1. Why would Shorty want to fire his childhood buddy (Gene)?
2. Why are most people so quick into bashing Artimus? Are some parts of his story too phantasmagorical?
3. Is it true that RVZ was planning to quit his role as the band's lead singer, in order to get into the management business? I've read that he disclosed to a very small circle that Paul Rodgers was one of his two choices (I forgot the other name). Was Shorty actually in talks with Rodgers?
@amcmason2006 The stories of shorty I do not know so well...so I can't comment.. Certain people just do not like Artie and theres alot of people who like to point fingers and bash people from behind a keyboard I've never ever seen 1 person say anything to his face.... Ronnie had plans to become manager next album and let Gaines sing more songs, as far as a lead singer I've never heard who was going to replace him.
@TonyBeazley I heard a Rossington interview where he stated that Ronnie had nominated johnny as the singer with him as manager. gary says he and Allan said well if you quit, we will and it was never mentioned again.
@wozjj Wow...I'd like to find that interview out there somewhere... yeah I thought it might have been Johnny at least......but Ronnies voice was giving out which was a major reason he wanted to stop singing..
@TonyBeazley I found it Goldmine magazine May 29 1992:Goldmine "Is it true that Ronnie actually considered finding a replacement vocalist?" Rossington " He was gonna manage us and get either JVZ or Paul Rodgers or Ronnie Justo (Atlanta Rythm Section) to sing but then me and Allen said Hey if you aint gonna do it with us, we quit because this is it, me you and him so Ronnie went 'Okay'. Anyway, that was a thought or notion that lasted a week or two."
I did not know that Shorty incurred a broken leg (besides the quarter-size mark on his temple because of the blunt strike) and that, together with Steve and Dean, was sadly sitting at the bottom of a pile of objects.
Interestingly, I have not heard anyone talking about how Steve died (perhaps, some things are better left untold). There were several accounts of Cassie bleeding to death in the arms of Billy and Artimus... May they all rest in peace!
@amcmason2006 Don't believe all the stuff you see on the civil wars on VH1...thanks to the assholes at VH1 nobody is allowed to do a documentary on Skynyrd again...reason why ours was stopped in its tracks... I've never heard Ronnie called "shorty"... but then I sure as hell would not say that to his face if he were alive...lol ....talk about ass whooping...damn!!!!!
@amcmason2006 Apparently, Steve did not die immediately and was removed from the plane and then comforted by a woman. He died in her arms and apparently his internal chest injuries were caused by the table he was sitting at in the plane in the front lounge are striking him. My source from this was an interview by a relative of the woman nursing him. RIP
How in the hell could anyone just sit there and not go back and try to help get the others out of the plane, or least give whatever first aid they could. Baffling.
JoJo (Deborah Jo Billingsley) was 1 of the Honkettes backup singers. The other 2 were Cassie Gaines, and Leslie Hawkins. If you watch some of the videos you can see how they looked at each other, and she was always by his side even in group pictures. Someone who knew her said she always had a special love for Ronnie up until her death. In the other video of Gene Odom's I thought for sure he said Ronnie been up all night (before the plane crash) banging some girl (not JoJo).
I had stood in front of Steve Gaines for hours watching him play the best guitar I could imagine. He looked down on me a 1000 times having to think This guy has to play guitar the way he is watching me and watch him I did. I watched every move he made on guitar. They were so smooth and so good in Greenville that night. I can still remember he had this black Les Paul with what looked like 100 cracks in the finish. It must have had been to a ton of places with him. They were amazing that night.
@Born2RiffRock Lucky you!! What a tragedy it is so sad. I watch their videos (best I have cuz I never had the privledge to see them) and it looks like Ronnie and JoJo were more than just friends. Believe me I am not judging them I would of too! JoJo seemed like such an angel after accepting Jesus as her savior.
OMG Who was the person that never helped? I am an RN and I would never of left their side. I don't know how that person could live with himself? I know and most of all God knows you did all that you could Gene. I can see the pain in your eyes may God Comfort and Bless you!
@sandyRndisco1 Artimus Pyle didn't help. I know these men and I know what artimus is doing. This is the truth. Whatch what gary has to say abou it. He seen artimus run and hide. People were already coming to help them.
@guitarzan927 Thanks for telling me. I don' t know how he could live with himself. I wished I would of found them I would of done everything possible that I know ( I have my Bachelor's in Nursing) to save them including praying! You really knew them personally? Lucky you! By the way I see those videos it looks like JoJo and Ronnie were more than just friends! (what do you think?)
@sandyRndisco1 LOL, I honestly don't know about the friendship thing. But I was very young back then. Look up the interview with Gary, Billy and Donna I think it is. Gary tells it just like it is.
In this video ,Gene is still mad and upset at himself for not speaking up in Greenville. That's a heavy burden to carry, seeing that Destiny has many forms.
@scottocchipinti I have a friend that told me her son had called home to say he was staying as "someone's" house one evening. She told me that "something" God told her to tell him to come home, but she kept quiet and never said anything to him. That following morning the police went to her house to tell her that her son died that night in that house. She said she regrets not telling him to come home. Oh, if WE could all see the future we would all make different choices.
@TonyBeazley OOPS!! I DIDNT KNOW.WHAT A LOSS TO THE WORLD. RONNIE VAN ZANDT WAS A GREAT SINGER.HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND THANK YOU FOR THE HEADS UP!! ANNA
Genes account is the most accurate/honest I have heard. He is trying to satisfy our unsatiable voyeristic morbid thirst for info. Lets respect him.He talks about some dude not scratched not Pyle who had ribs out. Who cares if he got the location of Ronnies bump wong? Hes doin his best. The NTSB report says the "prob cause was "..crew inattention to fuel supply..fuel exaustion..engine malfunctiony resulted in higher than normal fuel consumption." thanks Gene/Tony from Australia
@TonyBeazley How awful I loved L.S. Our radio station still plays their songs as if they are still with us. God Bless you Gene. I can see the pain in your eyes as you retell this horrific tragedy! May God be with you.
If Ronnie was hit in the bag of the head behind the ear, I'm wondering if in addition to suffocation, he had a basal skull fracture -- what killed Dale Earnhardt.
in another interview and eyewitness account ronnie had a quarter size bruise on his head and that is what caused his death , " blunt force trauma" to the front of his head. This guy is a jerk for blaming "A.P. ". A.P gets a bad rap for shit he had no control of and any one knows if you are in any kinda accident your not in the right state of mind to be doing anything. I would imagine a plane crash would be the ultimate example.
Was there a third pilot? Wiki: "Though the pilots attempted an emergency landing on a small airstrip, the plane crashed in a forest in Gillsburg, Mississippi.[12] Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray were all killed on impact; the other bandmembers suffered serious injuries."
@bluegrassman776 The reason I'm gonna give up this name is because eventually all will be revealed!!....I'm sorry too and for anyone who does'nt want to hear this (Artimus pyle) the Bands Drummer was the individual Mr. Odom spoke of. Why? Only A.P. can answer that!!....Ironicly/The source of the info. shall remain Anonymous (For Now)..........
@bongnbud where the hell did you come up with that shit? Pyle ran to the house for help and everyone says so from the band....most people on the plane was the lighting crew and roadies.....no backup source then it is null.....blame Artimus for everything....geez
@TonyBeazley WHERE DID I GET THAT SHIT?? YOU ASK?? FROM THE FRIK'N VIDEO I'M COMMENTING ON....WHY DONT YOU POSE THAT QUESTION TO MR GENE ODOM?? HE'S THE ONE TELLING THE WHOLE STORY. HE WAS THERE!!
@bongnbud Yeah, that's the biggest load of B.S. I've ever heard. Artimus went to the farm for help, through a 2 to 3 foot deep swamp, infested with snakes and gators, in the pitch darkness, with half of his rib cage sticking out the front of his chest. And, he got shot by the farmer for his trouble! The man deserved a freaking medal.
@BloatedSensations YEAH, WELL...THE WHOLE STORY COMES FROM MR GENE ODOM, YOU KNOW?? THE GUY WHO SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT??!!!! HE POSTED HIMSELF ON YOU-TUBE...NOT I...HE WAS THERE. NOT I...WERE YOU??
@bongnbud where does all your bullshit come from , your bong??? I shot Genes video....nothing said about Aritimus... make up your own stories are ya...??? Show me where Art is responsible for the problems... you people live in damn bubble wrap....time to get out of rehab dude......
@TonyBeazley O.K. FOR ANYONE READING THIS MSG/I WANT TO RETRACT MY COMMENT ON THE SKYNYRD TRAGEDY....AND APOLIGIZE....I BELIEVE I MADE A SERIOUS MISTAKE AND RASH JUDGEMENT. TO MR BEAZLEY, PYLE, ODOM, AND ANYONE ELSE I MAY HAVE OFFENDED OR HARMED I'M SORRY....I LOVE AND MISS ALL OF LYNYRD SKYNYRD.....
my father mr tony was one of the first men to get to you that tragic night, he often talks about the crash. he made me stay in the car because it was so cold that night at the site.
@forcedeputy1502 I'm sure it was very traumatic to be the first one there...I think he made you stay in the car cause of what you might have seen possibly...
@MrHeavysteel yeah true...accidental OD's too ...but INXS Michael was really hard to take..and Layne from AIC was just ....ugh ..it's a shame we can't tell when people get depressed enough to commit suicide ...always leaves ya thinking what if or why didn't I see it.....a sad situation all around....
I'm not sure if they were the same brand or not, but it was beacause of fueling reasons, for both planes. It could have been prevented by the airport, it was overlooked.
This plane, as well as the plane that crashed with DJ AM and Travis Barker in it, took off from the same airport....and crashed for the same reason...
Did u know that they interviewed band members as they were boarding the plane, asked Ronnie if he was worried because of previous problems with engine, he say "well if it's your time to go it's your time"....and he went. (From Freebird:The Movie).
@Kammerz10 I own a copy of "freebird the movie" and i watch it probably 10 or 12 times a year......they do not interview any of the musicians as they board the plane. .All is quiet while "simple man" plays in the background. thru out the movie ronnie says no such thing!!!....
@bongnbud yeah I don't remember seeing that either and how would a video crew know about what was going on since this was kinda within the band and not a known public problem....
@bongnbud It may have been the VH1 Behind the Music Documentary on Skynyrd, sorry. I used to always watch all those on my fav singers/bands. It was almost prophetic, yet calming, the way Ronnie said "Well if it's your time to go it's your time"....thanks for the correction. So glad I saw them May '76, year before the crash, they were AMAZING. They gave it their ALL. All lighters were lit, a Confederate flag lowered on stage, and Free Bird was the last song. Very intense.
Damn, if the creator of this video's cousin had piloted the plane they wouldn't have CRASHED! Altho for SOME reason it was meant to be. Damn glad I saw them May '76. RIP guyz & Cassie, LOVE YOU ALL.
I read Mr. Odoms' book Lynyrd Skynyrd: Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock; last week. If you are a huge Skynyrd fan like myself, you will love this book. Great read Mr. Odom.
I agree with MsFreebird82. This is such a tragedy! It is the pilots fault, this is no fault of yours (Gene Odom). I can see the pain in your eyes and only God truly understands your pain and suffering. God Bless You and remember ITS NOT YOUR FAULT!
Mr. Gene Odom, it's not your fault. The pilots and aircraft maintenance should've NEVER let that plane get off the ground to begin with! I can't even begin to imagine the pain you endure. And all the pain the rest of the survivor's and family member went through. God Bless you all.
I love L.S. one of the greatest bands! How very tragic and sad the way this crash happened. It is too bad they did not listen to JoJo. That was God trying to warn them. I just wish somebody could of prevented this devastation! Ronnie one of the best! We still love you !
wonder who he is talking about the didn't want to help for a hour. does anyone know who he could be talking about i thouht aritumus went to get help and had to go pretty far too. i think?
ronnie flew out and hit a tree billy powell seen it , i think thats right. but it was the pilots fault for sure and also ronnie knew about the plane problems before they took off. they should have never flown that day.
If ronnie had flown out and hit a tree, they wouldnt have been able to identify the body. They were going at incredible speeds and a tree would seriously mutilate any body.
Ronnie died from a simple hit to the head. I dont know where you got the information about Billy Powell, but I don't believe it.
Billy Powell said exactly what bluegrassman776 claims on a 1997 espisode of VH1's 'Behind The Music.' Powell also made the claim that Cassie Gaines died in his arms but Odum's book, and this interview, claim she died on impact so who knows if Powell's memories of the experience were correct. I'm sure it was very traumatic regardless so I wouldn't hold it against him if he got some of it wrong. Terrible thing to have to go through.
Yep, because if I'm not mistaken, Billy said that Cassie was cut from ear to ear saying "I don't wanna die, please don't let me die", something to that effect. He also said that Ronnie "didn't have a scratch on him" and that his head hit a tree & thats what killed him. No matter what actually happened, I'm sure he was telling it the way he remembered it to be. I'm sure over the years he could have developed some false memories about it. Thats common with traumatic accident survivors. It's sad.
good point about the traumatic reaction--some will say no to this, but it can happen. gene does give a little bit of a different account in the bandersohn 9:58video. his memory seems to recall nearly everything vividly. the memory can flash in different ways--making it confusing. too many have been harsh on the survivor's recounting of the crash. if anyone here has been in a plane crash, they can explain it better than anyone. i haven't. it did happen fast.
Gene commented that "none of these guy had ever been in the military". Actually Artimus Pyle, who was on that plane had served in the Marines for a short time and did very well. I actually have a photo of Arti in his uniform from 1968 if your interested...
In retrospect, if somebody could have only gotten Ronnie to the back of the plane he may have survived because everybody in the rear section survived with only non life-threatening injuries.
it didnt sound like ronnie had and outside fatal injuries..... does anyone know what his cause of death was.... he was a great singer and band leader. best country music singer was lost that day...
well, some speculated that a tv that the band carried on the plane with them came loose during the crash and hit ronnie in the head. however, billy powell said that his head hit a tree, which makes sense because trees ripped the top of the plane off. it's a fact that the only injuries ronnie had were a broken leg and a bruise the size of a quarter/silver dollar on his temple. other than that, he looked like he was asleep.
Gene said that they all were thrown forward against the bulkhead of the cockpit...along with things not bolted down....suffocation played a roll in this as well as the hard impact and blunt force trauma ...
Note to the film maker: that is a very selfish comment. I'm sure there's more to the story than before and I highly highly doubt your "cousin" was the scheduled pilot.
note to piraterice you shouldn't talk out of your ass.......yes it is confirmed ....get a life loser.......selfish?? how is that selfish..... I guess you'll say I didn't even make this video and Gene was never on the plane right........some of you people who have access to a computer shouldn't breed....
yep shit happens when you're in a band....which I call "band shit"....we've all been through it... too bad they all can't get back together with Ed Leslie and JoJo and put Greg T. on bass...hell bring Randall back too....then I would go to the shows again....
its on the record with the local fire dept down there that Plye and a few others made their way to a nearby farmhouse to try to get help , wear they were met by people carrying guns who didnt believe them and plye was shot in the shoulder by farmers kid
Yeah I remember. I should have mentioned that he should have survived and been punished. & no I don't think it was punishment enough. You don't make mistakes like that with someone's life.
@sfatpaintballer Actually, there was a pilot and a co-pilot -- both killed. Would've made more sense if there had been only one pilot to blame, but there were two. Steve, Cass & Ronnie, may you rest in peace.
Well, having grown up around aircraft & pilots, in order to punish someone like say a pilot, you first have to prove in a court of law that they acted in a neglegent manner, plus prove intent to cause harm through either willfully actions or inactions.
Since said pilot was never punished, this means no evidence existed that would show he or she was huilty of either charge, hence, labled exactly what it was, an unfortunate accident.
I forgot that the pilot had died also in the plane crash. But it was his fault for not seeing that the plane had been refuled. You just don't make mistakes with other peoples lives like that. He shouldn't have survived and instead be punished for it. We don't need pilots in the air who can't remember to do their tasks! It was the pilots job to make sure the plane had been refuled. PERIOD!
After seeing the engine spitting fire he would have said "No Way is this thing taking off, I'm shutten her down!!!" He has a perfect safety record on his career.....a very highly respected pilot.
no one is sure....did you read the forum on here....there are a few names...but to me it's better left alone....nothing you can do about it....everybody was in shock not knowing what to do.....
I agree, better left alone.. It's a fact that people do uncharacteristic things when suffering from shock etc.. I've heard stories about Artimus etc. ..but that doesn't matter it could've been worse and we should be thankful Gary and the rest were OK!! I still enjoy seeing the current lineup of Skynyrd on DVD ..(I'm in Australia so I'll never see 'em live) :o(
Only true because you have far more car journeys than you do plane journeys. Secondly if a plane crashed you are more likely to die than if you were in a car crash because you are much more likely to be going faster in a plane and be higher in the air with a more dramatic stop.
I was in high school when this happened and is certainly one of the most shocking things i remember hearing and still remember where i was when i hear the tragic news.
Looks like a great film. Is the full length interview available to buy on DVD? Or is this part of a doc film?
Would love to know. PLease post answer or email me through this site, if it is for sale.
I read that when (what the name again) saw some long hair with blood coming towards him, he thought another Charles Manson. But when the words "PLANE CRASH" were stated, the situation changed. I HAVE A PICTURE OF Debris EVERYWHERE (including a portable tv) ON THE GROUND AND SOME GUY HOLDING A PICTURE. I also read where, as they went down, Ronnie just laid on the ground with his head on a pillow. When the plane crashed, everything flew backward...
I was an eye wittness to the crash. You know me. I was one of the hunters that helped out. It crashed on my Fatherinlaws Land. I remember all the money blowing everywhere.sad night
In the crash report, It has a paragraph about Steve Lawler that reads: "After the crash he crawled out of the wreckage and sat leaning against a tree until help arrived. He saw three other passengers outside the wreckage moving around".
@TonyBeazley
Did Artimus actually walk away from the crash? Is his whole story a make-up one?
amcmason2006 4 months ago
@amcmason2006 no it is not......
TonyBeazley 3 months ago
he was hurt bad enough but still went for help....and Gary might have been with him.... everyone was in shock and half unconscious and freaked out...
TonyBeazley 3 months ago
@TonyBeazley
Some quick questions:
1. Why would Shorty want to fire his childhood buddy (Gene)?
2. Why are most people so quick into bashing Artimus? Are some parts of his story too phantasmagorical?
3. Is it true that RVZ was planning to quit his role as the band's lead singer, in order to get into the management business? I've read that he disclosed to a very small circle that Paul Rodgers was one of his two choices (I forgot the other name). Was Shorty actually in talks with Rodgers?
amcmason2006 4 months ago
@amcmason2006 The stories of shorty I do not know so well...so I can't comment.. Certain people just do not like Artie and theres alot of people who like to point fingers and bash people from behind a keyboard I've never ever seen 1 person say anything to his face.... Ronnie had plans to become manager next album and let Gaines sing more songs, as far as a lead singer I've never heard who was going to replace him.
TonyBeazley 3 months ago
Plus Ronnie had already booked some time to go record a country album with Waylon Jennings...now that would have been super cool...
TonyBeazley 3 months ago
@TonyBeazley I heard a Rossington interview where he stated that Ronnie had nominated johnny as the singer with him as manager. gary says he and Allan said well if you quit, we will and it was never mentioned again.
wozjj 3 months ago
@wozjj Wow...I'd like to find that interview out there somewhere... yeah I thought it might have been Johnny at least......but Ronnies voice was giving out which was a major reason he wanted to stop singing..
TonyBeazley 3 months ago
@TonyBeazley I will dredge the memory and see if I can come up with it for you
wozjj 3 months ago
@TonyBeazley I found it Goldmine magazine May 29 1992:Goldmine "Is it true that Ronnie actually considered finding a replacement vocalist?" Rossington " He was gonna manage us and get either JVZ or Paul Rodgers or Ronnie Justo (Atlanta Rythm Section) to sing but then me and Allen said Hey if you aint gonna do it with us, we quit because this is it, me you and him so Ronnie went 'Okay'. Anyway, that was a thought or notion that lasted a week or two."
wozjj 3 months ago
@TonyBeazley
Thank you so much!
I did not know that Shorty incurred a broken leg (besides the quarter-size mark on his temple because of the blunt strike) and that, together with Steve and Dean, was sadly sitting at the bottom of a pile of objects.
Interestingly, I have not heard anyone talking about how Steve died (perhaps, some things are better left untold). There were several accounts of Cassie bleeding to death in the arms of Billy and Artimus... May they all rest in peace!
amcmason2006 4 months ago
@amcmason2006 Don't believe all the stuff you see on the civil wars on VH1...thanks to the assholes at VH1 nobody is allowed to do a documentary on Skynyrd again...reason why ours was stopped in its tracks... I've never heard Ronnie called "shorty"... but then I sure as hell would not say that to his face if he were alive...lol ....talk about ass whooping...damn!!!!!
TonyBeazley 3 months ago
@amcmason2006 Apparently, Steve did not die immediately and was removed from the plane and then comforted by a woman. He died in her arms and apparently his internal chest injuries were caused by the table he was sitting at in the plane in the front lounge are striking him. My source from this was an interview by a relative of the woman nursing him. RIP
wozjj 3 months ago
Besides, because what the pilots did, prepare for crash landing, a majority of us survived the crash.
steveng4619 5 months ago 3
I suppose if I had been stronger, I would have not run off into the woods. Seems lke there are several varying tales of the crash.
steveng4619 5 months ago
is he talking about the drummer pyle..hmm
aaronamccoy 6 months ago
@aaronamccoy No. read the top comment
wozjj 6 months ago
Do you know this guy ? I have another person on the plane that Im doing an interview with and would like to get some info from Mr. Odom.
SkywardProductions 8 months ago
How in the hell could anyone just sit there and not go back and try to help get the others out of the plane, or least give whatever first aid they could. Baffling.
rmachayes 10 months ago
I still can't understand why Billy would just outright lie about what happened to Cassie and Ronnie.
NeilFraudstrong 1 year ago 2
JoJo (Deborah Jo Billingsley) was 1 of the Honkettes backup singers. The other 2 were Cassie Gaines, and Leslie Hawkins. If you watch some of the videos you can see how they looked at each other, and she was always by his side even in group pictures. Someone who knew her said she always had a special love for Ronnie up until her death. In the other video of Gene Odom's I thought for sure he said Ronnie been up all night (before the plane crash) banging some girl (not JoJo).
sandyRndisco1 1 year ago
I had stood in front of Steve Gaines for hours watching him play the best guitar I could imagine. He looked down on me a 1000 times having to think This guy has to play guitar the way he is watching me and watch him I did. I watched every move he made on guitar. They were so smooth and so good in Greenville that night. I can still remember he had this black Les Paul with what looked like 100 cracks in the finish. It must have had been to a ton of places with him. They were amazing that night.
Born2RiffRock 1 year ago 2
@Born2RiffRock Lucky you!! What a tragedy it is so sad. I watch their videos (best I have cuz I never had the privledge to see them) and it looks like Ronnie and JoJo were more than just friends. Believe me I am not judging them I would of too! JoJo seemed like such an angel after accepting Jesus as her savior.
sandyRndisco1 1 year ago
@sandyRndisco1
sandyRndisco1 1 year ago
From Greenville SC. We really do miss them guys. RIP. Very Powerful lyrics, and so very true.
myhero70 1 year ago 2
and gaines
LynyrdSkynyrdFan93 1 year ago
Wow, he was mad because he was put in the same situation as Van Zant and Collins.Why couldnt it have been him instead of Van Zant??????
LynyrdSkynyrdFan93 1 year ago
@LynyrdSkynyrdFan93 what a shitty comment...wishen a man dead
wozjj 1 year ago
@LynyrdSkynyrdFan93 Grow up you prick!
TwistedSister09 11 months ago
Good to hear from you :)
atje43 1 year ago
OMG Who was the person that never helped? I am an RN and I would never of left their side. I don't know how that person could live with himself? I know and most of all God knows you did all that you could Gene. I can see the pain in your eyes may God Comfort and Bless you!
sandyRndisco1 1 year ago
@sandyRndisco1
Maybe he was in shock- that can happen- or even concussed or dazed
atje43 1 year ago 2
@atje43 yeah I would say a very traumatic shock....
TonyBeazley 1 year ago
@sandyRndisco1 Artimus Pyle didn't help. I know these men and I know what artimus is doing. This is the truth. Whatch what gary has to say abou it. He seen artimus run and hide. People were already coming to help them.
guitarzan927 1 year ago
@guitarzan927 Thanks for telling me. I don' t know how he could live with himself. I wished I would of found them I would of done everything possible that I know ( I have my Bachelor's in Nursing) to save them including praying! You really knew them personally? Lucky you! By the way I see those videos it looks like JoJo and Ronnie were more than just friends! (what do you think?)
sandyRndisco1 1 year ago
@sandyRndisco1 LOL, I honestly don't know about the friendship thing. But I was very young back then. Look up the interview with Gary, Billy and Donna I think it is. Gary tells it just like it is.
guitarzan927 1 year ago
@guitarzan927
sandyRndisco1 1 year ago
@sandyRndisco1 It's called Billy, Gary and Judy. I'm sorry. I forgot the ladies name.
guitarzan927 1 year ago
In this video ,Gene is still mad and upset at himself for not speaking up in Greenville. That's a heavy burden to carry, seeing that Destiny has many forms.
scottocchipinti 1 year ago 16
@scottocchipinti I have a friend that told me her son had called home to say he was staying as "someone's" house one evening. She told me that "something" God told her to tell him to come home, but she kept quiet and never said anything to him. That following morning the police went to her house to tell her that her son died that night in that house. She said she regrets not telling him to come home. Oh, if WE could all see the future we would all make different choices.
sandyRndisco1 1 year ago
@robinhoodtn1 good post thanks!! Well what comes around goes around, Gary was getting fired the next year anyway from what Ronnie had in mind...
TonyBeazley 1 year ago
IS THIS A LYNRD SKYNRD SURVIVOR?
ANNA00732 1 year ago 4
@ANNA00732 yes!!! he was the bodyguard for Ronnie...
TonyBeazley 1 year ago
@TonyBeazley OOPS!! I DIDNT KNOW.WHAT A LOSS TO THE WORLD. RONNIE VAN ZANDT WAS A GREAT SINGER.HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND THANK YOU FOR THE HEADS UP!! ANNA
ANNA00732 1 year ago
have you heard survivor by Destiny"s Child?Thats ur theme song
09emokidd 1 year ago
Genes account is the most accurate/honest I have heard. He is trying to satisfy our unsatiable voyeristic morbid thirst for info. Lets respect him.He talks about some dude not scratched not Pyle who had ribs out. Who cares if he got the location of Ronnies bump wong? Hes doin his best. The NTSB report says the "prob cause was "..crew inattention to fuel supply..fuel exaustion..engine malfunctiony resulted in higher than normal fuel consumption." thanks Gene/Tony from Australia
wozjj 1 year ago 26
@wozjj yes I do believe Gene alot... hes a good guy
TonyBeazley 1 year ago 2
@TonyBeazley How awful I loved L.S. Our radio station still plays their songs as if they are still with us. God Bless you Gene. I can see the pain in your eyes as you retell this horrific tragedy! May God be with you.
sandyRndisco1 1 year ago 2
If Ronnie was hit in the bag of the head behind the ear, I'm wondering if in addition to suffocation, he had a basal skull fracture -- what killed Dale Earnhardt.
KarmicOmen 1 year ago 2
@KarmicOmen well alot comes down to suffocation theory also....
TonyBeazley 1 year ago 2
in another interview and eyewitness account ronnie had a quarter size bruise on his head and that is what caused his death , " blunt force trauma" to the front of his head. This guy is a jerk for blaming "A.P. ". A.P gets a bad rap for shit he had no control of and any one knows if you are in any kinda accident your not in the right state of mind to be doing anything. I would imagine a plane crash would be the ultimate example.
davemustainee2 1 year ago 5
@davemustainee2 yep I agree.....traumatic indeed will mess you up...
TonyBeazley 1 year ago
Was there a third pilot? Wiki: "Though the pilots attempted an emergency landing on a small airstrip, the plane crashed in a forest in Gillsburg, Mississippi.[12] Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray were all killed on impact; the other bandmembers suffered serious injuries."
LostInYork 1 year ago
@LostInYork no but my cousin was scheduled to fly them that day but was asked to fly some senators up to canada for a fishing trip...
TonyBeazley 1 year ago
@TonyBeazley if they had stayed as planned... LS roxs!
WarMachine6798 1 year ago
they were headed to baton rouge to play a show my dad had tickets too...but he took the tickets bac for his money i wish he would have kept them
paulwade101 1 year ago 2
@mrceebees14 not al of them died i think out of 25 6 died I think
EXTREM4LIFE 1 year ago 2
What?!?!? All of those people aboard died, because some idiot forgot to put gas in the tank?
Dumb ass.
mrceebees14 1 year ago
it's so sad, i wish they never got on that plane. But , his music will be here forever.
Fletchman54352 1 year ago 2
R.I.P Lynyrd Skynyrd :'(
billyomg123 1 year ago 2
who was the guy he said would not help, could anyone tell who that was
bluegrassman776 1 year ago 2
@bluegrassman776 The reason I'm gonna give up this name is because eventually all will be revealed!!....I'm sorry too and for anyone who does'nt want to hear this (Artimus pyle) the Bands Drummer was the individual Mr. Odom spoke of. Why? Only A.P. can answer that!!....Ironicly/The source of the info. shall remain Anonymous (For Now)..........
bongnbud 1 year ago
@bongnbud where the hell did you come up with that shit? Pyle ran to the house for help and everyone says so from the band....most people on the plane was the lighting crew and roadies.....no backup source then it is null.....blame Artimus for everything....geez
TonyBeazley 1 year ago 5
@TonyBeazley WHERE DID I GET THAT SHIT?? YOU ASK?? FROM THE FRIK'N VIDEO I'M COMMENTING ON....WHY DONT YOU POSE THAT QUESTION TO MR GENE ODOM?? HE'S THE ONE TELLING THE WHOLE STORY. HE WAS THERE!!
WERE YOU??
bongnbud 1 year ago
@bongnbud Yeah, that's the biggest load of B.S. I've ever heard. Artimus went to the farm for help, through a 2 to 3 foot deep swamp, infested with snakes and gators, in the pitch darkness, with half of his rib cage sticking out the front of his chest. And, he got shot by the farmer for his trouble! The man deserved a freaking medal.
BloatedSensations 1 year ago
@BloatedSensations YEAH, WELL...THE WHOLE STORY COMES FROM MR GENE ODOM, YOU KNOW?? THE GUY WHO SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT??!!!! HE POSTED HIMSELF ON YOU-TUBE...NOT I...HE WAS THERE. NOT I...WERE YOU??
SO WHERE DOS ALL YOUR B.S. INFO COME FROM??
bongnbud 1 year ago
@bongnbud where does all your bullshit come from , your bong??? I shot Genes video....nothing said about Aritimus... make up your own stories are ya...??? Show me where Art is responsible for the problems... you people live in damn bubble wrap....time to get out of rehab dude......
TonyBeazley 1 year ago
@TonyBeazley O.K. FOR ANYONE READING THIS MSG/I WANT TO RETRACT MY COMMENT ON THE SKYNYRD TRAGEDY....AND APOLIGIZE....I BELIEVE I MADE A SERIOUS MISTAKE AND RASH JUDGEMENT. TO MR BEAZLEY, PYLE, ODOM, AND ANYONE ELSE I MAY HAVE OFFENDED OR HARMED I'M SORRY....I LOVE AND MISS ALL OF LYNYRD SKYNYRD.....
bongnbud 1 year ago
my father mr tony was one of the first men to get to you that tragic night, he often talks about the crash. he made me stay in the car because it was so cold that night at the site.
forcedeputy1502 1 year ago 3
@forcedeputy1502 I'm sure it was very traumatic to be the first one there...I think he made you stay in the car cause of what you might have seen possibly...
TonyBeazley 1 year ago
I don't know why God takes these musicians
MrHeavysteel 1 year ago 3
@MrHeavysteel yes it is strange...and all those crashes of the country stars...it is very odd...
TonyBeazley 1 year ago
@TonyBeazley SRV, Duane Allman (Motorcycle crash though), there are many more which took their lives themselves
MrHeavysteel 1 year ago
@MrHeavysteel yeah true...accidental OD's too ...but INXS Michael was really hard to take..and Layne from AIC was just ....ugh ..it's a shame we can't tell when people get depressed enough to commit suicide ...always leaves ya thinking what if or why didn't I see it.....a sad situation all around....
TonyBeazley 1 year ago
R.I.P. Ronnie Van Zant. Southern rock will live on whenever we hear free bird!
frozenhell98 1 year ago 2
I'm not sure if they were the same brand or not, but it was beacause of fueling reasons, for both planes. It could have been prevented by the airport, it was overlooked.
dream28b 1 year ago
This plane, as well as the plane that crashed with DJ AM and Travis Barker in it, took off from the same airport....and crashed for the same reason...
dream28b 2 years ago
damn now thats freaky.....did they happen to be the same brand plane?
TonyBeazley 2 years ago
Did u know that they interviewed band members as they were boarding the plane, asked Ronnie if he was worried because of previous problems with engine, he say "well if it's your time to go it's your time"....and he went. (From Freebird:The Movie).
Kammerz10 2 years ago 5
@Kammerz10 I own a copy of "freebird the movie" and i watch it probably 10 or 12 times a year......they do not interview any of the musicians as they board the plane. .All is quiet while "simple man" plays in the background. thru out the movie ronnie says no such thing!!!....
bongnbud 1 year ago
@bongnbud yeah I don't remember seeing that either and how would a video crew know about what was going on since this was kinda within the band and not a known public problem....
TonyBeazley 1 year ago
@bongnbud It may have been the VH1 Behind the Music Documentary on Skynyrd, sorry. I used to always watch all those on my fav singers/bands. It was almost prophetic, yet calming, the way Ronnie said "Well if it's your time to go it's your time"....thanks for the correction. So glad I saw them May '76, year before the crash, they were AMAZING. They gave it their ALL. All lighters were lit, a Confederate flag lowered on stage, and Free Bird was the last song. Very intense.
Kammerz10 1 year ago
Damn, if the creator of this video's cousin had piloted the plane they wouldn't have CRASHED! Altho for SOME reason it was meant to be. Damn glad I saw them May '76. RIP guyz & Cassie, LOVE YOU ALL.
Kammerz10 2 years ago 5
I read Mr. Odoms' book Lynyrd Skynyrd: Remembering the Free Birds of Southern Rock; last week. If you are a huge Skynyrd fan like myself, you will love this book. Great read Mr. Odom.
I absolutely loved your book.
MsFreebird82 2 years ago 8
@MsFreebird82 Gene is a very good person...really liked beaing around him for a couple of years...
TonyBeazley 1 year ago
I heard Aerosmith turned down a flight with this plane.
UliJones 2 years ago 2
UliJones...Yes, that is true.
MsFreebird82 2 years ago 5
This comment has received too many negative votes show
sometimes i think maybe the pilots did it on purpose because they didnt like "rednecks" tht pisses me off R.I.P all tht died
MrSouthernrock27 2 years ago
Dont Blame yourself Gene, It Wasnt your fault you were flyin with arrogant dumbass pilots.
Had Nothing to do with you,
sunphuk 2 years ago 2
R.I.P all that died
mobil999999 2 years ago 8
yes....
TonyBeazley 2 years ago
I agree with MsFreebird82. This is such a tragedy! It is the pilots fault, this is no fault of yours (Gene Odom). I can see the pain in your eyes and only God truly understands your pain and suffering. God Bless You and remember ITS NOT YOUR FAULT!
sandyRNdisco 2 years ago 6
Mr. Gene Odom, it's not your fault. The pilots and aircraft maintenance should've NEVER let that plane get off the ground to begin with! I can't even begin to imagine the pain you endure. And all the pain the rest of the survivor's and family member went through. God Bless you all.
MsFreebird82 2 years ago 6
I love L.S. one of the greatest bands! How very tragic and sad the way this crash happened. It is too bad they did not listen to JoJo. That was God trying to warn them. I just wish somebody could of prevented this devastation! Ronnie one of the best! We still love you !
sandyRNdisco 2 years ago 4
And life goes on
devildriver100164 2 years ago 6
wonder who he is talking about the didn't want to help for a hour. does anyone know who he could be talking about i thouht aritumus went to get help and had to go pretty far too. i think?
bluegrassman776 2 years ago 7
ronnie flew out and hit a tree billy powell seen it , i think thats right. but it was the pilots fault for sure and also ronnie knew about the plane problems before they took off. they should have never flown that day.
bluegrassman776 2 years ago
If ronnie had flown out and hit a tree, they wouldnt have been able to identify the body. They were going at incredible speeds and a tree would seriously mutilate any body.
Ronnie died from a simple hit to the head. I dont know where you got the information about Billy Powell, but I don't believe it.
Maxnned 2 years ago 6
Billy Powell said exactly what bluegrassman776 claims on a 1997 espisode of VH1's 'Behind The Music.' Powell also made the claim that Cassie Gaines died in his arms but Odum's book, and this interview, claim she died on impact so who knows if Powell's memories of the experience were correct. I'm sure it was very traumatic regardless so I wouldn't hold it against him if he got some of it wrong. Terrible thing to have to go through.
mrsgstd 2 years ago 6
Yep, because if I'm not mistaken, Billy said that Cassie was cut from ear to ear saying "I don't wanna die, please don't let me die", something to that effect. He also said that Ronnie "didn't have a scratch on him" and that his head hit a tree & thats what killed him. No matter what actually happened, I'm sure he was telling it the way he remembered it to be. I'm sure over the years he could have developed some false memories about it. Thats common with traumatic accident survivors. It's sad.
drtyfknmouth 2 years ago 7
good point about the traumatic reaction--some will say no to this, but it can happen. gene does give a little bit of a different account in the bandersohn 9:58video. his memory seems to recall nearly everything vividly. the memory can flash in different ways--making it confusing. too many have been harsh on the survivor's recounting of the crash. if anyone here has been in a plane crash, they can explain it better than anyone. i haven't. it did happen fast.
bettset 2 years ago 6
Billy came back out and said he made a mistake and that didn't happen....but yes traumatic things can make you see things and remember wrong...
TonyBeazley 2 years ago
Gene commented that "none of these guy had ever been in the military". Actually Artimus Pyle, who was on that plane had served in the Marines for a short time and did very well. I actually have a photo of Arti in his uniform from 1968 if your interested...
RockinNiceGuy 2 years ago 10
In retrospect, if somebody could have only gotten Ronnie to the back of the plane he may have survived because everybody in the rear section survived with only non life-threatening injuries.
popeyearmlegs 2 years ago 8
it didnt sound like ronnie had and outside fatal injuries..... does anyone know what his cause of death was.... he was a great singer and band leader. best country music singer was lost that day...
nascarulz01 2 years ago 5
well, some speculated that a tv that the band carried on the plane with them came loose during the crash and hit ronnie in the head. however, billy powell said that his head hit a tree, which makes sense because trees ripped the top of the plane off. it's a fact that the only injuries ronnie had were a broken leg and a bruise the size of a quarter/silver dollar on his temple. other than that, he looked like he was asleep.
rileyronco 2 years ago 5
Gene said that they all were thrown forward against the bulkhead of the cockpit...along with things not bolted down....suffocation played a roll in this as well as the hard impact and blunt force trauma ...
TonyBeazley 2 years ago
OUR LOSS FOR SURE....
thedriver3149 2 years ago 4
blunt force trauma and also smothered to death ..he had a little nick or bump behind his ear... there is always speculation..
TonyBeazley 2 years ago
pilots fault 4 sure
doublejimmyj 2 years ago
Note to the film maker: that is a very selfish comment. I'm sure there's more to the story than before and I highly highly doubt your "cousin" was the scheduled pilot.
piraterice 2 years ago
note to piraterice you shouldn't talk out of your ass.......yes it is confirmed ....get a life loser.......selfish?? how is that selfish..... I guess you'll say I didn't even make this video and Gene was never on the plane right........some of you people who have access to a computer shouldn't breed....
TonyBeazley 2 years ago
who was he talking about when he said one person hid and didnt help
njrun 3 years ago
Artemis Pyle, the drummer. Gary Rossington HATES him now and that's why he is not a member of the band now.
Phillylama71 3 years ago
i was not thier. but i think you may have this backwards........ just saying as i was not thier and yeah Artie did run a long ways to get help...
Southernborn761 2 years ago 2
yep shit happens when you're in a band....which I call "band shit"....we've all been through it... too bad they all can't get back together with Ed Leslie and JoJo and put Greg T. on bass...hell bring Randall back too....then I would go to the shows again....
TonyBeazley 2 years ago
its on the record with the local fire dept down there that Plye and a few others made their way to a nearby farmhouse to try to get help , wear they were met by people carrying guns who didnt believe them and plye was shot in the shoulder by farmers kid
TheygotSkylar 3 years ago
Rest in Peace, Billy Powell.
clayp72 3 years ago 7
Why wasn't the pilot punnished for this? I remember that God awful dayback in 1977.I Love Ronnie
housebitchrules 3 years ago
Really, you remember that day? I guess not too well though...the pilot died in the crash. I think that was punishment enough, don't you?
miker415 3 years ago 13
Yeah I remember. I should have mentioned that he should have survived and been punished. & no I don't think it was punishment enough. You don't make mistakes like that with someone's life.
housebitchrules 3 years ago
true..
sckryde 3 years ago
not really 3 inocent ppl die and one pilot dies his ass shuda been in jail for a shyte load a years
sfatpaintballer 3 years ago
@sfatpaintballer Actually, there was a pilot and a co-pilot -- both killed. Would've made more sense if there had been only one pilot to blame, but there were two. Steve, Cass & Ronnie, may you rest in peace.
zimmiesgirl 1 year ago
hahaha nice one..
sckryde 3 years ago
Well, having grown up around aircraft & pilots, in order to punish someone like say a pilot, you first have to prove in a court of law that they acted in a neglegent manner, plus prove intent to cause harm through either willfully actions or inactions.
Since said pilot was never punished, this means no evidence existed that would show he or she was huilty of either charge, hence, labled exactly what it was, an unfortunate accident.
They take place all the time.
sphinxrising58 3 years ago 5
I forgot that the pilot had died also in the plane crash. But it was his fault for not seeing that the plane had been refuled. You just don't make mistakes with other peoples lives like that. He shouldn't have survived and instead be punished for it. We don't need pilots in the air who can't remember to do their tasks! It was the pilots job to make sure the plane had been refuled. PERIOD!
housebitchrules 3 years ago
3:27 That part brought me to tears man. This man will never be the same from this horrible accident.
1divaaa 3 years ago 6
nobody in the band is.....
TonyBeazley 2 years ago
gene odom said that none of them were in the military well artimus pyle was a decorated marine
thekidwhorocks100 3 years ago 6
you are correct but he probably meant all the others....but......
TonyBeazley 3 years ago
if he was the pilot, we would still have Ronnie Van Zant and the others still alive... maybe
ArthurZ101 3 years ago 7
yes they would be......
TonyBeazley 3 years ago
i wish your cousin was the pilot
sam8404 3 years ago 9
what do you mean by "if he would have gotten on that plane it would have never left the ground"?
Rfprimm 3 years ago 5
After seeing the engine spitting fire he would have said "No Way is this thing taking off, I'm shutten her down!!!" He has a perfect safety record on his career.....a very highly respected pilot.
TonyBeazley 3 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
this guy is a DICKWAD!
grumpydave69 3 years ago
my same conclusion about you dumbshit......
TonyBeazley 3 years ago
eat shit and die grump.
junipree 3 years ago
who was the guy that hid in the bushes??
Rob50strat 3 years ago 5
no one is sure....did you read the forum on here....there are a few names...but to me it's better left alone....nothing you can do about it....everybody was in shock not knowing what to do.....
TonyBeazley 3 years ago
I agree, better left alone.. It's a fact that people do uncharacteristic things when suffering from shock etc.. I've heard stories about Artimus etc. ..but that doesn't matter it could've been worse and we should be thankful Gary and the rest were OK!! I still enjoy seeing the current lineup of Skynyrd on DVD ..(I'm in Australia so I'll never see 'em live) :o(
Rob50strat 3 years ago 11
Sad...you never forget about an experience like that. This is exactly why I don't like to fly anymore. Some pilots are idiots!
BHAM1111 3 years ago 9
actullay your way more likely to die in a car crash then a plane crash
greendayrokr 3 years ago 10
Only true because you have far more car journeys than you do plane journeys. Secondly if a plane crashed you are more likely to die than if you were in a car crash because you are much more likely to be going faster in a plane and be higher in the air with a more dramatic stop.
boydie40 3 years ago 5
yeah like a doctor told me once...its not the wreck that kills ya ....its that "sudden stop"...no joke...
TonyBeazley 3 years ago
yer i guessed that would be the case. Your heart wouldn't be able to deal with the sudden stop
boydie40 3 years ago 6
I was in high school when this happened and is certainly one of the most shocking things i remember hearing and still remember where i was when i hear the tragic news.
Looks like a great film. Is the full length interview available to buy on DVD? Or is this part of a doc film?
Would love to know. PLease post answer or email me through this site, if it is for sale.
Thanks for posting this for us all to see.
cigartigar2 3 years ago 4
no this one isn't for sale.....theres not enough people wanting to buy it to go through the editing process and all animation.....
TonyBeazley 3 years ago
R.I.P this is sooo tragic :'''''(
villezlovrgrl666 3 years ago 6
I read that when (what the name again) saw some long hair with blood coming towards him, he thought another Charles Manson. But when the words "PLANE CRASH" were stated, the situation changed. I HAVE A PICTURE OF Debris EVERYWHERE (including a portable tv) ON THE GROUND AND SOME GUY HOLDING A PICTURE. I also read where, as they went down, Ronnie just laid on the ground with his head on a pillow. When the plane crashed, everything flew backward...
TEMPmichaelhansen 3 years ago 4
I was an eye wittness to the crash. You know me. I was one of the hunters that helped out. It crashed on my Fatherinlaws Land. I remember all the money blowing everywhere.sad night
EZRDR5 3 years ago 18
RIP
Byahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh 3 years ago 5
In the crash report, It has a paragraph about Steve Lawler that reads: "After the crash he crawled out of the wreckage and sat leaning against a tree until help arrived. He saw three other passengers outside the wreckage moving around".
clayp72 3 years ago 4
I have the full report Gene gave me in 1999....what page is that?
TonyBeazley 3 years ago
It's from the "Human Factors Group Chairman's Factual Report, page 11. Steve Lawler, seat 22.
clayp72 3 years ago 4
Steve Lawler was reported as being in the hospital with chest contusions and facial lacerations.
bocephus18 3 years ago 4
So the mystery continues. Any guess on who it is?
clayp72 3 years ago 4
Maybe soon....
TonyBeazley 3 years ago
I just downloaded the pdf...thanks Clay....
TonyBeazley 3 years ago
Mine has several handwritten passenger statements. Let me know what your theory is when you've looked it all over.
clayp72 3 years ago 5
Now that I think about it, he could have "sat (while injured) leaning against a tree until help arrived (for him among the others).
clayp72 2 years ago
I heard or read that a farmer nearly killed Artimus Pyle and another guy when they went looking for help.
capetown99 3 years ago 4
well he shot over Artimus' head.....not sure who the other guy is.....anybody know????
TonyBeazley 3 years ago
A guy called Marc Frank, a road crew member.
Another guy Kenneth Peden, part of the Skynyrd crew was their with Artimus and Marc.
They tried to flag down a farmers pick up truck. I never knew someone hid and did nothing until I saw this clip.
capetown99 3 years ago 4
wow.....thanks for that info, surely is appreciated by all I'm sure!!!
TonyBeazley 3 years ago