Allen Collins – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Well someone wants to hear a Lynyrd Skynyrd Allen Collins story. Heres a good one. I cant remember what tour we were in at the time of this nightmare. Me and Ronnie were watching TV when one of the band, I believe it was Billy Powell ran into the room and hollered this guy in the bar just slapped JoJo Billingsley. Damn, lets go Gene. We ran down to the bar and went inside. The place was crowded. Allen and JoJo were sitting at a table. Next to their table was a big fellow in coveralls. We walked up to Allen and JoJo What’s going on? This big ole boy said they tried to take my table. And I’ll whip all you hippies Whoooa I said I doubt very seriously you can whip this bunch of long hairs, partner! Well be glad to keep you from finding out. I said Allen, JoJo lets go Come on Ronnie, Billy, Its time to go upstairs. Come on! The Big ole boy said I didn’t slap no one I just knocked that big ole feather outa my face The action over we left anyway. As we were walking out the lady bartender said Its time for youall to leave, haha Ronnie grabbed his back pocket and said “I’ll cut ya” That is an old saying we had.

I got all of them up the stairs and in their rooms. Ronnie and me were standing in the door way to our room when around the corner of the hall come the police and the bartender. There they are. Ronnie stuck his head out the door way. Thats him, hes the one that said he would cut me. The police told Ronnie to put his hands on the wall and started to frisk him. I said, he don’t have no knife. Ronnie had no wallet, nothing but his room key. The cop said, Who are you? I am their security and bodyguard. This all started in the bar. I got everybody to leave with me. Ronnie said that as a joke, no harm done. Just an old saying. The police said, OK just stay out of the bar. No problem. By this time other band members had joined the action. All right, the party’s over. I said, everybody back to their rooms.

Allen Collins pops his head out his door, hollering Youall come on in for a drink. Before I could get there and shut his door, a police officer walks in looking for anything, any sign of trouble. He sees a bottle of pills on Allens night stand. The bottle looked like a Christmas tree. The cop picked up the bottle and said, all the pills legal, you got a prescription for these pills? Allen said some of em. Ha ha. The cop said, Stand up and put your hands behind your back. Allen hollered, Gene!!!! I said laughing, Ill call the lawyer, you invited them in. Ronnie said, take care of it , Gene you know what to do. This all cost him. He only had to stay in just a couple of hours. Bonded out and never had to go back. Some money in the right hands and the problem disappeared.

The next day Ronnie asked Allen if he had learned anything last night. Allen said, you don’t invite the cops to your party. Ronnie just shook his head and said, that will come out of your bonus. Allen said, probably wont be the last time He was right. That boy paid them ole crooked lawyers and crooked judges untold money for his mishaps. In the end the cost was eternal.

His money kept him out of jail for many years. Having money and crooked lawyers was a big reason he kept buying cars and wrecking them. He could get away with it. He surely did pay for it in the last years of his life. Sad But all the talking I did to him didnt really set in until he wrecked that last car and killed his girlfriend. What a way for reality to set in. But I really dont think he thought much about reality. I wish he was still around. His music aint the same. I wonder if he has a fast car in Rock & Roll Heaven? If he does, I bet Ronnies got one foot on the brake..

Miss You’all

Gene Odom

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Allen Collins & Ronnie Van Zant

LYNYRD SKYNYRD DOCUMENTARY