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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsThe proposed Lynyrd Skynyrd movie by Artimus Pyle is just a bad idea, no matter how you slice it
Even if you don't like Skynyrd...even if you're sick of "Free Bird"...I'd like to think that fans and detractors of the bad have to admit that the Ronnie Van Zandt version of the band was "larger than life," and as such, writing a "screenplay" and finding actors to represent that legend is a joke and a bad idea.
Second...without getting into all of the drama and speculation...while the band held onto Pyle for the "Southern By The Grace Of God" reunion shows following the crash, they don't much like him, and they didn't part on good terms. There have been numerous allegations about Pyle's personal life since then, some of which may be true, some of which may not. He got a spot on VH-1's "Behind The Music" segment on the band, but he's like a broken record. He keeps talking about "what happened on that plane" while every surviving member, including the ones who are no longer with us, did everything they could to put it behind them and not make it a part of regular conversation.
Ed King also felt that he was fired from the reunion band because he "wasn't on the plane" and that it had become some sort of special "club." I always felt that was more akin to sour grapes, and once again, I don't know all of the ins and outs of his relationship with the band.
Finally, there's the little detail of the band itself. Ronnie Van Zant, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkeson and Allen Collins are no longer with us. The surviving members of the first album are original drummer Bob Burns, guitarist Ed King, and current member Gary Rossington. Because Rossington is not a fan of Pyle, it is extremely doubtful that he would offer any creative input or allow any Skynyrd music to be in the film. Then there's the matter of the Skynyrd wives, who have sued the band on multiple occasions because of a pact that had been made to not tour and record as Lynyrd Skynyrd without "x" number of original members.
The whole idea just sucks. I can see it now..."Rob Lowe...IS...Ronnie Van Zandt." And if they find an unknown who physically resembles Ronnie, anything that comes out of his mouth will be Pyle's version of the events and may not reflect reality at all.
OK...end of rant...here's the story:
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/lynyrd-skynyrd-movie/
A movie about Lynyrd Skynyrd is currently in the works. Artimus Pyle, the bands founding drummer, is working on a script with director Jared Cohn, and it will be produced by Cleopatra Films.
Pyle, who is also working on his autobiography, told Deadline that the 1977 plane crash that killed frontman Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray, will feature heavily into the plot. Pyle spent 20 hours with Cohn describing the tragedy. More importantly, hes looking to shed light on the fact that, despite the number of classic songs they recorded, this was still a band that, with only five records under its belt at the time, had barely scratched the surface of what it could do.
When that plane crashed, we were at the top of the world, man, he said. I mean, we could play with any band any band, whether it was the Rolling Stones, anyone, and we would hold our own or better. I think of that accident every day and what we might have accomplished if wed have 10 more years.
The drummer split with Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1991 following a lawsuit filed by Van Zants widow, Judy, over the rights to the name. But Pyle remains attached to the music and the memories he has, and wants to share them with Skynyrd fans all over the world.
some guy
(3,448 posts)The band Lynyrd Skynyrd ended in 1977. I think the Rossington-Collins band in their first year or two did good in terms of offering some closure and healing for fans who felt the loss.
But then it's time to move on.
There are people who record and tour as Lynyrd Skynyrd, but I think they're just hacks trying to cash in on other peoples' efforts.
I've no interest in this film.
Iggo
(47,565 posts)...Everything you need to know about The Doors is on those records.
I tend to agree. Movies about rock bands suck almost as much as sports movies.
malthaussen
(17,216 posts)... "Had his brother on a talk show, though they never got along."
-- Mal