Tag: southern rock

“A brief candle …”

~ Robin Bannks ~ Leave a comment

October 20, 1977 ~ I was sitting in the studio at UW-O’s student radio station, WRST, and picked up Street Survivors, the new album released a few days earlier from Lynyrd Skynyrd. I played That Smell and remember like it was yesterday whispering to myself, “fuuuuuck.”  Half hour later I was reading about the band’s demise outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi. The band still plays on today but, as is often the case, in name only. The real Lynyrd Skynrd died along with Stevie Gaines, Cassie Gaines and Ronnie Van Zant on October 20, 1977.

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One More From The Road 

~ Robin Bannks ~ Leave a comment

September 13, 1976 ~ Lynyrd Skynyrd release the live album.

Skynyrd had been a big supporter of rock promoter Alex Cooley and when he went on a drive to save the legendary Fox Theatre in Atlanta from demolition, they were the first to ask how they could “put some grease in the frying pan.” The result was one of the greatest live concert albums in rock.

Molly Hatchet

~ Robin Bannks ~ Leave a comment

The debut album from southern rockers Molly Hatchet is released on September 1, 1978.

Interesting story: In 1979, while on tour, Molly Hatchet has a stop at the Brown County Area in Green Bay coming up. In prep for that show, the band does some interviews and I get one with lead singer Danny Joe Brown and Steve Holland — one of the three guitar onslaught that made Molly Hatchet’s sound unique.

Danny Joe was a great interview — laid back, conversational, loved to talk Packers and stuff other than rock n’ roll. Holland was the exact opposite — in short — a dick.

  • Danny Joe Brown
  • Steve Holland
  • Duane Roland

His dickishness continued right through after the show when backstage, Holland hits on my my date while I’m in the can. I come out, he’s got her backed up to the wall, I get between the two and things get out of hand. Duane Roland — one of the other guitartists and founding member of Molly Hatchet — steps in and stops the mismatch. I got the shit kicked out of me but that girl came home with me. (Thank you, Jackson …)