Lynard Skynard's sole surviving original member, guitarist Gary Rossington is keeping the band alive, with the first new Skynard material in six years, "God & Guns". The album, which comes out today, features Rob Zombie guitarist John5 and Rob contributed backing vocals to the song "Floyd". It comes in a 2 disc set and contains 14 tracks. Click Here to listen to some short audio samples.

"The feeling is just overwhelming," Rossington said in an interview. "I didn't mean to be the last original or the last one, but here it is. It's very heavy. I'm just extra lucky to still be here...so I feel a responsibility to carry on the Skynyrd name and let people hear our music, newcomers and old, as long as they want to hear it."

Rossington has watched four bandmates since 2001. Leon Wilkeson, the group's bassist since 1972, died from emphysema and liver disease in 2001. Guitarist Hughie Thomasson suffered a fatal heart attack in 2007 (after he'd left Skynyrd to reunite with his original band, the Outlaws), and keyboardist Billy Powell passed away in January from a suspected coronary arrest. Ean Evans, Wilkeson's replacement, died in May after being diagnosed with cancer in late 2008.


Lynard Skynard will launch a US tour on October 1st at the Beacon Theater in New York City. Click Here for a complete list of dates and venues.



-- Edited by newsbot on Tuesday 29th of September 2009 05:00:04 AM

-- Edited by newsbot on Tuesday 29th of September 2009 03:16:31 PM