LYNYRD SKYNYRD'S Gary Rossington Dies At 71

LYNYRD SKYNYRD's sole remaining original member Gary Rossington has passed away ay the age of 71. The announcement came earlier today (March 5) from his surviving band members. Social media post read: "It is with our deepest sympathy and sadness that we have to advise, that we lost our brother, friend, family member, songwriter and guitarist, Gary Rossington, today. Gary is now with his Skynyrd brothers and family in heaven and playing it pretty, like he always does. Please keep Dale, Mary, Annie and the entire Rossington family in your prayers and respect the family’s privacy at this difficult time".

Rossington went through an emergency heart surgery back in 2021as well as bout with Coronary Artery Disease which led to a quintuple bypass surgery back in 2003. The guitarist also suffered a heart attack back in 2015 which led to several dates being cancelled and in 2019 had a procedure to fix a leaky heart valve.

Five years ago Rossington told Tampa Bay Times, ""I've had heart attacks on stage," he said. "That's why I was calling it a farewell tour. I don't know if I'll be here [much longer]. I don't want to just say, 'Well, we're never going to end,' because I don't want to die and then it end that way — which is a heavy thing to talk about, but I have to."

Gary survived the 1977 plane crash which killed singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines. The band eventually reunited in 1987 with Ronnie's brother Johnny Van Zant and continued touring ever since.