Gary Rossington Remembered: Photos Of Lynyrd Skynyrd & Their Late Guitarist

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March 6, 2023 9:35AM EST

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Gary Rossington has died. Remember the Southern rock legend, here.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Gary Rossington: Photos

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Gary Rossington: Photos — Rock and roll has lost another legend. Guitarist Gary Rossington, a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, passed away Mar. 5, 2023 at the age of 71. He also the founder of the Rossington Collins Band.

Skynyrd shared the news via the band’s official Facebook page, telling fans, “It is with our deepest sympathy and sadness that we have to advise, that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington, today. Gary is now with his Skynyrd brothers and family in heaven and playing it pretty, like he always does.”

Gary’s twangy slide guitar became emblematic of Southern rock in the 60s and 70s. In 1977, he cheated death when the band’s plane crashed near McComb, Mississippi. Bandmates Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, and three others were killed in the crash.

Despite the loss, the band would regroup and continue to play. Gary performed with Lynyrd Skynyrd all the way until 2022. He looked like a total rock star while backstage at the Sweden Rock Festival in the town of Solvesborg on Jun. 9, 2012. His hair was long and he wore a cool hat.

Gary Rossington is an undeniable rock legend. Remember his legacy with his best photos here.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd In 1995

Lynyrd Skynyrd In 1995 — Johnny Van Zant, Gary Rossington and Ed King of Lynyrd Skynyrd played the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland on Sep. 21, 1995.

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Gary Rossington In 2004

Gary Rossington In 2004 — Lynyrd Skynyrd’s founding guitarist Gary Rossington beamed with pride during a ceremony honoring Lynyrd Skynyrd and other recording artists, in Coral Gables, Florida in 2004. He held onto a trophy and spoke to the crowd.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd At CROCK 2015

Lynyrd Skynyrd At CROCK 2015 — Gary Rossington and Mark Matejka of Lynyrd Skynyrd rocked out during Atlanta’s CROCK FEST on Jun. 19, 2015. He looked fierce as he played a solo.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd In 2017

Lynyrd Skynyrd In 2017 — Gary Rossington shredded while on stage at The BB&T Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey on Aug. 19, 2017.

Gary would avoid talking about Lynyrd Skynyrd’s plane crash throughout his life. In 2006, he told Rolling Stone, “I’ve talked about it here and there, but I don’t like to. It was a devastating thing. You can’t just talk about it real casual and not have feelings about it.”

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Lynyrd Skynyrd In 2016

Lynyrd Skynyrd In 2016 — Rickey Medlocke and Gary Rossington (right) gave it their all during Tortuga Fest in Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida on Apr. 16, 2016. Their dueling guitars sounded great on stage.

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Gary Rossington Playes Big Barrel Country Music Festival 2015

Gary Rossington Playes Big Barrel Country Music Festival 2015 — Gary Rossington and Lynyrd Skynyrd played Day 1 of the 2015 Big Barrel Country Music Festival at The Woodlands, in Dover, Delaware. He looked entranced by the music.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd In 2019

Lynyrd Skynyrd In 2019 — Gary Rossington had the crowd screaming during Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Atlanta concert on Sep. 14, 2019. The guitar legend’s ax of choice was a 1959 Gibson Les Paul.

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