"There's things goin' on that you don't know."

Ron Asheton had a much bigger impact on me as a musician, but I was almost equally saddened to hear today of Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell's passing.  Powell's, and the rest of Skynyrd's, abilities and intentions are about as misunderstood as Asheton's/the Stooges' (which is the subject of a future post).  Most obvious and disturbing is the confederate flag iconography that follows Skynyrd wherever they go.  Ross Warner clears that up:

...the band had serious reservations about the label they were tagged with. Particularly troubling was the Confederate flag that often hung behind the stage. In 1975, [Skynyrd lead vocalist and songwriter Ronnie] Van Zant mused, “That was strictly an MCA gimmick to start us off with some label. It was useful at first, but by now it’s embarrassing except in Europe, where they really like all that stuff because they think it’s macho American.” The “stars and bars” that eventually began popping up in the band’s crowds became more than embarrassing. It was bad enough to be portrayed as ignorant hayseeds. It was entirely another to be categorized as racist.

Their music and subsequent fame brought pride to the forgotten folks in the South, but Van Zant never condoned discrimination of those who were most forgotten. In fact, when they name-checked George Wallace in “Sweet Home Alabama” it was only meant to take a swipe at his pro-segregation stance. When Van Zant referred to Birmingham loving the governor, the back-up singers sang “Boo! Boo! Boo!” in criticism. However, listeners didn’t notice the criticism among the catchy harmony.

Although the song is perceived as an anthem of southern pride, “Sweet Home Alabama,” was actually intended not only as the band’s fond recollection of their first time in a recording studio but as a reminder to the rest of America that not all southerners were rednecks. When Skynyrd criticized Neil Young’s “Southern Man,” it was for the sweeping generalization of all southerners as rednecks. Don’t condemn southerners now for what their ancestors did. “We thought Neil was shooting all the ducks in order to kill one or two,” Van Zant said. “We’re southern rebels, but more than that, we know the difference between right and wrong.” In fact, the band was quite outspoken about their disdain for Wallace’s policies.

Probably my favorite Powell moment with Skynyrd is on "Things Goin' On," as direct and uncompromising a protest song as anyone had recorded in the mid-70s:

Comments

[andujar]

ignorant music snobs always thought i was fucken joking when i would mention that skynyrd were among my all time fave pop bands. well i'm serious...this band rocks some serious soul and i don't care what the fuck anyone thinks. this is a band i can get down to. i'm glad you share an appreciation.

hope yr staying warm.

[Ken Kurson]

Yes, GREAT piano solo. I've been playing piano my whole life and could never get that "bounciness" to come out of my fingers, where it sounds like the right hand is playing just a hair faster than the tempo. Thanks for posting.

[Jotham Stavely]

Very nice one Matt, only one left now...

[Ken Kurson]

And while we're on the subject ... can I just say 7 words: the crash cymbals in "Whiskey Rock N Roller."

[Matt Weston]

Actually there's a couple Skynyrds still alive: Ed King (co-wrote "Sweet Home," quit before the plane crash); and original drummer Bob Burns, who's supposedly in an asylum. His replacement, Artimus Pyle (who's great, but for my money never locked in as convincingly with Leon Wilkeson as Burns did) survived the crash, but for some reason hasn't been in the band since the 80s. The current touring band only has Gary Rossington from any pre-crash lineup.

That bounciness kills me, as does the fact that he's able to retain that bouncy quality on an electric piano (the wonderfully bizarre solo on "Workin' For MCA"). And yeah, those cymbals on "Whiskey Rock n Roller"...whew.

[Matt Wilson]

You have no idea how much more I like "Sweet Home Alabama" now. I'm about ready to jump up like Nicole Kidman in "To Die For."