Lynyrd Skynyrd
OOOOH, THAT BAND!
After Years of Struggle, Once and Future Boogie Kings Lynryd Skynyrd Recapture the Magic.
With the release of EDGE OF FOREVER, an important American rock 'n' roll band has finally reclaimed its legacy. Lynyrd Skynyrd is long past that awful day in October 1977 when a plane crash deprived the band of its leader, Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and Steve's sister, backup singer Cassie Gaines. But with Ronnie's brother Johnny now handling lead vocals, and guitarists Rickey Medlocke (an original Skynyrd member before he left to found Blackfoot) and Hughie Thomasson (late of the Outlaws) on board to spar with Gary Rossington, the spark that was apparent on the group's 1997 album, TWENTY, has ignited a fire. EDGE OF FOREVER is a fully realized effort that finds the band reclaiming an important part of its legacy in the form of topical songs that tackle the environment, untrustworthy politicians and preachers, violence in society. And lest anyone think these fellows too introspective, be advised that the pile driving guitars on the album opener, "Workin'," bespeak a band bullish on the boogie. In the following interview, Johnny Van Zant puts the new Skynyrd in perspective. -- David McGee
barnesandnoble.com: EDGE OF FOREVER sounds like the album Skynyrd's been pointing to all these years after the plane crash; when you really come together as a band in a way that's not apparent on the other albums. What was the goal going in for these sessions?
Johnny Van Zandt: We wanted it to go back to the rootsy rock edge of Lynyrd Skynyrd. And the single, "Workin'," is a classic Lynyrd Skynyrd song -- it's got the three guitar players just goin' at it at the end, and talks about our fans. Basically our fans are the working-class people of America. Of course, we're going into a new millennium and we wanted to write a song about it. We're not scared about it at all. We'll all live through this. Everybody seems a little paranoid about it. I think the only thing I'm a little paranoid about is maybe one of these little third world countries not knowing what to do with their nuclear devices.
bn.com: Writing songs that are about real issues and real people has been one of Skynyrd's hallmarks. Almost all of the songs on the new album address some situation in the world. In "The Edge of Forever" you invoke millennial hysteria, Biblical prophecy, foreign warlords -- it's all in there, including a reference to your brother's song, "All I Can Do I Write About It," from the GIMME BACK MY BULLETS album. And right there you link this band to the early band, in your choice of themes.
JVZ: Well, you know Ronnie had a lot of foresight. That song "Saturday Night Special," if you look at it now, think about what's going on in our schools and in the world in general. Handguns are only made for killin'. That's the God's truth. You can't shoot no deer with a handgun. With Skynyrd, it's always been -- and I think it's in the Van Zant bloodline, too -- to write about either something going on with us, or with something going on around us. To me, if you can't write a song and make some kind of message out of it, it's not worth it. That's not trying to get through to the audience. I think if artists would write to help the world instead of taking it down we'd all be better off.
bn.com: About the song "Preacher Man" -- you can listen to that and think, They're talking about these phony, money-grubbing predators who take money from people who can't afford to give them money --
JVZ: It's that. It's that --
bn.com: But I wondered if it might be about President Clinton, too.
JVZ: (laughs) It's about Bill Clinton in the second verse. (laughs heartily.) It's definitely about Clinton in the second verse! That song came about when we were off one night, and it was the night that he admitted he'd had -- how'd he put it?
bn.com: "An improper relationship."
JVZ: Improper relationship with Monica Lewinsky! So that song evolved from that. And you're right about the evangelists, and all these people looking to take advantage of people who are looking for something. They prey on peoples' weaknesses.
bn.com: How conscious are you guys of having this incredible longevity and actually standing for something?
JVZ: I never dreamt of being in Lynyrd Skynyrd. I figured I was a fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd before I got in the band. I felt that Skynyrd was over with after the plane crash. Actually thought there would be no more Skynyrd. But in 1987, when I took on the duties -- I guess you would say that -- of singing the songs and doing the tribute tour, I realized the legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd. I thought, Whoa, this is bigger than any of us.
bn.com: Was it frightening for you personally at that point?
JVZ: I wanted to go hide underneath a rock, are you kidding? I had a lot on the line there. I put myself up against a lot of stuff, a lot of people saying things, you know. That's one reason why making new records and carrying on this whole legacy means so much to me. I would never want anybody to say I got in on my brother's coattail. & If I had my druthers about it I would rather be working on the road crew and have him out there singing the songs.
bn.com: Lynyrd Skynyrd, in its first incarnation, was notorious for its internal feuding and fighting. Is this band more settled, given that you're all a little bit older now? Or do you guys still battle with each other and the rest of the world?
JVZ: Well, sure, we've had our moments. It's like a family. Everybody's gonna fight and fuss at times. I always say we're gonna start a new daytime soap opera called "As the Wheels Turn," starring Lynyrd Skynyrd. It is a family, you know, everybody kisses and makes up. It's a great thing. We don't cut each other, like they did in the old days. Me and Gary have fought. But it's calmed down quite a bit, you know what I mean? We take our frustrations out onstage.
bn.com: So you're responsible citizens now?
JVZ: There you go.
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