Duane Snodgrass I agree.To this day I play this footage to old metalheads such as myself but was always very diverse and I got to tell em to hold on during the mellow phase and watch.After countless views my face STILL melts when Allen cuts loose.And they have all heard Free Bird but to watch the magic being performed is a whole different element baby!Long live LYNYRD SKYNYRD!
"Best southern rock band ever known"? In my humble opinion they are the best rock band ever known period. Every member of the band were masters at their craft. None better
Skynyrd opened for the Rolling Stones that concert, and they were forbidden to go to the frontal part of the stage (you can watch the "tongue" form), because it was reserved for the Stones. But the band went there and owned it.
same...the sound was perfectly mixed. hard to believe everything was right...probably due to all the expense the sound system got because of the Stones
This version was on the video jukebox of my local pub, when I started drinking, so it'll always be a favourite. But I still prefer it to the Oakland version
I like the Oakland Coliseum version much better mainly because it was in HD, sound quality was better and the American crowd with all those pretty girls up front were more excited and knew who the band were. I get the feeling the majority of the Brit crowd were not familiar with the band and were kind of Ho hum in the beginning. They were here to see the Stones.
It was very hot that day and I was thinking about lying down for a rest after finishing the home brew. I remember them coming on stage thinking "what's this lot?" Been hooked ever since.
You have to admit Gary took it to the house he didn't mind walking on the tongue 😜 that kinda of like the rest was a little hesitant 😂 I think Gary stoled the show that day ❤️🇺🇸🤘
Howard Forton;I feel like I was born waaay to late,I was born in 1977, the year that their plane crashed.My birthday is September 30,1977, and their plane crashed October 20,1977, meaning I was only 10 days old when it happened.But I have listened to this song,at least 100,000 times, and will listen to it every time it's on the radio,I listen to it on UA-cam, and have it has my ringtone.I think it's freaking awesome that you were there, and I wish I could have been there too.Rock On!!
I attended the very last concert they played in Greenville, SC. On a date with a guy who wanted to leave a bit early to avoid the traffic so I heard Free Bird from outside as we walked around the coliseum to get to the car. A few hours later we heard about the crash on the radio. We've been married over 30 years now but I've still never completely forgiven him for making me miss seeing them perform this song for the last time. They were the real deal. God rest their souls.
They were by far the most influential band I have ever listened to in my life. Every song I have ever listened to has had to be compared to their examples!
Glad you got to experience classic Southern Rock. There are plenty of bands in the United States that would drop your jaw. Spread your wings and look into other bands.
Billy Powell was a roadie for the band. When he heard Freebird he thought it needed an introduction and recorded one. Another roadie gave it to Gary Rossington and Billy went from roadie to band member that day. I met Billy and he was a very kind, humble man.
HELLO from US ! I believe this band is the best example of what we call southern rock . they have a blues aspect to there rock , and lyrics that appeal to the average person , you know day to day life.
Allen Collins was such an amazing guitar player! First time I heard this solo I was 9 and I thought there was no way this guy was human lol. 15 yrs of playing guitar, and I still can't do this solo justice!
"What the hell was that?" The worlds first mosh pit. Three guys huddled around joining arms jumping up and down. Hey you have to start somewhere right? 😜🤘🏻🖖🏼🍻
they were opening for the Rolling Stones and were told by the Stones manager that they could not go out on that part of the stage because it was meant for the Stones but Ronnie Van Zant just pushed them out there and as you see the crowd went wild.
I remember watching a Lynyrd Skynyrd documentary. And they brought up when they opened up for the Rolling Stones. And they were told not to go out on the catwalk on stage. Because it was only for the Rolling Stones. And when they did they mentioned Mick Jagger got really mad! But Free Birds a kick ass song! I would of done the same!
Southern Rock at it's finest! When I was younger I didn't like this type of music because for me it was metal or nothing. Now, though, I love it and all sub-genres of Rock n Roll.
BEST BAND TO EVER TAKE THE STAGE!!!!NEVER WILL THERE BE AGAIN THIS BAND WAZ IT!!! ALMOST 41YEARS AGO OCTOBER 20TH WHEN THEIR PLANE WENT DOWN AND STOPPED THE GREATEST SINGER/SONG WRITER FROM GIVIN US MORE FREEBIRDS AND SWEET HOME ALABAMAS....RIP TO ALL THE FREEBIRDS THATS WENT ON!! 🦅🎸🦅
Hey Rubin, welcome to the Skynyrd Nation! They were a talented crew, masters of their trade, and there's a lot more where this came from. I was 12 when the studio version of Free Bird was released, but got hooked when their live album (One More From the Road) came out in '76. The studio version contains cleaner guitar work, but the live version has more energy. One More From the Road is here on UA-cam, and has a great mix of their best work.
You feel them playing more than you hear them playing. I pass the song over when i see it because I have heard millions of times but if it starts, I listen to the end and am moved in so many different ways, every time. That song takes you on a journey. It's rock n roll art, a masterpiece.
I was in the USAF stationed at RAF Bentwaters and went to this concert. There were four of us about 50 fifty feet from the stage. We started off with a blanket size piece of land and by the end of the concert you couldn't move. It would take 3 hours just to go and piss. I had a Triumph Vitesse and when the concert was over I begged my friends to stay awake with me while I drove the 90 miles back to base. Nope those assholes were sleeping before I got out of the parking lot. It was the only time in my life I fell asleep driving. I hit the curb and it shook me awake and I had enough adrenaline in me to make it back to base without falling back to sleep.
I'm glad you made it back safely, I hope you learned to never drive while sleepy, it's actually worse than driving while drunk, it kills a lot of people every year, sadly, including a friend's mother who was only in her early forties. Anyway, not to be a downer, great story, you're lucky as hell to have seen the real LS live, this was an epic performance.
I know that 1 of their current guitarist players is Ricky medlocke, he used to have his own band called Blackfoot. their best albums are Strikes, Tomcattin, Marauder, and the amazing live album highway song live.
Allen's story is maybe the single most tragic in rock history. He wasn't as technically proficient as Steve Gaines or Ed King, but he had all the heart and soul, and he absolutely owned Free Bird.
@@harpoon_bakery162 he was badly injured in the plane crash and suffered severe survivor's guilt, as he'd been sitting between Steve and Cassie Gaines. In 1980 his wife died suddenly of pregnancy complications and he went off the deep end, abusing drugs and alcohol. He had a drunk driving wreck in 1986, which killed his gf and left him paralyzed. Then he died in 1990 of pneumonia, just 37 years old, and left behind 2 teen daughters. Horribly, horribly tragic series of events suffered by an incredibly nice guy and great musician.
@@BohoBunMom omg, how sad is that?!!!! he was just a genius guitar player..so much talent! what were his plane crash injuries? hard to believe that someone could die of pregnancy complications in 1980 as advanced as medicine was. I wonder what the complication was? What were his and her injuries in the car crash (the girlfriend)was he charged? seems like he just had the worst time of life after that Knebworth concert. Seems like things went completely downhil after OCtober 20, '77 ? is that about the sum of it? If he was between Cassie and Steve on the plane, he might have seen some horrific injuries or at least heard the screams of those in need and was unable to help anyone because you say he had bad injuries on the plane (or at least you thought he had bad injuries on the plane)...i was thinking that the only horrific injuries on the plane were the rossington lady or can't rememebr her name but she was a backup singer and then the Billy Powell facial injuries and Gene had some bad injuries to his head and his eye.
I've heard the stones took forever coming out because Mick was pissed(mad in American, not drunk) he didn't want to go on after because in his words, "how are we supposed to go on after that"
@@sandracox4341 that's correct... no one wanted to follow Skynyrd , 10cc , Stones, no one did. Stones were late because they were partying with Jack Nicholson, concert didnt end until 2AM. Major traffic jam
This clip has always been one of my favorite rock n roll clips. The story behind it is great. In 1976 Lynyrd Skynyrd was well known in America but unknown in England. They were booked to be one of a few opening acts for the rolling stones at Knebworth field. There was an estimated 200,000 people there to see the Stones. Skynyrd played before 10cc who played before the Stones. At the beginning of their set most of the people there were pretty tepid and showed little interest. This is a first hand account of a concert goer... "After breaking out the fish-paste sandwiches - we knew how to live in the 70s - a band we’d never heard of launched, without fanfare, into a song that was evidently called Freebird and, as it gradually metamorphosed from gentle uplifting ballad to all-out guitar firefight, the vast audience’s response went from indifference to adulation. Thirty-one years on and I’ve never witnessed a crowd react to a support band in the same way that Knebworth did to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Somewhere between the first chorus and the second verse the band went from unknown names to full-fledged stars. " They were playing on a stage built for the stones that part of it was a large tongue extending into the audience. All the opening bands were told to "stay off the tongue". Aout halfway through Freebird, right at the guitar solos, Ronnie van Zant starts pushing his guys down the "tongue" stage as they rock the fuck out! “Skynyrd caused a real buzz backstage,” remembers Promoter Freddy Bannister. “We all wondered how anyone could follow them. An hour later, we all began to wonder if anyone would even try." Both bands after Skynyrd delayed for hours before taking the stage.
Thank u Mr Anthimos for this history & background info. Means so much to us who loved this band, their music, & what they stood for coming from our era & place in time-1970s
I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd two months before the plane went down. Yes, they knew, and we knew what they were capable of. But then we had so many incredible guitarist in those days... Page, Stevie Ray, Alex Lifeson, Brian May, Clapton, Jeff Beck, Santana, and the list goes on and on. If this is the first time you've ever really paid attention to one of the guitarist of that era ... Wow, you need to go to school!
Listen to that whole Knebworth conversation from ‘76 on UA-cam. The guitar playing is absolutely god like. Coming from someone who’s listened to literally all the classic rock, Skynyrd’s guitar playing is mind blowing.
Rolling Stones were the Knebworth headliners. The tongue part of the stage was built especially for them. Other acts weren't supposed to tread on the tongue. Ronnie said, ":Fuck that."
Ruben, I would suggest you pick up a copy of Skynyrd's "One More From the Road" Double album set, recorded live at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. Probably one of the best live albums ever recorded.
Right?!! The best Song and Guitar Solo ever!!! I was six when this happened, my cousin used to crank this song way up. Nothing will ever touch it. True masterpiece. RVZ, the greatest frontman of all time in my humble opinion!!
I followed that band All over the USA and I was there for this one. The longest they ever played FREE BIRD 🐦 was 1hour and 20 minute's. They did it for us fan's. And we loved em for it. We will AWAY'S REMEMBER LYNYRD SKYNYRD BAND. MY BAND! LOVE EM ❤️ TO DEATH!
I got to see them live, and it was a great concert. They played Free Bird for about twenty minutes, and the part were they were driving to the end was about ten minutes. From the moment the solo started till the end the crowd were on their feet . The ending bit the crowd did not stop applauding,
I was there on that verry summers day ...a midnight summers dreem... and freebird blew us away.a mellow tune it is not . My frend ...the air show ubove the band. Was good and was the weather and the drugs ......
I was thinking you did. How could anyone not know this classic. So cool seeing them live. I was to young to see them in concert. These people are super lucky. They sound so good. This how you do it. Jamming out. Love it
R.I.P. Ronnie, Steve & Cassie and their Tour Manager Dean. This was back when music was played on stage and the studios by someone. None of that prerecorded crap. A fantastic band. I miss that lineup. Great reaction and video. Thanks.
Susan Schroedel That's Mr. Leon Wilkeson man he was good... the whole band was and also they were really underrated because they were to Rock for Country and too Country for Rock... most people see them as dumb hicks because they were from the south but if you listen to Ronnie Van Zants lyrics, especially on other songs, man he was a great writer.
Southern rock isn't really my thing but this is an all time classic song with an iconic solo (studio and live). It's a tribute song to Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1971. Great reaction.
Nah man, they dedicated it to duane but it wasn't written for him, my dad was in the music scene in macon where duane and the brothers lived and the song was known before he died.
Ronnie said they were extremely nervous - a first for them - at this show because of who was watching from the backstage area: Paul and Linda McCartney.
This is the absolute best performance of this song...ever! I've noticed from so many reaction videos that people around 40 and under are true snobs. It seems they would never know how to go to a live festival and just let it all hang the hell out!! FUN was what this was!
NOW, THIS WAS AMAZING TO ME TO SEE SOMEONE THAT HAS NEVER HEARD OR SEEM THE ORGINAL LYNYRD SKYNYRD PLAY FREEBIRD, I THOUGH HE WAS GOING TO BLOW A LOAD IN HIS PANTS HE LIKED IT SO MUCH.....AND WTF CAN BLAME HIM??/ THESE GUYS WERE THE BEST, AND IF YOY READ MY COMMENT DO SOME RESURECE INTO THESE GUYS ITS ONE OF THE MOST TRAGIC STORY IN ROCK AND ROLL. HISTORY AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED AND THE BEST SOUTH ROCK BAND THERE EVER WAS. I FOR ONE DON'T CONSIDER AND MUCIC MADE OR PLAYED AFTER THE PLANE CRASH TO BE LYNYRD SKYNYRD.AFTER THAT THERE'S JUST A BUNCH OF YAHOOS MAKING MONEY OFF THESE GUYS AFTER THEY DID ALL THE HARD WORK
The coolest thing about this video, other than the mastery of instruments, is how they took a lethargic crowd and freakin' energized them into a dancing mob. That takes talent. Like others have said, the 1977 Oakland concert is even more amazing.
I played drums in a deathcore band. My dad was like “why do you play this crazy music”. I was like it’s just really modern heavy metal. Pops tells me that skynyrd is his favorite band and is better heavy metal, even better than Black Sabbath. That’s the moment that I realized that he was right. This is heavy metal of the 70’s and that I will probably be the same way when future heavier metal comes out. Love this song and performance. My favorite bit is all the people laying down on lsd or opium or whatever the hell you old geezers were doing. The part where the person is tiptoeing over the people laying down cracks me up every time.
Gotta love the "It's a little too mellow for me" comment at about 5 minutes. I was like, "Prepare to have your face melted in 2 minutes."
Duane Snodgrass I agree.To this day I play this footage to old metalheads such as myself but was always very diverse and I got to tell em to hold on during the mellow phase and watch.After countless views my face STILL melts when Allen cuts loose.And they have all heard Free Bird but to watch the magic being performed is a whole different element baby!Long live LYNYRD SKYNYRD!
Gotta love the false ending too. The first time I heard it I actually thought it was the end, just to have that bolero part kick in.
Duane Snodgrass exactly what I was thinking!!!
Harry Clams wow, that’s original. I bet it even took both of your remaining brain cells a few months to come up with that one.
Harry Clams tsss tsss FAWK YEAH HARRY BRANMUFFINS
Absolutely mental. Knebworth packed to the rafters on a blazing hot summers afternoon in 76. Classic rock. Amazing guitar work.
The greatest southern rock band ever known and free bird is their master piece signature song .
Freebird Ronnie's Anthem. 😂
The allman brothers played golf?
Molly Hatchet is good too though. I would say that you are right.
@@gregoryrader1537 oooooookayyy
"Best southern rock band ever known"? In my humble opinion they are the best rock band ever known period. Every member of the band were masters at their craft. None better
Skynyrd opened for the Rolling Stones that concert, and they were forbidden to go to the frontal part of the stage (you can watch the "tongue" form), because it was reserved for the Stones. But the band went there and owned it.
Yes they qwned it like knowbody after them would ever do
That’s what happens when you piss off a red neck from the West Side of Jacksonville, FL. Ronnie showed them that day.
Don’t tell some red neck from the west side of Jacksonville,FL not to do something and especially don’t be a jerk about it……
THIS was, is, and always will be their finest live version - and, yes, I've heard all of them.
same...the sound was perfectly mixed. hard to believe everything was right...probably due to all the expense the sound system got because of the Stones
I heartily agree🇺🇸
This version was on the video jukebox of my local pub, when I started drinking, so it'll always be a favourite. But I still prefer it to the Oakland version
I believe it was their best live version as well. The whole band was on fire and dead on!!! It WAS their day!!!
I like the Oakland Coliseum version much better mainly because it was in HD, sound quality was better and the American crowd with all those pretty girls up front were more excited and knew who the band were. I get the feeling the majority of the Brit crowd were not familiar with the band and were kind of Ho hum in the beginning. They were here to see the Stones.
It was very hot that day and I was thinking about lying down for a rest after finishing the home brew. I remember them coming on stage thinking "what's this lot?"
Been hooked ever since.
Allen Collins, Gary Rossington and Steve Gaines on guitars. Fantastic
You have to admit Gary took it to the house he didn't mind walking on the tongue 😜 that kinda of like the rest was a little hesitant 😂 I think Gary stoled the show that day ❤️🇺🇸🤘
@@crystalregan2481 Um, no. Allen killed not just Freebird, but this entire concert.
I was there. By the tree. Brilliant.
lucky man
Awesome. That was incredible.
Howard Forton;I feel like I was born waaay to late,I was born in 1977, the year that their plane crashed.My birthday is September 30,1977, and their plane crashed October 20,1977, meaning I was only 10 days old when it happened.But I have listened to this song,at least 100,000 times, and will listen to it every time it's on the radio,I listen to it on UA-cam, and have it has my ringtone.I think it's freaking awesome that you were there, and I wish I could have been there too.Rock On!!
I envy you Howard Forton. So much it hurts
So was me and my mates they blew the stones of the stage
I know..They rendered that crowd, speechless, too! Who still wants to see the Stones after that?
I attended the very last concert they played in Greenville, SC. On a date with a guy who wanted to leave a bit early to avoid the traffic so I heard Free Bird from outside as we walked around the coliseum to get to the car. A few hours later we heard about the crash on the radio. We've been married over 30 years now but I've still never completely forgiven him for making me miss seeing them perform this song for the last time. They were the real deal. God rest their souls.
He said too mellow.......................................BOOM!!!!!! LOL
one of the best solos ever
Gabo Luján THE best solo ever!! AC is the man....
Gabo Luján
One of the bests solos in history of mankind
@Derek Cassady No it's not ...wait a minute ..... YES IT IS !!!!!!!
I was fortunate enough to see them twice. The greatest live band ever.
me too, once on my 18th birthday and Ed King was still with them...
That’s was awesome 🤟🏽
Dude I'm not in the "older gereration" but HOLY CRAP SKYNYRD IS THE BEST
One of the greatest rock ballads of all time. 🤘🏻🍻🖖🏼
They were by far the most influential band I have ever listened to in my life. Every song I have ever listened to has had to be compared to their examples!
You know everyone talks about Alan's Gary's and Steve guitar work on this. But rarely do they mention Leon's work on the bass for it. It's amazing.
nobody talks about the best ending of a movie ever... devils reject... thats the way i wanna die...^^
john Magill Amen. Leon was so underrated. Great bass player.
Leon Wiks the Mad Hatter
Or the piano work it tied it all together!
Ohh man great call.... LEON was a beast on the bass and a Mad Hatter
Older southern rock has such a comforting sound to me. This is the pinnacle of that style. Great version too.
This was Knebworth '76 - I was there ! - 18 years old and it just blew me away !!...became a lifelong fan that day !
Glad you got to experience classic Southern Rock. There are plenty of bands in the United States that would drop your jaw. Spread your wings and look into other bands.
They just DID NOT want to stop playing. As proven by their own concerts where the solo can last dozens of minutes longer.
Allen would have kept going till he passed out from exhaustion if Ronnie had let him.
RIP Billy Powell the greatest piano player of all time.
Billy Powell was a roadie for the band. When he heard Freebird he thought it needed an introduction and recorded one. Another roadie gave it to Gary Rossington and Billy went from roadie to band member that day. I met Billy and he was a very kind, humble man.
5:35 It's too mellow for my taste.....14:48 That was absolutely INSANE...haha
:D
HELLO from US ! I believe this band is the best example of what we call southern rock . they have a blues aspect to there rock , and lyrics that appeal to the average person , you know day to day life.
Free Bird is the perfect song, a master piece
Allen Collins was such an amazing guitar player! First time I heard this solo I was 9 and I thought there was no way this guy was human lol. 15 yrs of playing guitar, and I still can't do this solo justice!
dmike03
Yeah and he recorded the original demo version of this as a teenager... crazy and incredibly underrated.
Saw them on their tour for their first album “Pronounced...” in a small movie theater in Indianapolis. Kansas opened for them. Greatest concert ever.
"What the hell was that?" The worlds first mosh pit. Three guys huddled around joining arms jumping up and down. Hey you have to start somewhere right? 😜🤘🏻🖖🏼🍻
You are exactly correct sir!
straybeat cheers friend 🍻
😂😂😂😂!!!!!
they were opening for the Rolling Stones and were told by the Stones manager that they could not go out on that part of the stage because it was meant for the Stones but Ronnie Van Zant just pushed them out there and as you see the crowd went wild.
Yes that was the Stones' "tongue" that was meant for Mick Jagger to prance around upon
billy sturgeon I heard Micky got mad.
That was Ronnie us Southern don't take CRAP. ?b!
@@zenoblevinsbigz6665 Amen
I remember watching a Lynyrd Skynyrd documentary. And they brought up when they opened up for the Rolling Stones. And they were told not to go out on the catwalk on stage. Because it was only for the Rolling Stones. And when they did they mentioned Mick Jagger got really mad! But Free Birds a kick ass song! I would of done the same!
Free bird is regarded as one of the ten best rock songs of all time. As you can see why
Stones should have been embarrassed to perform after this spectacular playing
I bet they were. Lynyrd Skynyrd is much more talented than the Rolling Stones.
Completly sure
Too true
They were
I heard that Mick said "We can't follow that."
Got his ears and ass blown away !!! lol Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks !!!
Southern Rock at it's finest! When I was younger I didn't like this type of music because for me it was metal or nothing. Now, though, I love it and all sub-genres of Rock n Roll.
What you call a solo...Allen collins a legend.
I think Allen wrote that while he was still in high school.
@@marjoriekloster8949 -- he did
"Too mellow for my taste"
"That's more like it"
"Wow!"
"Absolutely insane!"
Loved watching you get completely blown away!
You should have been there that was my generation and I grew up near them that song is the national anthem of the south
BEST BAND TO EVER TAKE THE STAGE!!!!NEVER WILL THERE BE AGAIN THIS BAND WAZ IT!!! ALMOST 41YEARS AGO OCTOBER 20TH WHEN THEIR PLANE WENT DOWN AND STOPPED THE GREATEST SINGER/SONG WRITER FROM GIVIN US MORE FREEBIRDS AND SWEET HOME ALABAMAS....RIP TO ALL THE FREEBIRDS THATS WENT ON!! 🦅🎸🦅
Hey Rubin, welcome to the Skynyrd Nation! They were a talented crew, masters of their trade, and there's a lot more where this came from. I was 12 when the studio version of Free Bird was released, but got hooked when their live album (One More From the Road) came out in '76. The studio version contains cleaner guitar work, but the live version has more energy. One More From the Road is here on UA-cam, and has a great mix of their best work.
Ruben, I knew if you could stay awake until about the 8 minute mark, they'd make it worth the wait. now, that's some serious guitar playing, eh?
Wow, sometimes live versions ARE the best!! WOWWWWWWW
You feel them playing more than you hear them playing. I pass the song over when i see it because I have heard millions of times but if it starts, I listen to the end and am moved in so many different ways, every time. That song takes you on a journey. It's rock n roll art, a masterpiece.
I was in the USAF stationed at RAF Bentwaters and went to this concert. There were four of us about 50 fifty feet from the stage. We started off with a blanket size piece of land and by the end of the concert you couldn't move. It would take 3 hours just to go and piss. I had a Triumph Vitesse and when the concert was over I begged my friends to stay awake with me while I drove the 90 miles back to base. Nope those assholes were sleeping before I got out of the parking lot. It was the only time in my life I fell asleep driving. I hit the curb and it shook me awake and I had enough adrenaline in me to make it back to base without falling back to sleep.
Awesome story man. Thank you for your service
I'm glad you made it back safely, I hope you learned to never drive while sleepy, it's actually worse than driving while drunk, it kills a lot of people every year, sadly, including a friend's mother who was only in her early forties. Anyway, not to be a downer, great story, you're lucky as hell to have seen the real LS live, this was an epic performance.
nick palmer YOU had an angel with you that night! What a night it must have been too! 😍 Thank you for your sacrifice and service sir. ❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸
Child of the ‘70’s here....when you said “too mellow”, I was thinking, hold onto EVERY ONE OF YOUR HORSES, my friend!
melodymakermark glad he waited
My thoughts were “prepare to have your ears blown off”
I
I know that 1 of their current guitarist players is Ricky medlocke, he used to have his own band called Blackfoot. their best albums are Strikes, Tomcattin, Marauder, and the amazing live album highway song live.
I saw them TWICE , BEST 2 SHOWS I HAVE EVER SEEN PERIOD and I HAVE SEEN OVER 500 SHOWS in my LiFE !! Im 64!!
"I gotta listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd more" LOL. Umm, yeaaa?
Your video has been shared by the Lynyrd Skynyrd official facebook page ;)
I know !!! :D
I think the Rolling Stones had to follow that at knebworth 76, poor sods!
It was 10 C.C. who followed them then the Stones. The Stones came on really late because 10 C.C. faffed about trying to get their sound right.
Artimus Pyle also stood out in the band, in my opinion he is one of the best drummers. greetings from Argentina.
ho yes, it's true
Allen Collins was an absolute god at guitar
On this day that is an absolute fact. :) He really holds court here.
Allen's story is maybe the single most tragic in rock history. He wasn't as technically proficient as Steve Gaines or Ed King, but he had all the heart and soul, and he absolutely owned Free Bird.
@@BohoBunMom -- i never had heard that. he owned a lot of songs with his solos
@@harpoon_bakery162 he was badly injured in the plane crash and suffered severe survivor's guilt, as he'd been sitting between Steve and Cassie Gaines. In 1980 his wife died suddenly of pregnancy complications and he went off the deep end, abusing drugs and alcohol. He had a drunk driving wreck in 1986, which killed his gf and left him paralyzed. Then he died in 1990 of pneumonia, just 37 years old, and left behind 2 teen daughters.
Horribly, horribly tragic series of events suffered by an incredibly nice guy and great musician.
@@BohoBunMom omg, how sad is that?!!!! he was just a genius guitar player..so much talent! what were his plane crash injuries? hard to believe that someone could die of pregnancy complications in 1980 as advanced as medicine was. I wonder what the complication was? What were his and her injuries in the car crash (the girlfriend)was he charged? seems like he just had the worst time of life after that Knebworth concert. Seems like things went completely downhil after OCtober 20, '77 ? is that about the sum of it? If he was between Cassie and Steve on the plane, he might have seen some horrific injuries or at least heard the screams of those in need and was unable to help anyone because you say he had bad injuries on the plane (or at least you thought he had bad injuries on the plane)...i was thinking that the only horrific injuries on the plane were the rossington lady or can't rememebr her name but she was a backup singer and then the Billy Powell facial injuries and Gene had some bad injuries to his head and his eye.
8 minutes of triple guitar solo!!
Love this! Only thing wrong is that there are no shots of Billy playing the piano!!
Your Right.. can play the freaking piano but you got to admit Gary stole the show.. the best guitarist ever heard
Wasnt this the show that The Stones came on after them and stunk it up and everybody wanted Skynyrd back out there?
Yeah stones were crap
Yes
I've heard the stones took forever coming out because Mick was pissed(mad in American, not drunk) he didn't want to go on after because in his words, "how are we supposed to go on after that"
@@sandracox4341 that's correct... no one wanted to follow Skynyrd , 10cc , Stones, no one did. Stones were late because they were partying with Jack Nicholson, concert didnt end until 2AM. Major traffic jam
Was there and they were amazing they stole the show. How time has flown by.
This clip has always been one of my favorite rock n roll clips. The story behind it is great. In 1976 Lynyrd Skynyrd was well known in America but unknown in England. They were booked to be one of a few opening acts for the rolling stones at Knebworth field. There was an estimated 200,000 people there to see the Stones. Skynyrd played before 10cc who played before the Stones. At the beginning of their set most of the people there were pretty tepid and showed little interest. This is a first hand account of a concert goer...
"After breaking out the fish-paste sandwiches - we knew how to live in the 70s - a band we’d never heard of launched, without fanfare, into a song that was evidently called Freebird and, as it gradually metamorphosed from gentle uplifting ballad to all-out guitar firefight, the vast audience’s response went from indifference to adulation.
Thirty-one years on and I’ve never witnessed a crowd react to a support band in the same way that Knebworth did to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Somewhere between the first chorus and the second verse the band went from unknown names to full-fledged stars.
"
They were playing on a stage built for the stones that part of it was a large tongue extending into the audience. All the opening bands were told to "stay off the tongue". Aout halfway through Freebird, right at the guitar solos, Ronnie van Zant starts pushing his guys down the "tongue" stage as they rock the fuck out!
“Skynyrd caused a real buzz backstage,” remembers Promoter Freddy Bannister. “We all wondered how anyone could follow them. An hour later, we all began to wonder if anyone would even try."
Both bands after Skynyrd delayed for hours before taking the stage.
Thank u Mr Anthimos for this history & background info. Means so much to us who loved this band, their music, & what they stood for coming from our era & place in time-1970s
I’m from Jacksonville, Florida….when Mick pissed Ronnie off it was a wrap. A redneck from the west side of town, will show you……..
I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd two months before the plane went down. Yes, they knew, and we knew what they were capable of. But then we had so many incredible guitarist in those days... Page, Stevie Ray, Alex Lifeson, Brian May, Clapton, Jeff Beck, Santana, and the list goes on and on. If this is the first time you've ever really paid attention to one of the guitarist of that era ... Wow, you need to go to school!
Sparkman61 I saw them 2 months before crash too. Anaheim Stadium in CA
Listen to that whole Knebworth conversation from ‘76 on UA-cam. The guitar playing is absolutely god like. Coming from someone who’s listened to literally all the classic rock, Skynyrd’s guitar playing is mind blowing.
Rolling Stones were the Knebworth headliners. The tongue part of the stage was built especially for them. Other acts weren't supposed to tread on the tongue. Ronnie said, ":Fuck that."
@5:30 “it’s a little too mellow for my taste.
Ronnie “Bring all of my mules out”
Mellow, LOLOL.... Southern Rock baby✌️✌️✌️✌️
It damn near left him speechless!
This is absolutely hilarious! This bloke just appears so out of his element.
LOL when he said a bit too mellow for his taste, aaaah my anticipation
I have watched this whole concert many, many times and still get chill bumps every time. Skynyrd is my religion
Ruben, I would suggest you pick up a copy of Skynyrd's "One More From the Road"
Double album set, recorded live at the Fox Theater in Atlanta.
Probably one of the best live albums ever recorded.
Amen to that brother
Next to the Allman Brothers "Live at Fillmore East" from 1971!
Right?!! The best Song and Guitar Solo ever!!! I was six when this happened, my cousin used to crank this song way up. Nothing will ever touch it. True masterpiece. RVZ, the greatest frontman of all time in my humble opinion!!
I followed that band All over the USA and I was there for this one. The longest they ever played FREE BIRD 🐦 was 1hour and 20 minute's. They did it for us fan's. And we loved em for it. We will AWAY'S REMEMBER LYNYRD SKYNYRD BAND. MY BAND! LOVE EM ❤️ TO DEATH!
I love the slow build up
Allen Saunders pretty sure they did that on purpose of. They knew they were going to blow some minds😂😂😂
The true spirit of rock
I got to see them live, and it was a great concert. They played Free Bird for about twenty minutes, and the part were they were driving to the end was about ten minutes. From the moment the solo started till the end the crowd were on their feet . The ending bit the crowd did not stop applauding,
THE IMMORTAL SOLO THAT NEVER ENDS !
best solo ever
I was there on that verry summers day ...a midnight summers dreem... and freebird blew us away.a mellow tune it is not . My frend ...the air show ubove the band. Was good and was the weather and the drugs ......
I was thinking you did. How could anyone not know this classic. So cool seeing them live. I was to young to see them in concert. These people are super lucky. They sound so good. This how you do it. Jamming out. Love it
Never gonna happen again. Thanks my friend. But the Skynyrds music lives on. THX BRO)
I was a teenager then and from the same state as Lynyrd Skynyrd florida life was good in the 1970s
R.I.P. Ronnie, Steve & Cassie and their Tour Manager Dean. This was back when music was played on stage and the studios by someone. None of that prerecorded crap. A fantastic band. I miss that lineup. Great reaction and video. Thanks.
INSANE...that is the way I described the guitar playing too. That was an epic performance.
That guitar solo is like the Energizer Bunny
Nick Colbert
It's just keeps going and getting better...
Lol “too mellow for my taste”. For those in the know, that comment was epic! 😂 Hold on to your headphones...shit’s about to get REAL!!
This kinda surprise reactions are the best, where ya think it's all "mellow" and calm, and then.. :D
the solo is the best part
geez...listen to the flippin bass line. yowza
Susan Schroedel
That's Mr. Leon Wilkeson man he was good...
the whole band was and also they were really underrated because they were to Rock for Country and too Country for Rock...
most people see them as dumb hicks because they were from the south but if you listen to Ronnie Van Zants lyrics, especially on other songs, man he was a great writer.
Leon was no slouch on the bass.
That is a workout
Ikr. Epic.
Still get goosebumps every time I listen to this.
1 of the greatest songs ever created!!!!
Southern rock isn't really my thing but this is an all time classic song with an iconic solo (studio and live). It's a tribute song to Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band who was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1971. Great reaction.
Nah man, they dedicated it to duane but it wasn't written for him, my dad was in the music scene in macon where duane and the brothers lived and the song was known before he died.
How many of us are sure you were second guessing shutting it down before the solo? 1 here..lol.
Best performance ever.
Ronnie said they were extremely nervous - a first for them - at this show because of who was watching from the backstage area: Paul and Linda McCartney.
i wonder if this video has a shot of Paul back there, i did see a woman dancing back there and there was a bloke with her.
This is the absolute best performance of this song...ever! I've noticed from so many reaction videos that people around 40 and under are true snobs. It seems they would never know how to go to a live festival and just let it all hang the hell out!! FUN was what this was!
And that's how you blow the Rolling Stones away before they even come on stage.
Saw them in 1977. I realize this isn't your kind of music (mine either anymore), but thanks for giving it a listen. Type O Negative -Black No. 1
NOW, THIS WAS AMAZING TO ME TO SEE SOMEONE THAT HAS NEVER HEARD OR SEEM THE ORGINAL LYNYRD SKYNYRD PLAY FREEBIRD, I THOUGH HE WAS GOING TO BLOW A LOAD IN HIS PANTS HE LIKED IT SO MUCH.....AND WTF CAN BLAME HIM??/ THESE GUYS WERE THE BEST, AND IF YOY READ MY COMMENT DO SOME RESURECE INTO THESE GUYS ITS ONE OF THE MOST TRAGIC STORY IN ROCK AND ROLL. HISTORY AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED AND THE BEST SOUTH ROCK BAND THERE EVER WAS. I FOR ONE DON'T CONSIDER AND MUCIC MADE OR PLAYED AFTER THE PLANE CRASH TO BE LYNYRD SKYNYRD.AFTER THAT THERE'S JUST A BUNCH OF YAHOOS MAKING MONEY OFF THESE GUYS AFTER THEY DID ALL THE HARD WORK
CAPS LOCK IS NOT MANDATORY MY BRO
5:40 "Too mellow for my taste". Heh. ; )
And that my friend, is why Freebird lives on and on and on!! Great video!!
The coolest thing about this video, other than the mastery of instruments, is how they took a lethargic crowd and freakin' energized them into a dancing mob. That takes talent. Like others have said, the 1977 Oakland concert is even more amazing.
I played drums in a deathcore band. My dad was like “why do you play this crazy music”. I was like it’s just really modern heavy metal. Pops tells me that skynyrd is his favorite band and is better heavy metal, even better than Black Sabbath.
That’s the moment that I realized that he was right. This is heavy metal of the 70’s and that I will probably be the same way when future heavier metal comes out.
Love this song and performance. My favorite bit is all the people laying down on lsd or opium or whatever the hell you old geezers were doing. The part where the person is tiptoeing over the people laying down cracks me up every time.
It's that Southern rock drive beat that is infectious. Look up Southern rock on youtube.
original guitar power trio...Rossington, Collins, Gaines
The day the
SHREDDING
Began ...
the BAR being SET.