The Stories Behind the Lynyrd Skynyrd Photographs

Heaven Awaits in Two Days – this image shows the Confederate flag in the audience, brought by Bobby Sanders. See the lower left circle in front of Ronnie Van Zant. This photograph was taken at the Lakeland auditorium in Lakeland Florida, just two days before the plane crash that killed many of the Lynyrd Skynyrd band members.

What’s Ronnie Pointing At?

The picture Come on Home shows Ronnie Van Zant pointing down into the audience to alert bodyguard and friend Gene Odom (and plane crash survivor) that a fight has broken out. Gene is there to make sure that the fight does not make it on stage.

The South Rises Again

The reason for the fight was that someone had jerked the Confederate flag down to the floor because they could not see. In Lakeland, Fl. the reaction to throwing a Confederate Flag on the floor is similar to throwing an American flag on the floor. Though Gene Odom broke up the fight, he did not know what had caused this fight until 2 years ago.

Where’s the 3rd Honekette?

You will notice that there are only 2 Honkettes (back up singers) in these photographs. The one missing was Jo Jo Billingsley. She was coming the join the band in Baton Rouge, La. – the location of the next Lynyrd Skynyrd performance. The Lynyrd Skynyrd band also was on their way to Baton Rouge when their plane went down due to a lack of fuel, killing famed singer Ronnie Van Zant and other members. By the grace of God, Jo Jo had been previously released due to personal reasons and was not on the plane when it went down.