List of Lynyrd Skynyrd members

Lynyrd Skynyrd is a Southern rock band from Jacksonville, Florida. Formed in 1964, the group originally included vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, bassist Larry Junstrom and drummer Bob Burns. The current lineup features guitarist and vocalist Rickey Medlocke (from 1971 to 1972, and since 1996), lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant (since 1987), drummer Michael Cartellone (since 1999), guitarist Mark Matejka (since 2006), keyboardist Peter Keys (since 2009) and bassist Keith Christopher (2017-2025), backing vocalists Dale Krantz-Rossington (since 1987) and Carol Chase (since 1996), and guitarist Damon Johnson (since 2021).^[1]

Three lineups of Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1973 (top), 1977 (middle) and 2008 (bottom).

History

1964–1977

Lynyrd Skynyrd was formed under the name My Backyard in 1964, which was later changed to The Noble Five, and again to One Percent.^[2] The group originally included vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins, bassist Larry Junstrom and drummer Bob Burns, all of whom were students at Robert E. Lee High School.^[3] After performing live for several years, the band recorded for the first time in 1971, when Junstrom and Burns were replaced by Greg T. Walker and Rickey Medlocke, respectively.^[4] The following year, Walker was replaced by the band's original choice of bassist Leon Wilkeson, and Medlocke moved to third guitarist as Burns returned on drums.^[5] Medlocke had left by the end of the year.^[6] Billy Powell had also been added as the group's first keyboardist, having worked as a roadie since 1970.^[7]

Shortly before recording began for the band's debut album (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd), Wilkeson left Lynyrd Skynyrd and was replaced by Ed King.^[8] Later during the sessions the bassist returned, with King subsequently taking up the role of third guitarist.^[9] Burns remained for 1974's Second Helping, but left in January 1975 due to touring fatigue, with Artimus Pyle taking his place.^[10] King left on May 26, 1975, two months after the release of Nuthin' Fancy.^[11] He was replaced the following year by Steve Gaines, who was recommended by his sister Cassie Gaines after she had recently joined as one of the band's touring backing vocalists, The Honkettes.^[12][13]

On October 20, 1977 – three days after the release of the band's fifth studio album Street Survivors – a chartered plane on which the members and crew were travelling crashed in Gillsburg, Mississippi.^[14] Six people died in the accident, including band members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines; many of the other passengers on board were seriously injured, including Wilkeson who was left in a critical condition and reportedly declared dead three times.^[15] The group disbanded after the crash.^[14] In 1978, a collection of previously unreleased recordings from 1971 and 1972 was released as Skynyrd's First and... Last.^[16] The following year, the surviving members (with the exception of Wilkeson) reunited at Volunteer Jam for a performance of "Free Bird" with Charlie Daniels and his band.^[17]

1987 onward

In July 1987, Lynyrd Skynyrd announced their reforming for the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour,^[18] with returning members Rossington, King, Wilkeson, Pyle and Powell joined by new lead vocalist Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie's younger brother.^[19] Collins, who was unable to join the reunited group after a car accident the previous year left him paralyzed from the waist down, chose Randall Hall from Collins's eponymous band to take his place on guitar.^[20] After the band's first post-reformation studio album Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991, Pyle left suddenly after a show in August,^[21] with Kurt Custer taking his place.^[19] Hall left in 1993 after the release of The Last Rebel,^[22] later suing the remaining members of the band for $500,000.^[23] Custer followed Hall out of the group the next year in order to focus on his solo career.^[24]

Hall and Custer were replaced by Mike Estes and Owen Hale, respectively,^[25] both of whom performed on the 1994 album Endangered Species.^[26] King was forced to leave the band in 1996 due to health problems, with Hughie Thomasson brought in to take his place; Estes left around the same time, with former drummer Medlocke returning to the band on guitar as a result.^[25] Hale left in late 1998 after the Twenty Tour;^[27] he was replaced first by Jeff McAllister.^[28] Kenny Aronoff played on Edge of Forever but did not join^[29] and Michael Cartellone took over in 1999 after the dissolution of the Damn Yankees.^[30] On July 27, 2001, longtime bassist Leon Wilkeson died in his sleep of natural causes.^[31] He was replaced by Ean Evans, who had earlier substituted for Wilkeson at several shows the previous year.^[32]

Thomasson left Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2005 to reform his previous band Outlaws,^[33] with his replacement Mark Matejka joining early the next year.^[34] The band was forced to change its lineup twice in 2009 due to deaths in the group – first, longtime keyboardist Billy Powell died of a heart attack on January 28;^[35] and later, bassist Evans died of cancer on May 6.^[36] Peter Keys was later brought in to replace Powell,^[37] while Evans was replaced by Robert Kearns.^[38] Kearns remained until 2012, when he was replaced by former Black Crowes bassist Johnny Colt.^[39] Keith Christopher replaced Colt in mid-2017.^[40] Gary Rossington, the band's last founding member died on 5 March 2023.^[41]

Official members

Current members

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Rickey Medlocke	1971–1972 1996–present [4][6][25]	guitar (1972, 1996–present) drums (1971–1972) backing and occasional lead vocals mandolin [5]	Street Survivors (1977) – "One More Time" only Skynyrd's First and... Last (1978) all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Twenty (1997) onward [42][43][44]
	Johnny Van Zant	1987–present [19]	lead vocals	all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Southern by the Grace of God (1988)[45] onward
	Dale Krantz-Rossington	1993–present (touring 1987–1993)[46]	backing vocals	all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Southern by the Grace of God (1988)[45] onward
	Carol Chase	1996–present[47]		all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Twenty (1997)[44] onward
	Michael Cartellone	1999–present[30]	drums percussion	all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Edge of Forever (1999)[48] onward
	Mark Matejka	2006–present[34]	guitar backing vocals	all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from God & Guns (2009)[49] onward
	Peter Keys	2009–present[37]	keyboards piano	all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Last of a Dyin' Breed (2012)[50] onward
	Keith Christopher	2017–2025[40]	bass	Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour Lyve! (2019) “Last of the Street Survivors” (2020) [51][52]
	Damon Johnson	2023–present[53] (touring substitute 2021–2023)[1]	guitar	none

Former members

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Gary Rossington	1964–1977 1979 1987–2023 (until his death) [3][14][19][41]	guitar	all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases
	Allen Collins	1964–1977 1979 (musical director, 1987–1990) (until his death)[3][14]		all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from "Need All My Friends" / "Michelle" (1968)[54] to Legend (1987)[55]
	Ronnie Van Zant	1964–1977 (until his death)[3][15]	lead vocals
	Bob Burns	1964–1971 1972–1974 (guest 2006) (died 2015) [3][4][5][10]	drums	"Need All My Friends" / "Michelle" (1968) (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) (1973) – "all except "Tuesday's Gone" and "Mississippi Kid" Second Helping (1974) – all except "I Need You" Skynyrd's First and... Last (1978) Legend (1987) Lynyrd Skynyrd (1991) Collectybles (2000) [54][56][57][43][55][58][59]
	Larry Junstrom	1964–1971 (died 2019)[3][4]	bass	"Need All My Friends" / "Michelle" (1968) Lynyrd Skynyrd (1991) Collectybles (2000) [54][58][59]
	Greg T. Walker	1971–1972[4][5]	bass backing vocals	Street Survivors (1977) – "One More Time" only Skynyrd's First and... Last (1978) [42][43]
	Leon Wilkeson	1972 1973–1977 1987–2001 (until his death) [5][8][9][14][19][31]		all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Second Helping (1974) – all except "I Need You" and "Don't Ask Me No Questions" to Edge of Forever (1999) Vicious Cycle (2003) – "The Way" and "Lucky Man" only [57][48][60]
	Billy Powell	1972–1977 1979 1987–2009 (until his death) [7][14][19][35]	keyboards piano	all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) (1973)[56] to Live from Freedom Hall (2010)[61]
	Ed King	1972–1975 1987 1991–1996 (guest 2006) (died 2018) [8][11][19][25]	guitar bass (1972–1974) backing vocals [9]	(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) (1973) Second Helping (1974) Nuthin' Fancy (1975) all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Skynyrd's First and... Last (1978) to Southern Knights (1996) [56][57][62][43][63]
	Artimus Pyle	1975–1977 1979 1987–1991 (guest 2006) [10][14][19][21][64]	drums percussion	all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Nuthin' Fancy (1975)[62] to Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 (1991),[58] except Skynyrd's First and... Last (1978)[43]
	Steve Gaines	1976–1977 (until his death)[12][13][15]	guitar vocals	One More from the Road (1976) Street Survivors (1977) Legend (1987) [65][42][55]
	Randall Hall	1987–1993 [20][22]		Southern by the Grace of God (1988) Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 (1991) The Last Rebel (1993) [45][58][66]
	Kurt Custer	1991–1994[19][24]	drums	The Last Rebel (1993)[66]
	Mike Estes	1993–1996[25]	guitar backing vocals	Endangered Species (1994) Southern Knights (1996) [67][63]
	Owen Hale	1994–1998[25][27]	drums percussion	Endangered Species (1994) Southern Knights (1996) Twenty (1997) Lyve from Steel Town (1998) [67][63][44][68]
	Debbie Davis-Estes	1994–1996[69]	backing vocals	Endangered Species (1994) Southern Knights (1996) [67][63]
	Hughie Thomasson	1996–2005 (died 2007)[25][33]	guitars backing vocals	all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Twenty (1997)[44] to Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve: The Vicious Cycle Tour (2003)[70]
	Jeff McAllister	1998–1999[28]	drums	none
	Kenny Aronoff	1999[29]		Edge of Forever (1999)[48]
	Ean Evans	2001–2009 (until his death)[32][36]	bass backing vocals	all Lynyrd Skynyrd releases from Vicious Cycle (2003)[60] to Live from Freedom Hall (2010)[61]
	Robert Kearns	2009–2012[38][39]		none
	Johnny Colt	2012–2017[39][40]		One More for the Fans (2015) Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd & Second Helping Live from Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre (2015) [71][72]

Other contributors

Current touring musicians

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Stacy Michelle	2023–present[73] (touring substitute 2022–2023)	backing vocals	Stacy Michelle substituted for Dale during Rossington's recovery and has stayed on touring.

Former touring musicians

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Release contributions
	Cassie Gaines	1975–1977 (until her death)[74][15]	backing vocals	One More from the Road (1976) Street Survivors (1977) [65][42]
	JoJo Billingsley	1975–1977[75] (died 2010)[76]
	Leslie Hawkins	1975–1977[77]
	Carol Bristow	1987–1988[78]		Southern by the Grace of God (1988)[45]
	Debbie Bailey	1991–1994[79]		none

Touring substitutes

Image	Name	Years active	Instruments	Notes
	Byron Glover	1975 1987-1988 1993 (died 2010) [80]	guitar	Glover performed with the band after Ed King's departure and also substituted later on. He also appeared on: Atlanta Live 93’ VHS (1993) Skynyrd Frynds (1994)
	Greg Martin	1992		Martin filled in for Ed King on several dates of the band's 1992 tour due to an injury.[81]
	Tim Lindsey	1993	bass	Lindsey substituted for Wilkeson at several shows in 1993 during The Last Rebel Tour.[82]
	Rick Wills	1999[83]		Wills substituted for Wilkeson at several shows in July 1999 during the Edge of Forever Tour.
	Pat Buchanan	2007[84]	guitar	Filled in for Gary in 2007.
	Raquel Jonsen (Johnson)	2007[84] 2021–2022	backing vocals	Raquel substituted for Dale during Gary's recovery at various points.
	Andy Lowman	2004 2009 2010 [85]	guitar	Andy temporarily filled in for Byron.
	Joey Huffman	2008[86][87]	keyboards	Huffman substituted for Powell at several shows in 2008 during the Rock & Rebels Tour.

Timeline

Official member timeline

Touring musician timeline

Lineups

Period	Members	Releases
June 1964 – February 1971[3][4]	Ronnie Van Zant – vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Larry Junstrom – bass Bob Burns – drums	"Need All My Friends" / "Michelle" (1968)[54] Lynyrd Skynyrd (1991) – three tracks[58] Collectybles (2000) – nine tracks[59]
February 1971 – April 1972[4]	Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Greg T. Walker – bass, backing vocals Rickey Medlocke – drums, vocals	Street Survivors (1977) 2001 reissue – one track[42] Skynyrd's First and... Last (1978)[43]
April 1972 – June 1972[5][6]	Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Rickey Medlocke – guitar, vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Bob Burns – drums	none
June 1972 – August 1972[6][7]	Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Bob Burns – drums	Skynyrd's First and... Last (1978)[43]
August 1972 – October 1972[7][8]	Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Bob Burns – drums Billy Powell – keyboards, piano
October 1972 – June 1973[8][9]	Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Ed King – bass, guitar, backing vocals Bob Burns – drums Billy Powell – keyboards, piano	(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) (1973)[56]
June 1973 – January 1975[9][10]	Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Ed King – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Bob Burns – drums Billy Powell – keyboards, piano	Second Helping (1974)[57]
January – May 1975[10][11]	Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Ed King – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Artimus Pyle – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano	Nuthin' Fancy (1975)[62]
May 1975 – June 1976[11][12][13]	Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Artimus Pyle – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano	Gimme Back My Bullets (1976)[88]
June 1976 – October 1977[12][13][14]	Ronnie Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Steve Gaines – guitar, vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Artimus Pyle – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano	One More from the Road (1976)[65] Street Survivors (1977) – remaining tracks[42]
Band inactive October 1977 – January 1979
January 1979[17]	Gary Rossington – guitar Allen Collins – guitar Artimus Pyle – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano	none – one show
Band inactive January 1979 – June 19, 1987
June 19, 1987 – August 1991[19][20][21]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Ed King – guitar, backing vocals Randall Hall – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Artimus Pyle – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano with Allen Collins – musical director (until January 23, 1990)	Southern by the Grace of God (1988)[45] Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Tour (1988)[89] Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991 (1991)[90]
August 1991 – February 1993[19][22]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Ed King – guitar, backing vocals Randall Hall – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Kurt Custer – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano	none
February 1993 – June 1993[19][22]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Ed King – guitar, backing vocals Randall Hall – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Kurt Custer – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals	The Last Rebel (1993)[66]
August 1993 – March 1994[25][24]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Ed King – guitar, backing vocals Mike Estes – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Kurt Custer – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals	none
April 1994 – May 1996[25]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Ed King – guitar, backing vocals Mike Estes – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Owen Hale – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals Debbie Davis-Estes – backing vocals	Endangered Species (1994)[67] Southern Knights (1996)[63]
May 1996 – October 1998[25][27]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Rickey Medlocke – guitar, backing vocals Hughie Thomasson – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Owen Hale – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals Carol Chase – backing vocals	Twenty (1997)[44] Lyve from Steel Town (1998)[68] Sweet Home Alabama (2015)[91]
October 1998 – February 1999[28]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Rickey Medlocke – guitar, backing vocals Hughie Thomasson – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Jeff McAllister – drums Billy Powell – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals Carol Chase – backing vocals	none
February – April-1999[29]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Rickey Medlocke – guitar, backing vocals Hughie Thomasson – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Kenny Aronoff – drums Billy Powell – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals Carol Chase – backing vocals	Edge of Forever (1999)[48]
April 1999 – July 2001[30][31]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Rickey Medlocke – guitar, backing vocals Hughie Thomasson – guitar, backing vocals Leon Wilkeson – bass, backing vocals Michael Cartellone – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals Carol Chase – backing vocals	Christmas Time Again (2000)[92] Vicious Cycle (2003) – two tracks[60]
August 2001 – April 2005[32][33]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Rickey Medlocke – guitar, backing vocals Hughie Thomasson – guitar, backing vocals Ean Evans – bass, backing vocals Michael Cartellone – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals Carol Chase – backing vocals	Vicious Cycle (2003) – remaining tracks[60] The Vicious Cycle Tour (2004)[70]
April 2005 – March 2006[34]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Rickey Medlocke – guitar, backing vocals Ean Evans – bass, backing vocals Michael Cartellone – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals Carol Chase – backing vocals	none
March 2006 – January 2009[34][35]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Rickey Medlocke – guitar, backing vocals Mark Matejka – guitar, backing vocals Ean Evans – bass, backing vocals Michael Cartellone – drums, percussion Billy Powell – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals Carol Chase – backing vocals	God & Guns (2009)[49] Live from Freedom Hall (2010)[61] Live in Atlantic City (2018)[93]
February – May 2009[37][36]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Rickey Medlocke – guitar, backing vocals Mark Matejka – guitar, backing vocals Ean Evans – bass, backing vocals Michael Cartellone – drums, percussion Peter Keys – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals Carol Chase – backing vocals	none
June 2009 – May 2012[38][39]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Rickey Medlocke – guitar, backing vocals Mark Matejka – guitar, backing vocals Robert Kearns – bass, backing vocals Michael Cartellone – drums, percussion Peter Keys – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals Carol Chase – backing vocals
May 2012 – June 2017[39][40]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Rickey Medlocke – guitar, backing vocals Mark Matejka – guitar, backing vocals Johnny Colt – bass, backing vocals Michael Cartellone – drums, percussion Peter Keys – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals Carol Chase – backing vocals	Last of a Dyin' Breed (2012)[50] One More for the Fans (2015)[71] Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd & Second Helping Live from Jacksonville at the Florida Theatre (2015)[72]
June 2017 – March 2023[40][41]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Gary Rossington – guitar Rickey Medlocke – guitar, backing vocals Mark Matejka – guitar, backing vocals Keith Christopher – bass Michael Cartellone – drums, percussion Peter Keys – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals Carol Chase – backing vocals	Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour Lyve! (2019)[51] "Last of the Street Survivors" (2020)[94]
March 2023 – present[41]	Johnny Van Zant – lead vocals Rickey Medlocke – guitar, backing vocals Mark Matejka – guitar, backing vocals Damon Johnson – guitar Keith Christopher – bass Michael Cartellone – drums, percussion Peter Keys – keyboards, piano Dale Krantz-Rossington – backing vocals Carol Chase – backing vocals	none

Bibliography

• Ribowsky, Mark (April 1, 2015), Whiskey Bottles and Brand-New Cars: The Fast Life and Sudden Death of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Chicago, Illinois: Chicago Review Press, ISBN 978-1569761465, retrieved November 13, 2017