ANOTHER MEMBER OF LYNYRD SKYNYRD DIES BUT BAND STILL REFUSES TO QUIT

May 9 2009

Columbus, MS – Lynyrd Skynyrd is a rarity in music. Unlike most of their contemporaries, the band has trudged on despite obstacles that would destroy most bands. From the death of nearly every member of the band in 1977, to the inability to
recapture the success of their lone hit song, ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ those obstacles have seemingly meant little to the band that just keeps chugging along as though nothing had ever happened.

The death of bassist Donald ‘Ean’ Evans, the second death for the band this year, has once again tested that longevity and never say die attitude. Evans passed away on Friday after a long battle with cancer. His band mate, keyboardist Billy Powell, died of heart attack in late January. Despite those deaths, something that would destroy lesser bands, the group plans to soldier on unabated.

“Bands occasionally are able to replace important members but quite often when an essential component is lost the synergy that created the quality in the first place goes as well. AC/DC is the best example of a band that was able to successfully
replace a deceased member but they are the exception that goes to prove the rule,” said Scrape TV Music analyst Dylan Chambers. “Skynyrd though just keeps trucking on as though nothing ever happened. I suppose they realize that they are missing a member especially when they go out on stage, but their efficiency at replacing those people is unmatched in the music industry.”

Notable bands such as Joy Division, Led Zeppelin, and The Grateful Dead all disbanded after the deaths of members. Reunions of such bands have been largely unsuccessful and produced little or no music of consequence.

“The one advantage that Skynyrd has over those other bands and why they have been so adept at adjusting to death is their limited musical contributions. Very few bands have been able to translate a single hit into an entire career but they have done exactly that. With little or no quality to live up to,
replacing a member here and there really doesn’t make that much of a difference,” continued Chambers. “They were evolving and had that plane stayed in the sky they may very well have become a significant band for their music. That was not to be though and they have been relegated to one of those bands everyone thinks they like and have totally inexplicable success because of that. They are probably the most successful of that particular breed. There are modern day examples like Nickelback but they haven’t had the longevity or enough members die.”

It’s expected that Evans will be quickly replaced with a competent bass player after a very short search. It’s not clear if his spot will be filled before or after his funeral.

“It’s really a point of commendation. Most bands wilt but Skynyrd has that tough
down home southern grit that just keeps them going. Most bands would look at and think that this just wasn’t the thing they were meant to do but they keep pushing on. A band like Zeppelin with huge international success and their legendary status quit after one little death but Skynyrd keeps playing,” continued Chambers. “It’s almost like the other bands aren’t even trying. Pushing on in the face of mass death is admirable, pushing on in the face of total lack of success is another, but doing it with both things right in your face is something else entirely. Where lesser bands would have realized that some power was trying to tell them something, Skynyrd keeps on keeping on. That’s Rock and Roll.”

The band reportedly has no plans on improving the quality of their music.     

Samantha Dryden, Entertainment Correspondent

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