Lynyrd Skynyrd: Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock

Hard to put this one down

The first 8 pages of this book are worth the price if you're a Skynyrd fan. The first-person account of the plane crash is one of the most gripping pieces of literature I've ever read. Gut-wrenching is more like it, especially if you've ever flown on a similar sized plane. The rest of the book is highly informative, as well. The insight into the childhood of the band members, families, and friends, and how their lives progressed and intertwined is a good read. If you were around in the 60s and 70s and were from the South, you'll relate to a great deal of what is written here. And the book gives a pretty clear perspective on the struggle to make it in the music business in those days, and the pitfalls of finally getting your wish. Lots of good pictures are also included. Regardless of how much you think you know about the band, there's enough here to enlighten and entertain most fans. I couldn't put it down the first time I read it in 2005. Now I'm reading it a second time and picking up things I didn't absorb the first time. If you love Lynyrd Skynyrd, like I do, you'll love this book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A good read for fans...

This book is worth the read for any fan of this band. Quite a story with no end as we know it. Unless you only like the original band members music over the band members of today.

Great account of the original band...

It Depends........

As to whether this book meets the objective of "telling the complete Lynyrd Skynyrd story" is dependent upon the reader's knowledge of the band. If you are a new fan, or a fan that knows little of the band's history, you will find the book fairly informative and interesting. On the other hand, if you are a die-hard Skynyrd fan, you will most likely be very disappointed with the book. The book does little more than retell the standard Skynyrd stories (i.e. RVZ beaning Bob Burns at a Little League game; the story behind the band's name; how Steve Gaines came to be the band's third guitarist, etc.) without providing any significant new or interesting details to these stories or the band's history. The book's author is listed as Gene Odom who served as the band's security supervisor in the mid 1970's. However, as I read the book I was struck with the observation that very little of the book is written as a "first person account". It appears that the co-author (Frank Dorman) compiled the majority of the book, again, by rehashing well known stories about the band with an occassional snippet from Mr. Odom. Very little of the book is based upon interviews with anyone significantly connected with the band (i.e. band members, family members, road crew, recording partners,etc.). If you are a die-hard fan, you still will want to buy the book as it does do a good job of summarizing the general story of the band and has some nice pictures. But don't expect to find out much new that you don't already know, because it isn't here. A decent effort, but it must be said that no one, still, has written the definitive book on Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Finally a great Lynyrd Skynyrd book

I¿ve just been fortunate to read an advance copy of ¿Lynyrd Sknyrd: Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock,¿ and being a big-time fan, I was amazed to find so much new information, and to see it presented in such an interesting fashion. Whatever you`ve read about Lynyrd Skynyrd before now, this book is well worth buying. Unlike other Skynyrd books, this one provides valuable insight into how musical success came to such an unlikely person as Ronnie Van Zant, who couldn¿t read music or play an instrument, and whose violent temper might have led him to prison if not for his love of music. We also learn the full story of how the band got its oddball name, which is much more interesting, and more accurate, than the simple explanation that fans have heard before. If for no other reason, this book is well worth reading for its painstakingly detailed description of the band¿s fatal plane crash and what caused it, and its thorough, riveting account of the rescue operation and what federal accident investigators found ¿ as well as the possibility that cocaine may have been involved, which is discussed here for the first time. Also to its credit, this very well written book issues a compelling challenge to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame voters to finally induct Lynyrd Skynyrd, dispelling once and for all a misconception that may have clouded some voters¿ opinion of the band. No one who reads this thoughtful assessment by Ronnie Van Zant¿s close, lifelong friend could ever think of Van Zant as somehow being a racist. It¿s an unfortunate label that should now be put to rest. And, of course, there¿s the music, which this book brings alive in colorful descriptions that are much richer than every other account I¿ve read. This book beats the rest, hands down.

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