Freebirds: The Lynyrd Skynyrd Story - Softcover

Brant, Marley

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1626546088 ISBN 13: 9781626546080

Publisher: Echo Point Books & Media, 2016

Synopsis

This new edition of "Freebirds: The Lynyrd Skynyrd Story" contains important new material, including a new chapter updating the professional and personal story of the band since the book's publication in 2002 as well as author commentary on the band's activities, interactions and legacy.

Based on one-on-one interviews with members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, their families, friends, business associates, and fans, "Freebirds: The Lynyrd Skynyrd Story "is the first narrative biography to fully examine the roots, evolution, and success of the most hard-rocking, hard-living band in rock 'n roll history.
From "Freebird" and "Sweet Home Alabama" to "Saturday Night Special" and "What's Your Name," Lynyrd Skynyrd's driving, guitar-fueled, blues-inspired songs celebrate stoic independence and bar-hopping camaraderie. Evoking vivid images of Southern landscapes, raunchy good times, and reckless young romance, Skynyrd's classic catalog emphasizes the importance of home, family, and a spirit of fierce independence that defines American rock.
Tenacious 'till the end, Lynyrd Skynyrd has kept on keepin' on--touring, recording, and producing hit records in the face of devastating tragedy and the ravages of life on the road. With this book, Marley Brant has given us a mesmerizing, behind-the-scenes chronicle of the group's history, struggles, and perseverance, with details about their formation and early days in Jacksonville, Florida; their ambitious climb to the peak of rock stardom; the complexities of interband relationships and conflicts; the truth behind stories of booze-fueled misadventures and broken contracts; the origins of their songs and much, much, more.
"Freebirds" was culled from primary sources including interviews with past and present Skynyrd members Ed King, Johnny Van Zant, Artimus Pyle, Billy Powell, Rickey Medlocke, Leon Wilkeson, and Hughie Thomasson, as well as family members, and fellow musicians like Charlie Daniels, Warren Haynes, and producer Al Kooper. Also included are over 50 photographs from the personal collections of the band, their friends and family.
Marley Brant has enjoyed a long career as a music industry professional, and she immediately responded to Lynyrd Skynyrd's charismatic catalogue of insightful ballads and hard, pure, ensemble rock and roll. Marley is the author of nine books, which have been featured by People Magazine, The New York Times, USA Today, VH1, A&E, The History Channel, TBS, CMT, The Biography Channel and PBS.

About this title

About the Author:

Marley Brant is the author of four previous books, including Southern Rockers. She has been in the entertainment industry for 24 years as a biographical writer, music producer, and artist development executive. She resides near Atlanta, Georgia.

From Booklist:

The core of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the most important southern rock band after the Allman Brothers, perished in an airplane crash in 1977. The survivors persevered and, though long since written off by rock critics, still tour. Heck, they released a new album in 2000. Brant's well-researched yet folksy group biography is essential reading for those who would understand the spirit of rock and roll. Like the Allmans, Skynyrd broke into the rock scene in the early '70s just as its giants of the day descended into the cocaine-flecked doldrums. Like the punk rockers, the southern bands restored the music's energy and revived its fuck-you attitude; it never gets much more fuck-you than early Skynyrd. Famous for partying, brawling, and playing anyway, Skynyrd cut a wide swath. Brant names the names and tells the tales in a conversational, even chummy prose befitting a band that enjoys a community of fans and friends not unlike the Grateful Dead's zany Deadheads. Long overdue, this is the most complete chronicle of Skynyrd and its ambience to date. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About this edition

• Publisher: Echo Point Books & Media
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1626546088
• ISBN 13: 9781626546080
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 270