Lynyrd Skynyrd Turns it Up with "Sweet Home Alabama" to Rock in the New Year

Lynyrd Skynyrd performed "Sweet Home Alabama" on CNN on their New Year's show. A standard of classic rock stations, the song has been a source of good luck for the band in 2008. With the help of Kid Rock and John 5, the band is hoping that 2009 will be a great year for the band as well.

Some artists epitomize an entire genre of music. Rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd is one of those artists. Lynyrd Skynyrd is the epitome of the Southern Rock genre, a melodious blending of hard rock, blues, and country music. For many, Lynyrd Skynyrd is Southern Rock. Period.

The band ended 2008 on both CNN and Fox networks, playing live in Pikeville, Kentucky, on both networks' New Year's shows. "Sweet Home Alabama" is considered one of rock's most enduring songs and was inducted in December into the Grammy Hall of Fame as one of the songs that shaped the sound of music.

Formed in 1973, the band has went through many line-up changes through the years. Following the plane crash in 1977 that killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines, it was believed that the band was done. But Johnnie Van Zant, Ronnie's younger brother, joined founder Gary Rossington in reforming the band in 1987. "Southern By The Grace of God," a live album of the band's classic material, was the result of their efforts and Lynyrd Skynyrd was reborn. Six studio albums later, the band is still rocking strong, packing stadiums and touring with Kid Rock, and, with the help of a sampling of "Sweet Home Alabama" by Kid Rock for his 2008 hit "All Summer Long" (and a subsequent tour with Rock as well), the band is set to go into 2009 on a roll.

A new album is in the works as well.

Ricky Medlocke, Skynyrd's guitarist, told Billboard.com that the band had been recording with ex-Marilyn Manson/Rob Zombie guitar virtuoso John 5 and expected the album to be complete by the end of 2008. Medlocke, who is probably better known for fronting the Southern Rock band Blackfoot, said that they hoped to release the album in early 2009, with a tour to follow.

Medlocke said, "While everybody thought, 'My god, you are going to write with this guy? How is that ever going to work?' But this guy came in and is really multitalented in all genres.

"I was surprised that this guy could sit down and play Glen Campbell and Roy Clark better than they do, and it blew my mind. And then he loves southern rock, the blues and country. It really blew us away."

Although Skynyrd has been selling out small venues throughout the country for years, especially in the South, Kid Rock's use of "Sweet Home Alabama" (and Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London") for his hit "All Summer Long" has brought their music back into national and international focus. But Rock has a history with the band as well. At a benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Kid Rock stood in for lead singer Johnny Van Zant when he was ordered by a doctor to give his vocal cords a rest.

Lynyrd Skynyrd is listed by many of country music's current crop of stars as one of their major musical influences. Kid Rock, although by no means a country artist, has spoken often of Skynyrd and Hank Williams, Jr. as among his influences as well.

Apparently John 5 was a fan as well.

"Sweet Home Alabama" reached No. 8 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart in 1974.

The new album as yet has no title.

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Sources:

GACTV.com

Billboard.com

CNN Television