A legend on the stage, and now his final performance is coming to the silver screen.
Gary Rossington, the legendary guitar player and founding member of the greatest southern rock band of all time, Lynyrd Skynyrd, passed away back in March at the age of 71.
Rossington was the last remaining member of the original band, which was formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1964 by Rossington along with lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Allen Collins, bass player Larry Junstrom, and drummer Bob Burns.
He was also one of the survivors from the 1970 plane crash that took the lives of Van Zant and 5 others, including band member Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines.
The band took a hiatus after the crash, but Rossington returned when Lynyrd Skynyrd reunited in 1987 with Ronnie Van Zant’s younger brother Johnny as the lead singer, and continued as the band’s lead guitar player until his death.
Rossington played what turned out to be his final show with Lynyrd Skynyrd on November 13, 2022 at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, less than five months before his death.
And now, fans will have the chance to see that final performance in theaters.
The show, The 50th Anniversary of Lynyrd Skynyrd, is being screened at select theaters and drive-ins around the country from July 8 through July 14, and will pay tribute to Rossington’s final performance with the band.
The concert also featured special appearances from John Osborne of Brothers Osborne, Shinedown’s Brent Smith, and Jelly Roll – along with Rossington’s wife, Dale Krantz Rossington, who served as a backup singer for Skynyrd.
Speaking on the opportunity to bring the performance to theaters, Johnny Van Zant said:
“We are excited to share this special night and celebrate 50 years of Skynyrd music with the Skynyrd Nation and fans of these timeless songs. We were fortunate to capture this special evening with Gary Rossington and Dale Krantz Rossington and all of the special guests that were able to join us on stage.
It is certainly bittersweet because this was Gary’s last show, but we are so fortunate that we were able to share one last special night together onstage, doing what Gary loved.”
If you’re a Lynyrd Skynyrd fan, you’re not gonna want to miss this one.