FRIDAY, APRIL 16,1976 BUCKS COUNTY COURIER TIMES PENNSYLVANIA
Lynyrd Skynyrd is a name to remember not pronounce
By JOHN FISHER
If you are looking in the phone directory for Lynyrd Skynyrd, forget it he isn’t listed. Actually he isn’t a he, Lynyrd Skynyrd is — a talented band of Southern rockers composed of Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Gary Rossington, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson and Artimus Pyle. But Lynyrd Skynyrd is a name most people-versed in the rock world are familiar with for it has become one of the most popular groups in the country during the past three years. Selling out Tonight the group is scheduled to play at the Spectrum to near, if been selling out concerts weeks in advance for most of their concerts. Contacted in New York, after a successful two-night stand, members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were excited by their most recent journey North. ‘~- – “It’s better this time,” said Allen Collins one of the dual lead guitars for the group. He joins forces during recordings and in concert with Gary Rossington for one of the most powerful guitar attacks since the early Allman Brothers days. Together they play some of the tightest guitar leads in the music business. “It’s got to be after 10 years together,” Collins explained. The group started out in the Jacksonville, Florida area as high schoolers playing together. Collins said because of the time they have spent together, in most instances, they can predict where the other members of the band are heading musically when they play even a new song.
Breaking mark
But despite the precision and tightness of the group, breaking the Northern market hasn’t been easy for Lynyrd Skyriyrd. “It’s really taken some time,” Collins said. “This is our fifth time up North. The last time we cracked the market and this time The reason for the slow acceptance according to Collins is “Music down South is more simple. Instead of doing a lot of time changes, like a lot of groups, we keep the song where you can pat your foot to it.” While Gary was talking in his lulling Southern drawl, it sounded as if there was a party going on in the background.

The various members of the group were passing away a day in the hotel room, laughing carrying on and showing the close bonds which have developed over years of playing together. “Just a second, Gary would like to talk to you,” was the brief introduction given to the other lead guitar player in the band.
Breaks finger
Gary Rossington, like Allen, is enjoying the current Northern tour. “It’s alright,” Rossington said.  “I just broke my finger and Ronnie (Van Zant) has the flu: Broken fingers and torn up throats but we’re still doing alright.” Rossington said although they have been together as a group, a long-time, there are few major tensions. “We get on each others’ nerves a lot but we’re so used to each other it makes playing on stage easier. He said one new feature which immediately will be noticeable is the addition of three female backup singers to the group. “We’re playing a lot longer set now too. It’s about 90 minutes but the other night (in New York) we played for two hours,” Rossington said.  Then it was time to give some telephone time to Van Zant, the groups unofficial leader and lead vocalist driving the powerful yet simple lyrics.  “The people are treating us good,” Van Zant said. He said he felt this would be the year for total acceptance of the group. 

Together for 11 years.
“At the end of this year we will have been together for 11 years. married for 11 years you would fight to.” Van Zant said part of the secret to the group’s longevity is the fact they don’t hold anything in. If something disturbs a member of the group, they argue it out and go on the next day as if nothing happened. But,the time together also shows on stage. “When we are playing on stage,” Van Zant said, “We even know how to walk around each other’s cords without tripping on it.” Van Zant said he hoped the momentum of the group would be aided with the addition of a new guitar player they are considering. “I hope this will give us a little initiative to go a little further—new blood.”  Van Zant said Lynyrd Skynyrd will be maintaining their recorded format, of a boogie-based, country-flavored sound, through their next album which will be a live offering. He said that will be followed by an album the group recorded in 1969. “Then we will take a couple of months to see what we want to do. It seems regardless of what new material we try, it always comes out Lynyrd Skynyrd and that’s good.” Aside from his bout with the flu, Van Zant was complaining about a run-in with a thief. “One of the guys left the door open and someone came in an took my suitcase.” He said this was compiled with other small problems such as amplifiers blowing out. But such is the price of fame. Van Zant and the group have found they can’t move as freely as they used to due to fan recognition. Also they have to live down a reputation of being hotel destroyers in the various towns and cities’ that they visit.  Van. Zant concluded, “Gonna, have to be a little more careful, I reckon.” .
LYNYRD SKYNYRD DOCUMENTARY