5 Things You Didn’t Know About Lynyrd Skynyrd

In 2006, Lynyrd Skynyrd were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Rock groups are eligible for induction into the prestigious institution 25 years after the release of their first record. Candidates are judged on their influence on rock and roll music and longevity, among other factors.

Like many bands, Lynyrd Skynyrd changed its name a few times before it arrived at Lynyrd Skynyrd. Some of the other names the group called themselves included My Backyard, The Noble Five, Conqueror Worm, Sons of Satan, the Wildcats, and the One Percent. They stuck with the name One Percent for many years until switching once and for all to Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1970.

When the band members were in grade school in the 1960s, one of their teachers named Leonard Skinner disciplined the boys for letting their hair grow too long. The boys eventually dropped out of school. Later on, they changed their name to Lynyrd Skynyrd to "protect the guilty." 

Over the course of Lynyrd Skynyrd's long career, there have been 18 different people in the band. Like many bands, the lineup changed over time. A plane crash in 1977 killed lead singer and song writer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, road manager Dean Kilpatrick and both pilots. The current Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup has just two of the original members.

According to the National Traffic Safety Board, the plane crash was caused by a lack of fuel. The plane stalled and an impromptu landing was made in a swampy area of Mississippi.