Gene odom lynyrd skynyrd

Gene odom was ronnie van zants lifelong friend, frequent member of lynyrd skynyrds entourage, and was also aboard the plane on the fateful flight that killed van zant and two other band members. Gene odom, childhood and best friend of ronnie van zant of the classic southern rock band lynyrd skynyrd, and who served as his bodyguard and director of security, who grew up with others in the band, and who survived the horrific plane crash that claimed the lives of ronnie, steve, cassie, dean, and the two pilots, has years of memories of childhood, teen years, touring with the band, and. Lynyrd skynyrd ill never forget you by gene odom 1983. The rescue attempt that had heros and looters alike. These survivors give their firsthand accounts of the wild times of the band, the 72 hours leading to the crash, the harrowing crash itself and its aftermath. Using all the discretion he could muster, odom made it his business to arrive first at each venue, removing one of the two bottles of whisky and another of the three bottles of champagne supplied on the. Apr 30, 2009 watch and listen to the story lynyrd skynyrd planecrashsurvivor about the plane crash of october 1977 as told by gene odom, one of. From his behindthescenes perspective as ronnie van zants lifelong friend and frequent member of the bands. The group also became introduced to many that would later play important roles in the success of lynyrd skynyrd and beyond friends like kevin elson and gene odom, players like randall hall, billy powell, barry harwood. Gene odom details his childhood memories shared with best friend and lynyrd skynyrd vocalist ronnie van zant in his book titled, lynyrd skynyrd.

Gene odom tells stories at ronnie van zant grave of lynyrd skynyrd. Although this book has been out of print for some time. Gene odom crash survivor from lynyrd skynyrd interview by rod kilbourn of beat magazine. Gene odom lynyrd skynyrd remembering the free birds of southern rock 2002 download movies games tvshows ufc wwe xbox360 ps3. Gene odoms lynyrd skynyrd book lacks literary grace and gory. Ill never forget you, selfpublished jacksonville, fl, 1983. Gene odom is special kind, generous, polite and humble, almost to a fault. The last 72 hours of lynyrd skynyrd chronicles the story of three survivors. They certainly burned bright for a few years, with a hellfire boogie played at a quickfire pace. Gaineses remembered lynyrd skynyrd plane crash survivor.

Bob burns original lynyrd skynyrd drummer nov 24th 1950april 3rd 2015. For music history buffs, the name lynyrd skynyrd instantly conjures up the day in 1977 when three band members, including founder ronnie van zant, died in a plane crash in the woods of mississippi. I wonder why no one has mentioned lynyrd skynyrd ill never forget you by gene odom. I would like to think that only one grave robber was involved, but so many items were missing that i have to believe otherwise. Last of the street survivors tour, a concert film recorded at tiaa bank field in september 2018, is. One for the fans as odom, security manager for lynyrd skynyrd and longtime buddy of lead man ronnie van zant, chronicles the boozy ascent and abrupt crash of the hugely popular band. Remembering the free birds of southern rock by gene odom broadway 2003780. Remembering the free birds of southern rock, gene odom, a bodyguard for van zant who was on board the plane and survived the crash, comes to the conclusion that pilot gray was potentially impaired and had been observed using cocaine the previous evening.

It wasnt the first, or the last, time that a set of multitalented musicians died aboard a plane. After drunk driving led to the death of a friend and collinss paralysis from the waist down, the free bird creator eventually passed away from respiratory failure due to. The former i know is long out of print, but can still be found on ebay. They took my watch, my wallet, my ring, and my money as i lay bleeding on the ground. The lynyrd skynyrd plane crash by survivor gene odom youtube. Allen collins, another guitar player for the group, had cracked two vertebrae, and the cut to his right arm was so severe, that it almost required amputation. Buy a cheap copy of lynyrd skynyrd, ronnie van zant, and me. Gene odom lynyrd skynyrd remembering the free birds of southern rock. This book is first book published about lynyrd skynyrd. The band spent five years touring small venues under a variety. A childhood friend of lynyrd skynyrd lead vocalist ronnie van zant, gene odom served as a security manager for the popular 1970s rock group. Gene odom, an american writer and former bodyguard of ronnie vanzant of lynyrd skynyrd will be in the quadcities on thursday june 16th to work with skynny skynyrd a lynyrd skynyrd tribute show that will be playing at stugis on the river mississippi river motor cycle rally at the mississippi valley fair grounds on thursday night at 8. Gene odom lynyrd skynyrd remembering the free birds of southern rock sign in to follow this.

Remembering the free birds of southern rock by frank dorman and gene odom 2003, paperback at the best online prices at ebay. Gene odom provides a fascinating behindthescenes glimpse of what it was like to be friends with one of the biggest rock stars of the 1970s and how a friendship between two childhood buddies stood the test of time. Journalist frank dorman lives in richmond, virginia. During a time when toughskin blue jeans, buttondown shirts, and flattop haircuts were all the rage, gene odom and ronnie van zant became best friends. A childhood friend of lynyrd skynyrd lead vocalist ronnie van zant, gene odom served as a security manager for the popular 1970s rock. After admonishing rossington in his hospital bed, van zant took his security guard gene odom aside and told him things would have to change. Oct 11, 2019 fiftythousand or so jacksonville rock fans are about to become movie stars. Gene odom talks about his friendship with ronnie vanzant. Greatness is not boastful, arrogant or pretentious. Gene odom tells stories while at ronnies grave during the weekend of the skynyrd show at jacksonville. Gene odom crash survivor from lynyrd skynyrd interview by rod. Remembering the free birds of southern rock by gene odom.

Remembering the free birds of southern rock is an intimate chronicle of the band from its earliest days through the plane crash and its aftermath, to its rebirth and current status as an enduring cult favorite. For the fans who have purchased a cumulative 35 million copies of lynyrd skynyrds albums and continue to pack concerts today, lynyrd skynyrd is a celebration of an immortal american band. Gene odom was ronnie van zants lifelong friend, frequent member of lynyrd skynyrd s entourage, and was also aboard the plane on the fateful flight that killed van zant and two other band members. The van zant house the house where lynyrd skynyrd and. The aftermath and the battle with survivors remorse. Stageit a front row seat to a backstage experience. Skynyrds back yard with childhood friend gene odom. Up all night sleep during the day i loved him he was great, said gene odom a longtime friend and one time security guard for the burns. Gary rossington, one of the bands guitar players, had suffered two broken arms, a broken leg, a punctured stomach and liver. He was permanently disabled in a 1977 plane crash that ultimately killed van zant and several other band members. Gene odom lynyrd skynyrd plane crash survivor youtube. Lynyrd skynyrd, ronnie van zant, and me gene odom provides a fascinating behindthescenes glimpse of what it was like to be friends with one of the biggest rock stars of the 1970s and how a friendship between two childhood buddies stood the test of time.

Worked in the 1970s as a security manager for the southern rock group lynyrd skynyrd. Ronnie van zant and the band were blessed to have gene amongst them. Read our account of the 1977 plane crash that claimed the life of lynyrd skynyrds ronnie van zant, including new recollections from a survivor. Lynyrd skynyrd audiobook by gene odom, frank dorman. The former bodyguard of the band lynyrd skynyrd survived the plane crash in 1977 that claimed the lives of ronnie van zant, steve gaines, cassie gaines, dean kilpatrick, walter. The group was originally named my backyard and comprised ronnie van zant lead vocalist, gary rossington guitar, allen collins guitar, larry junstrom bass guitar and bob burns drums. The first complete, unvarnished history of southern rocks legendary and most popular band, from its members hardscrabble boyhoods in jacksonville, florida and their rise to worldwide fame to the tragic plane crash that killed the founder and the bands rise again. Van zants best friend and personal bodyguard, gene odom, is a survivor of the 1977 plane crash.

Gene odom lynyrd skynyrd remembering the free birds of. The author, gene odom, claims to have been best friends with ronnie van zant. A special video clip from the documentary, ill never forget you. Last of the street survivors tour, a concert film recorded at. Fiftythousand or so jacksonville rock fans are about to become movie stars. Apr 27, 2011 lynyrd skynyrd, ronnie van zant, and me gene odom provides a fascinating behindthescenes glimpse of what it was like to be friends with one of the biggest rock stars of the 1970s and how a friendship between two childhood buddies stood the test of time. Gene odom grew up with the original members of the lynyrd skynyrd band, later serving as their security manager. Dec 31, 2019 for music history buffs, the name lynyrd skynyrd instantly conjures up the day in 1977 when three band members, including founder ronnie van zant, died in a plane crash in the woods of mississippi. This historic home is the childhood home of the van zant family, including lynyrd skynyrd founder ronnie van zant, and current skynyrd lead singer johnny van zant, as well as. Odoms examination of the selfdestructive route that guitarist allen collins took after the plane crash makes the lynyrd skynyrd story a pretty depressing one.

Oct 20, 2017 read our account of the 1977 plane crash that claimed the life of lynyrd skynyrds ronnie van zant, including new recollections from a survivor. Be the first to ask a question about lynyrd skynyrd. The epic rise to fame of the original version of lynyrd skynyrd was tragically cut short by a plane crash in 1977 that took ronnies. Please use this board to post topics about, or related to, the music of lynyrd skynyrd. The first complete, unvarnished history of southern rocks legendary and most popular band, from its members hardscrabble boyhoods in jacksonville, florida and their rise to worldwide fame to the tragic plane crash that killed the founder and the bands rise again from the ashes. Watch and listen to the story about the plane crash of october 1977 as told by gene odom, one of. He wrote that book about twenty years before remembering the freebirds of southern rock. Gene odoms lynyrd skynyrd book lacks literary grace and. Lynyrd skynyrd by gene odom overdrive rakuten overdrive. Gene odom entertainment january 5, 2017 for those you who embrace an emotional attachment to the great music from the 1970s and more specifically the music from hall of fame, legendary southern rock recording artists, lynyrd skynyrd, heres your chance to help a genuine simple man. Now four decades, gene odom, one of the survivors, is releasing a documentary titled ill never forget you, the last 72 hours of lynyrd skynyrd. All first hand account by gene odom who was ronnie van zants best friend growing up in jacksonville and sometime security for the band.