Lynyrd Skynyrd Might Be Retiring Next Year

Lynyrd Skynyrd Might Be Retiring Next Year | I Love Classic Rock Videos

Lynyrd Skynyrd live in 2015 - Lynyrd Skynyrd / Youtube

Looks like Lynyrd Skynyrd is retiring from the road next year, as per vocalist Johnny Van Zant’s confirmation.

Speaking with Florida Times-Union, Van Zant explained: “We’re still looking at hanging it up in the next year or so. We’re going to retire from touring.” Albeit Van Zant not providing a firm end date, he did hint that Lynyrd Skynyrd’s touring days are about to be over. One of the prime reasons for this decision is because of Gary Rossington, the band’s only remaining founding member, who couldn’t afford any tiresome tasks onstage, despite recovering from multiple illnesses.

“Gary is doing better,” Van Zant said. “He said he is getting a lot more energy from this new medicine. He’s come out and played two or three shows with us. As far as playing a whole set, I don’t know. People think we don’t put out a lot of energy, but two hours is a lot of work.”

It was said in 2018 that Lynyrd Skynyrd were planning the Last of the Street Survivors Farewell Tour, which would ultimately in two to three years, tops. However, the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the band’s initial plans, playing only two shows for the whole of 2020. Nevertheless, they came back in 2021 with the Big Wheels Keep on Turnin’ Tour, which would go on next year.