The classic line-up was five star. Johnny Van Zant is a poor singer but they still play well. The song-writing was best when Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant were collaborating. Most people probably don't realize Lynyrd Skynyrd released any recordings after the 70's. Lynyrd Skynyrd are an iconic band, but they are moving toward becoming a shell of themselves.

i am about sick and tired of people on here disrespecting the dead.let me ask any of you haters when did you ever record top 10 hits,play sold out shows or get inducted into the rock n' roll hall of fame? if you don't like skynyrd i guess that is your (wrong) opinion but that gives you no right to be disrespectful to the deceased.grow the F ^ what if it was your brother or son and people were treating them that way? think before you speak you heartless punks! to all true skynyrd fans of the old and new skynyrd who believe they are great and johnny has a tremendous amount of balls for keeping the music alive and making his big brother proud to have him continue his music, i say much love and respect to you .. johnny has said himself he can't sing his brothers songs better than him and he is not out here trying to he just goes out everynight and sings them to the best of his ability and nobody is gonna tell me that ronnie does not have a good reason to look down from heaven and be nothing but proud of the way his brother has carried out his legacy..johnny van zant,hold your head up high,you have done your brother great justice

Lynyrd Skynyrd! Ahh, where to begin?.... there's not much to say exept for GREATEST SOUTHERN ROCK BAND EVER(im speaking of the pre-plane crash skynyrd...the new skynyrd is a country band) im 15 years old and my father raised me up on Skynyrd... Man, the stories he had about those Skynyrd concerts. Anyway what im trying to say is im one of the few my age that realize that most of the best music of all time was made before i was even born. I actually feel more comfortable talking about music with people in their 50s rather than kids my age. I know great music when i hear it and man it just dont get no better than Skynyrd. Although i must add that i do not like "Sweet Home Alabama" much at all for the simple reason its not one of the best Skynyrd songs. Any real Skynyrd fan will tell you that its definatly over played, making some of the best Skynyrd songs be underplayed, and friends, that just aint right. R.I.P. Ronnie VanZant

There's no denying their durability and for their limitations, they certainly were the definitive sound of their time and place. As a testament to their status as a classic, my 12 year old daughter discovered them all by herself and wears a Skynyrd t-shirt to school regularly.

I'm snure I'll get ripped apart by the diehard Skynyrd fans out there, but as a big country fan, I actually like the newer Lynyrd Skynyrd better than the original. Some of the newer stuff like "Red, White, and Blue" is really good, although it definitely sounds a little more country than the original Skynyrd. I also tend to prefer Johnny Van Zant's vocals on the older stuff as opposed to Ronnie Van Zant.

"Simple Man", "Tuesday's Gone", "T for Texas". 5 stars, although those rebel yell shirts gotsta go...

Lynyrd Skynyrd is no longer my thing musically, but there really isn't any dispute that the band (at least prior to the plane crash) is the pinnacle of southern rock. For those who are older than (say) 25, singles like "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird" have been overplayed to the point of nausea, but these songs remain popular since they are good and new generations are hearing them for the first time. Nevertheless, the songwriting and performances are strong as evidenced by singles such as "Gimme Back My Bullets", "I Know A Little", and "Call Me The Breeze". The bottom line is that Lynyrd Skynyrd loses a star for subjective reasons, but if the band doesn't get in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, then something is wrong with the selection process.

Lynchyrd SKKKynyrd if you ask me! Never liked these southern-fried rednecks or any of their music. They always came across to me as a bunch of assholes in cowboy hats in a pool hall that would beat the shit out of you for looking at them funny or daring to say the wrong thing. Their music sounds like some south of the Mason/Dixon line garage group with a singer that seemed inable to keep from writing a line of lyrics that didn't sound like some silly masculine cliche.

There was a 20 year period when you couldn't go in a juke joint in the south with live music and not hear Skynyrd covered. People would start calling for Skynyrd tunes during the first set. That's never happened for any other band anywhere. They are the greatest rock and roll band ever. I was in Chicago 1986 at one of the largest hotels in the city. In the atrium they had a guy playing piano, nobody paid much attention to what he played, until he started playing freebird. People who were strangers to each other from totally different cities started cheering. Then around 200 people gathered around the piano and sang freebird with the piano player. It was more than this southern boy could handle and I sobbed through the song. If Ronnie hadn't died so young, Skynyrd would be regarded like the Beatles. They always will be in the south. At NFL Jacksonville Jaguar football games they usually play A Skynyrd song and the crowd will go wild everytime, once prompting the TV play by play man to comment, The people in the stadium are cheering , but I don't know what for. Still to this day Skynyrd is the most popular thing in Jacksonville, Fl and for good reason. When I go to Heaven, after meeting Jesus and Abraham, I want to see Ronnie. I mourned his death for 7 years and now 30 years have gone by since he left and we still remember.

Basic meat'n'ptates no nonsense hard rock the way its supposed to be played ... from the heart w/ chops ... drive on boys ...

I dont get all the rave reviews here. LS wrote some good songs but also even on their 'classic' albums there's a fair bit of filler even though they contain only around 8 tracks. Listen to 'One from the road' and the playing's pretty sloppy and nowhere near as tight and balls-out rocking as the Allman's 'Fillmore East' or even Molly Hatchet's first live album. The 'Platinum and Gold' comp is good though but pretty much the only album non-die hard fans need bother with.

best band ever

LETS BE CLEAR: "PICKER" REFERS TO A MUSICIAN "PICKING" AT AN INSTRUMENT WITH STRINGS; LOOK IT UP IN THE DICTIONARY. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CURTIS LOWE BEING BLACK AND HENCE A "COTTON-PICKER." IT WAS ALWAYS OBVIOUS TO ME, BUT OBVIOUSLY NOT TO THOSE WHO ARE EASILY EXCITED AND ARE HYPERSENSITIVE RACIALISTS.

i was so lucky to get to go and see lynyrd skynyrd in concert over the summer. man it was awesome.

I hate to break the streak of 5 stars but they shoudn't be around today they should have ended and started another band after that tragedy. This band has some absolute masterpieces. In my opinion this is one of the few bands that probably wouldn't bore you if you kept on listening to them

28 years ago today is when the plane crashed. 10/20/77. RIP Skynyrd

The best band ever to come out of the south and the usa also

best band ever.

The new skynyrd isn't that good. But the original before the plane crash were awesome

These guys are seriously the best ever. Too bad for the plane crash.

to the guy who posted that the planecrash was on April 20th he needs 2 take history lesson it was Oct 19th,1977,I have the ticket stub and cuz I was there the nite b4

I like the old Skynyrd with Ronnie Van Zant. Jonny Van Zant is just riding Skynyrd's popularity, not to mention the fact that he can't sing. Just for reference I have this opinion about old and new AC/DC. New is always just a rip-off.

This band was great! I use the term was because the surviving family members who still use the name are Pimping out the Lynyrd Skynrd name. These imposters should retire. The original deceased members of LS would not have shared the stage with a bunch of Country Poseurs like Tim Mcgraw and Gretchen Wilson at the Grammys. That was a fiasco

Lynyrd Skynrd rocks. As for BEOP's comment that they are inbred racists...this is not true....First....Sweet Home Alabama has been misinterpretted....it was a joke and a punchline at Neil Young....They wrote a song that honored a black guitar player from their home town...the song....old Curt was a black man with long curly hair.....Curtis Lowe....Sing me a song Curtis Lowe, Curtis Lowe....cuz Curtis Lowe was the finest picker to ever sing the blues....They are the best Southern Rock Band. They have donated to charities and performed to raise money for minorities to work for NASCAR and have donated to Hospices (you know people who have Cancer...and Cancer is COLORBLIND)...It's about Southern Pride with them NOT RACISM! I saw them in concert in 1993, and they gave a tremendous live performance...Freebird...I don't know how to describe the feeling and the way they played that song. They also played with Bad Company....another group that deserves to be in the Top Rock bands ever. VanZAnt is awesome!

Lynyrd Skynyrd is the best southern rock band in the world... allmans also very good ones but they are bascially blues-rockers with southern touch... but if there is one dedicated southern rock band in the world, that is Lynyrd Skynyrd... there is no second thought about it... keep it up skynyrd...

simply the best

freebird alone gives them 5 stars. they were one of the greatest.

For Country-Fried Rock n Roll- it don't git no better than this!!!

A step below the Allman Brothers.

Skynyrd are my favourite band. They did a few honkytonk songs that have me reaching for the skip button, like Gimme Three Steps, and I wouldn't agree with Daddy Ray that their lyrics are all that brilliant (Mr. Banker and Four Walls of Raiford are pretty annoying), but the vocals are cool and the pure tunes, musicianship (the piano, drums and 3 guitars are all incredible) and guitar solos make them the best ever in my opinion. Alabama and Freebird are my favourites, but they did plenty of fantastic songs that I will never tire of, like the Ballad of Curtis Loew, Tuesday's Gone, Workin' for MCA, The Needle and The Spoon and All I Can Do Is Write About It. Quality.

If you don't like Skynyrd you probubly never listened to them. The tunes they play on the radio never do justice to any bands whole body of work. The truth and soulfulness of Ronnie Van Zandt's words are equal to any great American artist. From Muddy Waters to Hank Williams, John Fogarty to Johnny Cash. Skynyrd is truly American... and to put them down is to put down yourself.Dig it , Take a deep breath,have a cold beer,cook up some BBQ,and watch your kids play in the grass,and if your not satisfied ,crank up some Skynyrd as loud as you can and invite your neighbors over.If they dont come by wait for the cops to come so when the cops come you can share your BBQ and beer with them.Until then enjoy the blue sky ,the fresh air and Dance with your ol lady barefoot in the dirt. Family is so important dont forget to Love em. There are very few bands that effect whole generations of people,reason being very few have the gift to relate common feelings with common words. Lynyrd Skynyrd is one of those bands that could. God Bless them all they gave me much inspiration through my life and helped me travel this country with pride and big brass balls.

'One for the road ' is a cracking album but the studio albums seem to lack quality production, so some of the slower tracks sound loose and watery. I dont think they ever got their sh*t together after losing Ronnie van Zant. I guess they're one of those bands who are at their best live.

One of the best southern bands to play. Shoulda stayed out of planes though.

I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd in concert years ago with Tanya Tucker and the Charlie Daniels Band. Even though they are not my type of music, or anything I would normally listen too, I really enjoyed the show. Good live entertainers if nothing else. I can see why the older generation liked them.

Not my type of music. Sorry.

Lynyrd Skynyrd became like Elvis after the tragic accident. It gave them fame and glory they would not have achieved otherwise. It is a shame some are so misinformed or governed by hatred. Life is full of pathetic losers. I guess we see one more on this place now.

Redneck garbage aimed at those with unsophisticated mutant tastes and sensibilities. Cliche soundtrack that would be good background music for "The Jeff Foxworthy Show." The song "Free Bird" is so lame, so bad, so idiotic, syrupy and maudlin that it's a sad joke. The music is slick, but not necessarily well played, and the lyrics are trailer park white trash moronic. And anybody who would write a paean to a toilet like Alabama should lay off the corndogs and Milwaukee's Best and rejoin The Civilized World.

So how many of them are still alive?

Although their southern fried rock and roll is always a pleasure to hear, Skynyrd doesn't seem to have alot of depth to them. Their songs are slick and humerous with alot of excellent southern guitars, but just don't have alot of staying power for me.

I was fortunate enough to have dated Leon Wilkerson back in the 70's. He & Artemus came in to a club (C.W. Shaw's) I worked at in Atlanta carrying a bottle of Jack Daniels. Not knowing who they were (but of course knew their music) asked them to leave. My boss soon made it clear they were not leaving. They thought it was funny and the journey of a lifetime began as they say.I was so lucky to have gotten to spend a few months in Leon's presence and I remember those days with great fondness. They were wonderful, fun, don't-care-what-anybody-thinks type men, and the best Southern Rock band that has ever existed.

Inbred Racists

he is ok but you know i only no one song by him i think anyways is it sweet home alabama!

awesome, being fom england that may seem weird but this bunch r the best band i've heard or seen evvvveeeeerrrr!! the old stuff is the best but the new stuff is great . Ricky Medlocke is one rockin rattlesnake . See yo u all in London in 3 weeks

Best band ever.

EXPLOSIVE! POWERFUL! EARTH SHAKING! MAGICAL! OUTSTANDING! This legendary band from Jacksonville has released an epitome of music that clearly brings their status firmly planted in the 21st century as one of the greatest bands of all time. Although an American band we are very proud of and is a national treasure to say the least, these great songs never let you forget they were born and raised in the south and have never allowed themselves to get above their raising. Gary Rossington will be written in the history books of rock -n- roll as a guitarist whose unmistakable guitar riffs cut to the very core of the soul of anyone who listens to him. His solos on Mad Hatter is a testimony to his grief of losing a brother and a true tribute to everyone's friend, Leon. When the heavy artillery of Rickey and Huey are brought out, there is an explosive guitar attack that is, without question, like an undefeated champion. Ean Evans never lets us forget our Leon with his thunder bass parts that recall the magic, allows us to keep his memory alive, and I'm sure Leon is smiling as he looks down from heaven. I tip my hat to this multi- talented artist. There is no doubt that Billy Powell is the best piano player on the planet, he sets the standard, nobody will ever measure up. Nobody. Michael shines on this album as the drummer of choice, we were listening to this album and out of nowhere I hear Mitzi say,"This drummer is f***ing excellent!", my jaw dropped because in 24 years of marriage, I had never heard her use that word before. Just shows the emotion this album can pull out of it's listener. Add a couple of angels as backup vocals and you have a band that easily carries the musical legend that is Lynyrd Skynyrd to the edge of forever and beyond. You've made us proud with Vicious Circle, you've made us very proud! Thank you for continuing, we love you!! From the opening fabricated scratches on "That's The Way I like It", to the knock you on your ass guitar punch reminds me of Johnny's smile on the back cover of "No More Dirty Deals", as he smiles and waits for you to come to. Without Johnny Van Zant, Lynyrd Skynyrd would have been that great band in the '70's who had a plane crash. Is that what Ronnie and his bad ass rock band work so hard for at Hell House for? To be a footnote in the pages of Rock-n-Roll!!? I think not. This was a "Live" band, one that created music that deserved to be played live until the last rebel was gone. The way I see it, four are still standing. If it was'nt for Johnny this would not have happen. Thousands of fans would have never heard the magic of this band, the spirit of the fallen freebirds rise like a phoenix at every show, all over the world, the dream of Ronnie and the lyrics he wrote would have died in a Mississppi swamp. Another Buddy Holly, is that what Ronnie deserved? Thank God for the living legends, and Johnny,who had enough guts to pick up the flag and carry it proud through adversity and triumph!! I love the new album Vicious Cycle, but I never heard this band record anything I did'nt like. Hardcore? You bet your ass mister, and I'll bet my pay check against yours that this band Lynyrd Skynyrd is better than anything else playing anywhere! They are more than relevent, and as long as they take the stage, I will thank my lucky stars and give thanks to God, who understands how much we love this band that he will continue to bless them with good health. Lynyrd Skynyrd will take care of the rest. I am one, but speak for many. As I lift my glass to Lynyrd Skynyrd 2003....SALUTE!!!! Lucky

The oldies band of Lynyrd Skynyrd rocked my socks off. I learned about oldies music when I was 3, and I still like it today. Good luck to all the oldies bands that are still alive.

I think that they are the shiznit.I can get back stage passes for all of my freinds and if you become my freind I'll get you back stage passes too.

Skynyrd is awesome. They have so much soul and emotion in their music. Listen to the song free bird and you'll understand.

SWEET HOME ALABAMA!!!! I love lynyrd skynyrd and i think that lynyrd skynyrd's music is definately better than some of the crap that my peers listen to. and anyone who doesnt like lynyrd skynyrs is full of crap!! Even eminem likes them!! now thats saying something. how could you not love sweet home alabama?

Lynyrd Skynyrd is the best band to ever grace this earth. If ever there is a problem in my life, there is nothing better than a simple southern rock song. and thats just what they did, give us pure, good music, the kind that makes you cry when your sad, dance when your happy, and your heart skip a beat whenever those first few chords come on the radio. there will never be music that could even come close to theirs!

Anyone who compares the Allmans to Skynyrd knows very little about either band. The Allmans are a fusion band that mixes blues with jazzand country and gospel and often works in a jam format. Skynyrd is well rehearsed rock group that occasionally throws in almost jug band music for a change of pace. Compare Allen Collins to Clapton, not Duane Allman. Compare Gary Rossington to Paul Kossoff, not Dickie Betts. You can spot a Skynyrd Song a mile away. It's in your face rock n roll with intricate parts that is as good as any rock band ever. Ronnie Van Zant speaks to your heart, your pride, your balls, your home, the way you were raised, the love of your family, the people you grew up with, the fact that you are just a man, or the woman that man is chasing. Ronnie Van Zant wasn't trying to send you to hell,or to get you to run away from home, or do drugs, or kill your parents, or feel sorry for yourself. Skynyrd never depended on light shows or special effects or costumes or full bodytatoos. Skynyrd didn't play naked or in their underwear. They never had a costume lady.They didn't play gay stuff or anything to dance to. They didn't preach about third world hunger or go see a swami. They didn't hang in Hollywood with porno girlsor in new york with crazy performance artists. Skynyrd was simply the greatest bunch of teenage boys who started on a patio with a dream and worked their asses off to take that dream to madison square garden. If you've ever played a guitar and wanted to be cool for your friends you'll understand the heart of this band. Pound for pound the greatest American Rock band that ever plugged in. Period. And whoever gave this band one star is either deaf, gay, going to hell, or musically retarded.

If you slanderize Skynyrd, I have to ask if you have truely ever heard any of their songs, much less anything besides Sweet Home. Ever seen Freebird the Movie? Allen Collins looked every bit the rocker he was. Listen to them before you judge them. And the guy who said "Hendrix is better"...well, he's just mentally retarded, because Hendrix and Skynyrd are like comparing Apples and Oranges.

only one thing by them i like

This is the most underrated band in the history of rock and roll. I don't know anything about this band after 1976. But before then when all the members were alive they were an American Stones. The lyrics are amazing. They are not a typical right wing Southern band at all. The songs are progressive against handguns etc. SWEET HOME ALABAMA is misinterpreted it doesn't support racism it merely says Mr. Young shouldn't label all southerners racist! SIMPLE MAN is a song anyone can base their life on. I think this band has been mislabeled as being right wing racist etc. They wrote wonderful songs. A perfect group. Up there with the all time greats: Hendrix, Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin. They wrote deep songs that were incredibly well crafted and catchy. Sadly underrated as musicians. And sadly associated with the Confederate Flag wackos which the band in it's first incarnation was completely against. There are many great songs but SWEET HOME ALABAMA, FREE BIRD, and SIMPLE MAN have to go down as three of the finest of all time. Not many bands can put together a 2 CD greatest hits package - only the best can - and Lynyrd Skynrd does so with ease. THE COMPLETE ORIGINAL LYNYRD SKYNYRD RULES!!!!!

Greatest band of all time

We have seen Skynyrd in concert 6 times and each new concert is even better than the last.Skynyrd Rocks!!!What more can you say about the greatest southern rock band in all of recorded history?Each and every member to ever play with Skynyrd was a very special and unique individual with an awesome amount of talent.Lynyrd Skynyrd will live FOREVER! As will the memories of those who have gone before us.....Ronnie Van Zant - Fly Proud Freebird Leon Wilkeson - Best Bass Player To Walk This Earth. Allen Collins - Wonderful Stage Performance! Steve and Cassie Gaines - 2 very talented individuals. 5 very beautiful and amazing souls taken from us all to soon, yet in just one brief and shining moment they gave us something to hold onto for a lifetime.We Will Remember Them Always.

I give 'em a five because they were the best at what they tried to communicate. Being a Florida native does not mean I like them more or less but they rose to the top of the barrel in Southern Rock and are still there with 38 Special right behind. You people who are still berating the south and it's heritage just need to quit. It's ancient history. Like you people from the north are any better than the rest of us....Bull!

Not my favorite band, but decent.

Less than Average - listen to the Allman Bros. instead...or Stevie Ray Vaughn...