59News Digital Exclusive: Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd
GHENT, WV (WVNS) — It’s not everyday you wake up to an interview with one of Southern rock’s most legendary singers, but 59News Digital Producer Seth McVey was fortunate to talk with the Lynyrd Skynyrd front man about their return to the Mountain State.
59News Digital Exclusive Interview with West Virginia native Chris Sarandon
On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, 59News virtually sat down with Johnny Van Zant to discuss the upcoming tour coming to West Virginia. Lynyrd Skynyrd will take the stage with ZZ Top to bring some classic rock jams to West Virginia on their Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour. This will be the first time the band has performed in West Virginia since 2021.
“It’s been about 2 maybe 3 years since we’ve been to West Virginia. We’ve always had great shows there; we’re looking forward to it, and of course with ZZ – they’re our buddies – we have a great time on the road so I encourage everyone to come out and check out the show.”
Johnny Van Zant on coming back to West Virginia
As the interview continued, it was easy to see Johnny Van Zant has a passion for playing for the one-of-kind Skynyrd fans that have been with the band through everything, including the tragic passing of founding member and older brother of Johnny, Ronnie Van Zant. In 2023 Lynyrd Skynyrd lost one of the last founding members of the band, Gary Rossington.
“We last Gary Rossington last year in March and we were wondering what the heck we wanted to do because he was the last founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. His wife made the decision for us and told us to carry-on because of Gary’s love for the band. We didn’t know how Skynyrd fans would react, but Skynyrd fans are one-of-a-kind and I know bands say that all the time, but it’s really true for us. They’ve been with us for 50 years!”
Johnny Van Zant on how they keep the legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd alive through their fans help
Lynyrd Skynyrd is considered the epitome of Southern Rock, with legendary songs like “Simple Man” and “Free Bird” rocking the South for decades. When it comes to relating to the core ideas of southern rock, West Virginia is no stranger.
“We all got a lot in common. We’re all hard-working, God-fearing people and that’s what Skynyrd was built on: hard-working people. When I got into Skynyrd in ’86 I started going around the world and I was dumbfounded at how people in Helsinki are just like people in West Virginia. It’s the hard-working core from each country that gravitates to the band. I’m not saying we don’t have doctors, lawyers and accountants as fans, but basically its the hard-working people of the world who love this band.”
Johnny Van Zant on the fans of West Virginia and the band’s hardworking core idea
Speaking with a legend is always a nervous experience, but it’s hard to not fall into the good-ol-boy conversations with Johnny Van Zant as he treats everyone like a friend. Be sure to make your schedule as free as a bird when Lynyrd Skynyrd comes to West Virginia on March 30th with ZZ Top on their Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour.
For tickets and information, visit the Charleston Coliseum’s website.
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