Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Gary Rossington Suffers Major Heart Attack
Gary Rossington, the guitar player and last original member of the iconic Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd still playing in the current lineup, suffered a major heart attack on Thursday, October 8th according to Rossington’s daughter, Mary Elizabeth. Rossington had to undergo surgery, will need further surgery soon, but is currently resting under observation.
Rossington suffered permanent health issues in the notorious plane crash involving Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1977, which took the lives of Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray. Because of his injuries, Rossington has experienced heart issues in the past, including needing heart surgery 12 years ago, and suffers recurring pain in his legs that occasionally keeps him from performing with the band.
According to daughter Mary Elizabeth they “almost lost him,” but through surgery the doctors were able to address the heart issues. “They went in to repair and unclog the two stents they did previously in the year which had a blood clot, added a third stent to one vein and in two weeks we will need to go in to do a fourth stent in one of his bypassed veins from 12 years ago,” she said in a statement.
“We were very close to losing him this time and just pray that they will develop even better techniques soon to deal with heart disease. We love and thank you all for thoughts, prayers, love and sympathy. He’s the toughest guy we know and hope we can keep him around as long as possible.”
The 63-year-old Rossington was also hospitalized earlier this year for an abdominal infection, and resulted in the cancellation of a tour date. Gary’s current health issues have put upcoming dates in Terre Haute, Indiana, and Mt. Pleasant, Michican on hold. The dates will be rescheduled for 2016.
Bob Burns, the original drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, died in a car crash in April.
RD
October 13, 2015 @ 10:18 am
Best wishes. Of all bands that ended too early, I think the demise of Skynyrd is the most tragic and disappointing. With the addition of Steve Gaines, they were moving in a new direction their writing and playing was better than ever. I’m too young to have seen them live, but the live stuff in the last year before the crash was Skynyrd at their peak. What a damn shame. Also, I think that they probably would have cut at least one pure country album. RVZ loved The Hag and Waylon, and included a Hag cover on their last album.
Chase
October 13, 2015 @ 10:19 am
That is sad. I hope he gets better. I saw them and they were awesome. He still puts on a great show!
Brittany
October 13, 2015 @ 1:26 pm
Bless him. I hope he gets well soon. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for him to lose all of his original band-mates over the years. I met him once backstage in Huntsville, AL. It was a great show. He was a sweetheart and very appreciative of us coming.
Deborah Dehoyos
November 6, 2018 @ 1:03 am
Praying for Gary and Family, God Bless Over Him, please!
Hefitz
October 14, 2015 @ 12:11 pm
Saw Skynyrd live in Houston in 1975. They were the warm up band for Marshall Tucker and Joe Walsh. Talk about getting a crowd warmed up. After Skynyrd and MTB, Joe Walsh was more like Joe Who?
Robert
October 3, 2018 @ 8:25 pm
Saw you live at Rickwood Field Baseball park in B’ham Al. The crowd went Crazy when Ronnie said, If Alabama ever needed to raise money for Any cause ,they would come and play for Free ! They really loved. Alabama!