In a recent interview with Joe Rock of Long Island’s rock station 102.3 WBAB, Rickey Medlocke revealed that Lynyrd Skynyrd will release new music.
“Well , I guess I can go ahead and let it out of the bag: Johnny Van Zantand I had spoken going back probably before the end of last year and talked about doing a new Lynyrd Skynyrd record as a tribute to Gary (Rossington). It’s been about a year and a half now since Gary passed away. We really felt we have all these songs that were written during all those years that he was with us. And we have about maybe two dozen either finished, unfinished, half finished, whatever, songs laying around that he was part of. It’s kind of interesting to hear these old tapes and stuff with Gary talking in the background and all of us laughing and having a lot of fun. Even Hughie Thomasson is in them! So, fast forward, it’s been brought to our attention, we’re gonna be able to record a SKYNYRD record. And I hope that after this tour, Lynyrd Skynyrd will get busy and we’ll lock into it and see what we get done.”
Rickey went on to say that he is “excited” about the prospect of making a new LYNYRD SKYNYRD album. He explained: “After being in this band, and this is my second go-around in this band, and after spending, collectively — what? — over 30 years with the Lynyrd Skynyrd brand, I think it’s, I guess, needed or wanted. What we should do is put out new music, like we’ve been doing all these past years since I’ve been back with the band. Starting in ’96, we did Lynyrd Skynyrd ‘Twenty’ record, and here we are today getting ready to do another record, and for me, I’m excited about it. And it is a tribute, basically, to Gary, because we’re gonna include a lot of these songs that he wrote, co-wrote. And you know what, man? I’m really looking forward to this. I really am. Not too many people can say that they’re still a part of an all-time, incredible band, classic band that has gone through everything that Lynyrd Skynyrd has gone through and still come out on the very end of it. Back when Gary got me back in the band, I promised him that I would be here until the last note of ‘Free Bird’ was played. So here I am.”
