Lynyrd Skynyrd - Last Of A Dyin' Breed (Single Review)
Thursday, 16 August 2012
Written by Simon Ramsay
It's a tired cliché to describe an ageing rock & roll band as survivors, but if that label belongs to anyone it's Lynyrd Skynyrd. Formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1964 the subsequent decades have seen the southern rock stalwarts experience wonderful highs courtesy of timeless anthems like 'Sweet Home Alabama' and 'Free Bird', as well as an earth shattering low that almost destroyed them. Back in 1977, following the release of their ironically titled 'Street Survivors' album, founding member, lead singer and voice of a generation Ronnie Van Zant was killed on tour when the band's plane crashed in a forest in Gillsburg, Mississippi after running out of fuel. Guitarist Steve Gaines, his sister and backing singer Cassie along with members of their road crew and airline staff also died on impact. The rest of the band somehow pulled through, albeit in a damaged state – both physically and mentally. After a ten year hiatus they regrouped in 1987 with Ronnie's brother Johnny Van Zant taking over on lead vocals. Since then ill health has claimed every member of the original line up with only guitarist Gary Rossington left to fly the flag. Through triumph, tragedy and countless tribulations the spirit of their music has endured. So it's fair to say 'Last of A Dyin' Breed', the title track and lead single from their thirteenth studio album, is easily the most aptly named record of the year thus far.
Whereas 2008's excellent 'God N' Guns' album saw the Alabama loving legends melding a forceful contemporary hard rock dynamic to their trademark southern swang, this song is stylistically similar to the Skynyrd of old. The track begins with Rossington's lonesome slide cutting a back porch delta blues motif with ominous feedback, before bursting into life as drums crash and a badass to the bone guitar riff hurtles the song into a countrifed rock & roll road trip down a highway of never ending possibilities. It's a joyous foot to the floor boogie with an insistent thigh slappin' hand clappin' rhythm and frisky bottleneck fretwork from Rossington's inimitable fingers.
It may seem sacrilegious, but Johnny Van Zant has a much stronger set of pipes than his older brother, belting out the track's message with the conviction of someone who practices his musical preachings. “The song itself is about getting out and trying to enjoy every moment you have. It's a metaphor for living life to the full ”Van Zant told Classic Rock magazine. With that theme in mind it's lyrically fitting to reference their former leader as Johnny sings about 'a barefoot brother who gave me hell, learned from the best – he taught me well'. Indeed, the whole track has a wonderful air of self mythology and even the chorus line 'Feel The Breeze' echoes their classic song 'Call Me The Breeze' from the 'Second Helping' album. With other bands this would be too derivative, but with Skynyrd it somehow feels essential for them to keep their legacy alive. Which they do admirably, creating a perfect balance between acknowleding their history whilst keeping things fresh enough to still feel relevant.
The band cut 'Last Of A Dyin Breed' live in the studio and you can almost see their smiling faces and taste the camaraderie as the song gallops along with a swashbuckling uptempo moxie. Some may complain about them continuing with only one original member, but the current line-up is packed full of southern rock luminaries, like Blackfoot guitarist Rickey Medlocke, who eat, sleep and breathe this iconic music. As Rossington himself explains “We know it's not the original band, but it's the original thought and intention, the original music and the original family. And when I arrive in a city and see the name Lynyrd Skynyrd up in lights, it still makes my heart soar like an eagle”. On the stregth of this track there's many musical miles left in the Skynyrd tank. Many more tales to be told, memories to be made and songs to be sung. Roll on the release of the new album.
Lynyrd Skynyrd will release the album 'Last of a Dyin' Breed' on 21st August. The album's title-track is available now.
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Whereas 2008's excellent 'God N' Guns' album saw the Alabama loving legends melding a forceful contemporary hard rock dynamic to their trademark southern swang, this song is stylistically similar to the Skynyrd of old. The track begins with Rossington's lonesome slide cutting a back porch delta blues motif with ominous feedback, before bursting into life as drums crash and a badass to the bone guitar riff hurtles the song into a countrifed rock & roll road trip down a highway of never ending possibilities. It's a joyous foot to the floor boogie with an insistent thigh slappin' hand clappin' rhythm and frisky bottleneck fretwork from Rossington's inimitable fingers. 
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