Recent Posts. Donnie is an avid fan of Jackson Jaguars a football franchise from his hometown of Jacksonville. Honoree Donnie Van Zant of 38 special and family walk the Red Carpet before the 34th Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Concert and Show at. It claimed a victim in 38 Special's Donnie Van Zant, who was forced to quit music a few years ago because of the damage it was doing to his ears. They kept him in there for about three hours, too. classic rock We turn it around and pluck with the rounded side youd normally grip, so its really clicking across the strings and the mics really picked that up. Donnie was the lead vocalist/ guitarist for the band for 39 years. Jeff had this riff and I had the title and a melody and some things that we had been noodling around with, in my den at home. Violence was just part of the culture there. 2. The . And his youngest son, Johnny, took Ronnie's job when Lynyrd Skynyrd regrouped. One time after a particularly difficult gig, Jerry told those guys it was like playing with a popcorn machine. Nevertheless, he kept his ties to his chosen profession when he became an avid amateur radio operator and took the handle K4EB, short for Known 4 Electric Bass., When Junstrom died this past Sunday, October 6, his passing was announced on .38 Specials Facebook page. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. In accordance with his doctor's strict orders and due to health issues related to inner-ear nerve damage, he will not be able to join 38 Special onstage in the foreseeable future. They were on our record label A&M and when youre on a label your label mates you get introduced and everything. Larry Junstrom and Gary Rossington are the only two original band members left alive. Who is the only original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd? You just have to be willing to pack it all in a van and live on top of each other. Two years later, the band signed with A&M Records and released its eponymous debut. Your email address will not be published. Johnny Van Zant became Lynyrd Skynyrd's lead vocalist when the band reunited in the late 80s. When Junstrom (Born June 22, 1949) made the fateful decision to leave Lynyrd Skynyrd, the band he joined early on and pass on to his eventual successor Leon Wilkeson, the choice likely saved his life. Is 38 S&W Special the same as 38 special? The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Former Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special member Larry Junstrom dead at age 70. He looks just like him, and he sounds just like him. (Only he does wear boots onstage, unlike his brother, who went barefoot.). How many Van Zant brothers are they? Nevertheless, Junstrom played a crucial role in Skynyrds early evolution. Van Zant was buried in Orange Park, Florida, in 1977, but . [citation needed], In October 1977 Ronnie Van Zant was killed when Skynyrd's plane crashed. 38 Special. uriah heep, review The duo recorded their first song in 1980s for Van Zant. Since 2019, the bands lineup has consisted of Don Barnes, keyboardist/vocalist Bobby Capps, drummer Gary Moffatt, Dunaway, and guitarist Jerry Riggs. It claimed a victim in 38 Special's Donnie Van Zant, who was forced to quit music a few years ago because of the damage it was doing to his ears. Even some of the uniformed cops said there was no need for it. But pretty much all songs played on mainstream radio receive this aural facelift. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved He plays and sings with Grand Funk Railroad now and we were doing a show in Nebraska somewhere, he came up on the bus and I told him, I want to thank you for carrying the name forward. And he did a great job. You got to have great songs, great hooks, something that people can really attach themselves to and relate to. Mel Taylor, a drummer for the surf music group the Ventures, one of rocks most popular and prolific instrumental acts, died on Sunday in a hospital in Tarzana, Calif. If theres something with more stability to fall back on, go for that, because there are no guarantees (in the music business). However, they disbanded for a while. Other songs from the album are Nobody Gonna Tell Me What t Do, I Know My History, Sweet Mama and Things I Miss the Most. The chorus chords are the same chords as the verse chords. The two flawlessly combined styles to become one massive drumming machine. It was said that Van Zant was a virtual catalog of automotive parts, he had a near photographic memory for them. They soldiered on, even after the music business changed, and the hits stopped coming, after even after Donnie Van Zant's retirement from road work, due to progressive hearing loss, in 2013. What is Consumer Forum and its importance? Donald Newton "Donnie" Van Zant is an American rock vocalist/guitarist. Van Zant cannot travel for the time being, and he's not expected back with the band until next Wednesday (September 20th) at the earliest. Some of their many hit songs are Hold on Loosely, Rockin into the Night, Caught up in You, Fantasy Girl, If Id Been the One, Back Where You Belong, Chain Lightnin, Second Chance etc. And it was perfect couplet. In accordance with his doctor's strict orders and due to health issues related to inner-ear nerve damage, he will not be able to join 38 Special onstage in the foreseeable future. .38 Special, which had formed three years before, drew its name from an early incident in which the original members of the band were rehearsing in a warehouse and drawing the ire of some nearby residents who subsequently called the police to complain about the noise. 2. John Roy Van Zant (born February 27, 1960) is an American singer/composer and the current lead vocalist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Donnie is a part of 38 Special since 1974. . He is the younger brother of the late Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder and former lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, and of the 38 Special founder Donnie Van Zant. [3], Donnie Van Zant, the younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd founder Ronnie Van Zant, began playing music himself during his teen years, forming the band Standard Production in 1968, which paved the way for Sweet Rooster, Donnie's first professional outfit that he formed in 1969 with guitarist Jeff Carlisi and bassist Ken Lyons, soon joined by drummer Steve Brookins. . Lee Zimmerman is a writer and columnist based in beautiful Maryville Tennessee. The cause was liver cancer. And if it does start to happen, you have to be five steps ahead of yourself all the time. But Im a Christian, and Im a true believer that theres a heaven above and I will see her again. You get an early education on song structures, how those things work and where the payoff is. He was replaced by their friend and original Lynyrd Skynyrd member Larry Junstrom. The band announced the death in a post on Facebook, where his name was trending early Friday. Their next release, Special Forces (May 1982),[4] contained the Top 10 hit "Caught Up in You" (just like "Hold On Loosely", composed by Barnes and Carlisi with Peterik) which hit No. Their fathers contribution in their success is huge. The Legends of Southern Rock Series. We sing it onstage as part of a medley we put together of secondary songs, like from movies, like Back to Paradise from Revenge of the Nerds II.. Required fields are marked *, Lee Zimmerman is a writer and columnist based in beautiful Maryville Tennessee. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Hearing loss is the silent destroyer of rock. [8], In 2012 original bassist Ken Lyons died at age 59. According to Donnie, He is the father of Southern rock music. .38 SPECIAL is playing shows for the immediate future without founding member Donnie Van Zant, who's home dealing with some ongoing health issues. There are rock stations that will play you. [citation needed], Since 1997's Resolution, two more releases have followed on the CMC International and Sanctuary Records labels, respectively A Wild-Eyed Christmas Night (September 2001) and Drivetrain (July 2004). Today Gary Rossington is the last surviving member of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup. His older brother, Ronnie, the original frontman of Lynyrd Skynyrd, died in a plane crash 40 years ago. "You Keep Runnin' Away" (August 1982) and "Back Where You Belong" (February 1984) continued the sequence of hit radio favorites. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. heavy metal I was thinking about people who just cant seem to give each other room to be themselves, they dont tolerate their differences and they try to change each other. Don Felder, the Eagles guy, he was from Gainesville. The next release, Rock & Roll Strategy (June 1988),[4] saw the group playing down their heavy guitar sound and putting forth a more 1980s pop keyboard-oriented approach, led by Carl's more R&B-style voice. Johnny Van Zant is currently the lead singer of the Lynyrd Skynyrd, while Donnie became the lead vocalist of 38 Special. Boris Grebenshikov, Saturday at Park West: Like most Russian rock released here so far, Grebenshikov`s recent U.S. debut sounds curiously quaint to American ears. She was 35. Doctors ordered Van Zant to stay home while his body recovers from the drug, and they're also monitoring him to come up with a new treatment plan, so that the original blood clots don't return. Who Can Benefit From Diaphragmatic Breathing? And Dan Huff, a killer guitar player whos a titan of a (record) producer in the industry now. The current 38 lineup consists of guitarist and co-lead singer Don . As you get older you realize all thats deserving of respect. When things started takin' off for us we just couldn't believe it. 1 : involved in (a difficult or confusing situation) Several members of Congress were caught up in the scandal. You make a hundred bucks a night at 16-years-old, its pretty big money. The singer was arrested moments after the band wrapped up a Wednesday night concert in Tulsa. His elder brother and rocker, Ronald Ronnie Wayne Van Zant, died in a plane crash in Mississipi on October 20, 1977. Van Zant released their new song Sweet Florida which highlights the leadership of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The thing about Jacksonville is it was a Navy city. We wrote it in about two hours. (Ironically, Junstrom was not a native Southerner like the musicians he played with in both of those bands. 38 Special/Singers and then the spotlights gonna shine on somebody else for a while. Ronnie Van Zant's bandmates were anxious as they prepared to board their leased plane at Greenville, South Carolina's Downtown Airport on the afternoon of October 20th, 1977. He said that he had to leave, because his doctor had strictly told him so. In accordance with his doctor's strict orders and due to health issues related to inner-ear nerve damage, he will not . Since that time, the band has mostly concentrated on touring, with an occasional release of new material. There was no need for it, no call at all. hard rock I lost my oldest daughter the year before last to cancer. I met him after I came back (to 38 Special). According to one of the groups backup singers in an interview for a documentary aired on Showtime If I Leave Here Tomorrow years prior to the crash, Ronnie took to calling himself, This ol Mississippi boy. One day she asked, Why do you call yourself a Mississippi boy? The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackfoot, and the Outlaws are just some of the other bands that have risen to prominence after coming together in the city.. Like a lot of bands from their area, .38 Special set out to make it in the rowdy bars of the South, playing in bars where, to quote Van Zant . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Why did Ronnie Van Zant call himself the Mississippi kid? We get to talking about why 38 Special's signature hits, "Hold On Loosely, "Caught Up In You" and "Rockin' Into The Night," just seem to pop a little extra on FM radio. The single hit No. I always joke with the guys now, well be high fiving each other before we go on, and Ill say, See in the movies, because its a whole different world out there for us. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. I had a notebook of titles. iggy pop, review A plane crash killed the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1977, and 40 years later, the drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Artimus Pyle, can still remember that day. But a few unlucky breaks intervened-real breaks, as in a broken ankle (Donnie Van Zant`s) and then a broken leg (Danny Chauncey`s). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We didn't think in terms of a hit. He recorded an album called Ride the Storm, which, . Ron DeSantis, and debuted the song on the . Van Zant missed a handful of shows in 2011, and in 2012 a notice was posted on 38 Special's website saying Donnie Van Zant would not tour with the band due to health issues related to inner-ear nerve damage, although he . He's taken some flak from fans who questioned the decision, he said, but he's OK with it. Why did Donnie Van Zant leave 38 Special? But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. You have to work toward that deadline all the time. It`s practically genetic. The extraordinary energy that the members of the band emit in their shows has connected really well with their fans. They are two different rounds and are not interchangeable. It claimed a victim in 38 Special's Donnie Van Zant, who was forced to quit music a few years ago because of the damage it was doing to his ears. And that song has been an anthemic song for us all these years. Donnie Van Zant is a founding member of .38 Special and retired from live performances in 2013. It still works that way. It claimed a victim in 38 Specials Donnie Van Zant, who was forced to quit music a few years ago because of the damage it was doing to his ears. He was known as "Papa Ronnie". The duo recorded their first song in 1980s for Van Zant. However, in late 2013 Donnie announced that he wont be able to do either due to his condition, and finally retired from the band. ''These guys grew up sitting on armory floors watching Duane Allman play. Because they got busy and were going in different directions and stuff, and there wasnt much rhyme or reason to it. In 2013, Donnie suffered from inner-ear nerve damage, and other health issues. Nevertheless, the name served its purpose and the group became a top draw throughout the 80s and 90s. 38 Special performs Thursday at the Star Plaza in Merrillville, Ind. According to a message posted to the .38 Special mailing list, "Donnie sends . Donnie, along with his younger brother, Johnny, also performs as Van Zant. [4] This shift helped to usher in a string of successful albums and singles. So thats a little frustrating. That can be a blessing and a curse. [citation needed]. He was with the band when it underwent a series of name changes from My Backyard, to The Noble Five. We're gonna have some fun with this deal . He is the younger brother of Ronnie Van Zant, the co-founder and former lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Hes just like Ronnie, says lead guitarist Gary Rossington. [5], Now that they had their name, the group spent most of 1975 and 1976 playing a steady grind of one-nighters, mostly in the South and the Midwest. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Donnie Van Zant is a founding member of .38 Special and retired from live performances in 2013. Van Zant has experienced loss in his life, not just from his daughter's passing but also from his brother's death. After touring with the band through the spring of 1992, Max Carl decided to depart, making way for the return of Don Barnes. Van Zant is one of three famous singing brothers. Table of Contents Why did Donnie Van Zant retire from 38 Special? (38 Special) is a band with a new sound and a veteran name and that`s an exciting prospect for all involved. Don Barnes of 38 Special. The cause was lung cancer, said Ray Costa, a spokesman for the band. His older brother, Ronnie, the original frontman of Lynyrd Skynyrd, died in a plane crash 40 years ago. The group's first two albums [citation needed], In 2007, .38 Special was the opening act on Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr.'s Rowdy Frynds Tour. Donnie Van Zant's net worth is calculated to be around a whopping $10 million, estimated as of the current year 2021. Over the past 20 years, his work has appeared in dozens of leading music publications. In addition to being contagious and propulsive tunes, they just sound better on radio than they do on vinyl or CD. 38 Special broke through in 1979 with the bands third album, Rockin Into The Night. There were a lot of notable rock albums released that year, including Tom Petty Damn the Torpedoes, Fleetwood Mask Tusk, The Clash London Calling, Van Halen II, The Police Regatta de Blanc, AC/DC Highway to Hell. Back then were you into any of those albums and bands? The Big Man on the Big Bass has left us, the band posted. This article about a United States rock singer is a stub. I asked Duane why he wanted two drummers and he said, Because James Brown has two, said Jaimoe. It claimed a victim in 38 Special's Donnie Van Zant, who was forced to quit music a few years ago because of the damage it was doing to his ears. LYNYRD SKYNYRD lead singer Johnny Van Zant and his brother Donnie Van Zant of 38 SPECIAL have written and recorded a new campaign theme song for Florida governor Ron DeSantis. He has half siblings all over the world, including the famous Lynyrd Skynyrd singer, Ronnie Van Zant. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Van Zant was arraigned Thursday on a charge violating state law by drinking liquor onstage. The founding member and lead guitarist of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gary Rossington is the richest member of the band with his net worth of $40 million. Did Ronnie Van Zant have a son? North American syndicated Rock radio program and website InTheStudio: The Stories Behind History's Greatest Rock Bands heads south to get the .38 Special story from founding members Jeff Carlisi and Donnie Van Zant on the 35th anniversary of their breakthrough album Rockin' Into The Night. Structural Info Facts Filmography Known for movies He was 62. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Around the 80s, Donnie and his younger brother, Johnny, decided to become a musical duo Van Zant. Caught Up In You. ''There are other influences in (38 Special) now, but there will still be songs culled from experiences in the South,'' Carl said. All Rights Reserved. Youve got to be 50 feet tall, almost a character, you know? Sea of Reeds Media. Van Zant has a history with the show. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. And they had good. Bobby CappsMax Carl He was born in Pittsburgh before moving with his family to Jacksonville at the age of 10.). The divorce papers were in the briefcase of our road manager on the airplane when we crashed. The papers were never filed. Their Gold and Platinum albums have won countless awards and honours. Your email address will not be published. [6] Also, on September 27, 2008, they filmed a CMT Crossroads special with country singer Trace Adkins, performing both artists' hits from over the years. Barnes, a cofounder, is the only original member still in the band. All rights reserved (About Us). Also in 1977, the band added two female backup singers, Carol Bristow and Dale Krantz. Is Stevie Van Zandt related to Ronnie Van Zant? The band has produced 15 albums since 1976. Donnie will continue to write and record with the band." (CNN) Billy Powell, keyboardist with the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, died of a heart ailment at his condo in the Jacksonville, Florida, suburb of Orange Park, police said Thursday. hard rock He played on all twelve of the bands albums, lending his prowess to a sound that deftly combined a Southern rock influence with a more adventurous and propulsive style of arena rock revelry. He is the middle of three brothers: his older brother Ronnie was the original lead singer for Lyny. His older brother, Ronnie, the original frontman of Lynyrd Skynyrd, died in a plane crash 40 years ago. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". 38 Special. [citation needed], Nevertheless, Van Zant, Barnes and Lyons, while continuing their day jobs and working in other bands, began working on composing original songs in their spare time. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/donnie-van-zant-35116.php. 38 Special was formed by neighborhood friends Don Barnes and Donnie Van Zant in 1975 in Jacksonville, Florida. By 1974, they decided it was time to get serious and form "the ultimate band" that would be their "one last shot" at success. It's become tradition with the Florida-based rock 'n' roll band that Van Zant offer a toast to the audience with a bottle of whiskey. He has been in the band from day one and his six-string slinging has been featured on every one of the bands releases. [10], Last edited on 16 February 2023, at 20:12, Learn how and when to remove this template message, .38 Special's Don Barnes talks Hold on Loosely, "Hank Jr., Skynyrd Getting Rowdy On Spring Tour", "STYX, REO SPEEDWAGON, .38 SPECIAL Team Up For Can't Stop Rockin' 2009 US Tour", "Kenneth Lyons, 59, of Mount Sinai Road dies in Winston-Salem", "Lynyrd Skynyrd founder Larry Junstrom dead at 70", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=38_Special_(band)&oldid=1139766579, Gary "Madman" Moffatt drums, percussion, Paul Drennan (Drennen) bass, backing vocals, Steve McRay keyboards, harmonica, backing vocals, Don Barnes guitar, mandolin, keyboards, harmonica, backing vocals, Don Barnes lead vocals, guitar, mandolin, keyboards, harmonica, This page was last edited on 16 February 2023, at 20:12. Reason Donnie Left The Music Donnie Van Zant was compelled to retire from music as a result of inner-ear nerve damages, along with a few other health difficulties. Its 95 percent failure, maybe five percent success, so you might publish 100, 200 songs, and maybe have five, six hits or whatever. Why did Donnie Van Zant retire from 38 Special? 1983 38 Special: If I'd Been the One (Music Video) Donnie Van Zant 1982 38 Special: Caught Up in You (Music Video) Donnie Van Zant Show Composer (2 credits) Show Soundtrack .