Lynyrd Skynyrd have issued a statement to announce that they will be "continuing to perform LIVE, and keeping the music alive" in the wake of the death, last month, of guitarist Gary Rossington, the last original member of the Southern Rock legends.
The statement from the band, fronted since 1987 by Johnny Van Zant, reads: "The current members of the band, led by Johnny Van Zant, the singer for the past 36 years, were unsure if they would continue following Gary’s untimely passing. After much discussion with the band, the families of Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins, and Dale Rossington, the collective has reached unified support, and feel that continuing to perform LIVE, and keeping the music alive, is in the best interest of the fans and everyone involved."
Rossington's wife of 41 years, Dale Krantz-Rossington, who performs backing vocals with the Jacksonville, Florida group, added, "I recently lost my husband and partner of over 41 years. He was an amazing father, grandfather, brother and friend, but most importantly was a world class musician and songwriter. It’s been my honor and privilege to share the stage with him for all these years. His music touched so many millions of people around The World, and Gary was always the first to say how, ‘Skynyrd’s music is bigger than me or any one person.’"
