite songs, especially when I'm riding down the road, is Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama." I even reach over and hit the volume button when Ronnie Van Zant says, "Turn it up." Truthfully, there aren't many Lynyrd Skynyrd songs that come on the radio that I don't turn up and sing along with: "Saturday Night Special," "Freebird," "Gimme Three Steps," "Simple Man." But "Sweet Home Alabama" gets the volume treatment every time.

Well, the Southern rockers are back with a new album. "God and Guns" hit the music stores Tuesday, September 29, and Lynyrd Skynyrd have been hitting a few shows to promote it. They appeared on Fox News' "Huckabee" and did a couple songs. The former Arkansas governor even sat in as guest bassist on one number. They also appeared on "The Late Show with Craig Ferguson" and performed the second single from "God and Guns," "Simple Life."

The first single off the album, "Still Unbroken," was released in July and was the theme song for WWE's "Breaking Point" pay-per-view event on September 13.

"God and Guns" is Lynyrd Skynyrd's first studio album in six years, their 12th studio album overall. After doing two successful tours with Kid Rock and introducing themselves to a younger audience, Lynyrd Skynyrd went back into the studio earlier this year with guitarist John 5 (Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie) to create some new material. The result was "God and Guns," a country/southern hard rocker that unapologetically states Lynyrd Skynyrd's traditional southern stance.

But as traditional as they might be, the boys from Jacksonville weren't afraid to take in a little modern rock infusion. John 5 helped write a few songs and played guitar on the album. Rob Zombie chimed in with some vocals on "Floyd." Amazingly enough, the album still came out southern, country-blues-ish, and kick-ass.

There have been a few changes in the line-up since their last album, 2003's "Vicious Cycle. Lead guitarist Gary Rossington has been the sole surviving original member for years. The band, which has seen more than its fair share of tragedy (no one will ever forget the plane crash in 1977 that took the lives of lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and four others) has seen several members pass away in the last couple years. Billy Powell, the band's original keyboardist (who joined the band in 1970, six years after the band formed) and creator of the opening strains of "Freebird," died in January, forcing the band to pick up a new pianist. Ean Evans, bass player for Lynyrd Skynyrd since 2001, died in May as well. Guitarist Huey Thomasson died in September 2007.

But Lynyrd Skynyrd continues. They persevere. "God and Guns" is proof that they still have something to contribute. As their bio on LynyrdSkynyrd.com proclaims, "... ultimately, Lynyrd Skynyrd is about an indomitable will. About survival of spirit; unbowed, uniquely American, stubbornly resolute." And with country artists singing their songs in concerts, country stations playing their legendary music, artists like Kid Rock incorporating Skynyrd's music into their own (last year's hit "All Summer Long" was partially sampled from "Sweet Home Alabama"), and groups like Shinedown recording songs like "Simple Man," Lynyrd Skynyrd will no doubt remain an iconic force in music for some time to come...

"God and Guns" debuted at #18 on the Billboard 200 albums chart its first week in release, making it Lynyrd Skynyrd's highest charting album in almost 32 years ("Street Survivors" peaked at #5 in 1977).

They'll get a "turn it up" nod from this writer whenever they're on the radio, that's for certain...

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Sources:

Billboard.com
"Huckabee," Fox News Television
"The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," CBS Television
LynyrdSkynyrd.com