April 30, 2021 • 14 mins
The rap-rocker & multi-instrumentalist Kid Rock's induction of Southern rock giants Lynyrd Skynyrd centers around the idea of down-home values, even designating “Free Bird” as the National Anthem of the South. The acceptance speeches of the band and their families mix gratitude, celebration, and the somberness that accompanies a band that lost so many members over their storied past.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
M Welcome to Induction Vault, a production of I Heart
Radio and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Good
set the Cruel Hall of Fame. So rap rocker and
(00:31):
multi instrumentalist Kid Rock is a quintessential example of down
home values. It's bidding that is rock call induction speech
for the Southern rock giants. Leonard Skinner would spotlight that idea,
even designating Freebird as the national anthem of the South.
The acceptance speeches of the band and their families makes gratitude,
celebration and the somberness that have companies a band that
(00:53):
lost so many members over their story past. But in
the words of Kid Rock quote one of Ronnie's gray
his lyrics was if I leave here tomorrow, would you
still remember me? And quote? And on this night they
absolutely do remember. Pay tribute to and honor Ronnie van
zandt along with all members of Leonarx Kenry Oh. Between
(01:26):
the between the sun going down last night and the
sun coming up, we jotted down a couple of notes here. Um,
let me just say that Leonard Skinners, I mean simply
as the ship period to me, Ronnie van Zand I
mean Ronnie van Zand was the truth. To me, he
(01:47):
was a true Southern poet. I mean it really was. Um.
He was a simple man that he sang about when
you really get into those lyrics and you start to
talk about him, and I always say that Leonard Skinner
is really um, it's kind of Ronnie van Zant's house
to me. But and it was built by a lot
of hands, a whole lot of hands, great hands. Um
(02:11):
talking about the west side of Jacksonville, Florida. Uh not
not not not rich people, not any money, you know,
the wrong side of town. And uh to me, Leonard Skinner,
these guys were like, uh kind of what A lot
of the the guys in Britain and other places that
that absorbed this rock and roll blues music so well
wanted to be. They wanted to be poor white boys
(02:33):
from the South and knew how to pick and play
like that. And these guys are the epitome of it
to me, Um, I mean you can't talk about Ronnie
without of course, uh Alan Collins and uh Steve and
Cassie Gaines and you know some of them that are
not with us anymore, and uh Bob Burns and Ed King,
(02:54):
I mean Bob Burns, I mean, I understand these guys
were playing a softball game and uh and uh, Ronnie
hits the ball and hits, uh, hits Bob Burns in
the head with a softball and knocks him out and
somehow him Gary Rossing to him get together and go,
hey man, we should start a band where fun is that?
(03:18):
That's great? Um. Also, of course the great Leon Wilkinson,
who was a very dear friend of mine, the mad Hatter,
the mad Hatter. And to go back to Ronnie, I
think one of the most amazing things that I've learned
about him is that he never wrote his lyrics down.
And when you listen to these lyrics and the songs
(03:40):
that that he penned, from Curtis Low to Tuesday's Gone,
who that smell? Give Me Back My Bullets? Saturday Night Special,
the Needle in the Spoon, What's your Name? Of course,
the national anthem of the South, Freebird. And you imagine
a man that never wrote these lyrics down. I mean,
that's it's pretty incredible to me. And of course Sweet
(04:02):
Home Alabama. I mean, to me, that is probably the
greatest song ever written. I mean, pound for pound that
song Sweet Home Alabama, that lick Ed King wrote, I
mean I went to uh Iraq a couple of years
ago to play for our troops and we were kind
of in front of a five thousand kids at Saddam
International Airport and the hangar there, and we didn't really
(04:24):
have a band together. There was a military band on stage.
You know, these kids are kind of like, hey, man,
get up and play for us, Get up and play.
So we kind of grabbed her some musicians and other
people together we kind of put together and makeshift band.
Last second, I looked out those kids and like, what
do they want to hear? The first thing I did,
bomb battom, bom, bombottom, and they went nuts. And I
(04:46):
mean that kind of sums it up for me right there. Um,
the three Guitar Army, you know that was some pioneering things.
You know, three part harmonies on guitar. You know where's
that going nowadays? Hiding in the haystacks somewhere. I assume, um,
(05:09):
the influences that they've influenced, not only myself, but people
like Hank Williams Jr. Charlie Daniels, Gretchen Wilson, Metallica, I mean,
all of us are you know the songs where they've
been played in movies like Forrest Gump and Happy Gilmore.
I've seen these songs. I've spun him as a DJ
and clubs in London, New York City. I've seen him
(05:29):
banging the honky Tonks in Nashville, you know, down at
Tutchies and whatnot. And uh, that's pretty incredible. Uh. And
the and the way the tradition is carried on today
with his younger brother, Johnny, who's out there singing those
songs every night. Now, I mean, that's pretty incredible to me,
because the hardest thing to do, I would imagine, in
life is to stand in the shadows of somebody very
(05:52):
famous to try and fill those shoes. And I think
he's done it with class and dignity. And I'm sure
his brother would be very happy that they're airing on
that one nowadays. Um, Artemis Pyle, I mean, you know,
come on, great drummer. You know, we go through the
(06:13):
list now, Johnny and Ricky Medlock and Gary Rossington, Billy Powell,
Ian Evans, Carol Chase Dale, Rossington, Michael Kellyoni. There's been
this is a hard speech to write. There's been over
twenty five members in this fucking band, all right. They
had more members in the freaking y m c A.
You know what I mean. But um, I love it
(06:34):
to death. I lived by it, and I think, uh,
you know, one of Ronnie's greatest lyrics as if I
leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me? And we
do remember Ronnie, We do remember Alan Collins, Steve and
Cassie Gaines and being Killpatrick. And you know the histories
(06:55):
out there if you want to learn about it, and
I wouldn't. I would. I would encourage everyone to dig
into that. But more importantly, I think we're here to
celebrate the music and the families. And what a wonderful,
wonderful side it was to walk in the other day.
And you know, I've played with Skinnert a few times,
and to look at the stage and see you know,
Add up there and and and uh and and Bob
Burns and Artemis and like, you know, these guys you know,
(07:18):
all playing together again and Judy here and everyone. It's just, uh,
it's really a special feeling. And um, congratulate them. And
it's long overdue for these southern boys, you know, flag
waving simple people to be inducted into the rock and
Roll Hall of Fame, Leonard Skinner, good evening. I'm a
(07:56):
little nervous. No one deserves to be here tonight anymore
than Ronnie van z Aunt, and he would truly be honored.
There's a couple of people I'd like to mention while
I'm up here that aren't here tonight, that we're very
instrumental in Ronnie van z Aunt's life and his career.
(08:20):
That would be Lacey and Mary and Van's aunt, his parents.
Also a dear friend of ours, Tom Dowd. H I
have Ronnie's two daughters up here as well as his
(08:40):
granddaughter Riah, and be thank you and on behalf of
his family, his friends and all the Leonard skinnered fans.
Thank you very much. And he's really it's a great
(09:04):
honor for Steve. Thank you very much. I am really
the luckiest guitar player in the world. I was really
privileged to play with Ronnie Van's aunt. My name is
ed King. By the way, I wrote the One Great Lick,
(09:28):
and it was God's gift to me and uh I
when I saw Solomon Burke in the opening act here,
I kind of felt like the fat guy on this
first night at Shawshank You know, I I don't belong here,
you know, but I'm very lucky guitar player. I want
to thank my wife, Sharon for making me laugh for
(09:50):
the past ten years. I wouldn't have been here. Thank you.
Let me go through it. I'd like to thank the fans,
especially the band and the man Hello. That's why I
briefly say, you know, I think it's every musician's dream
(10:12):
to be just acknowledged in the world of music, you know,
and then uh, later on down the road, another dream
would be to have a hit record. And uh, I
don't think it ever crossed our minds for years, you
know that maybe one day we might be inducted to
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But uh, you know,
right now I think I'm dreaming, you know, but I've
actually realized I am wide awake and this is not
a dream. That is unbelievable. And uh, I just want
(10:35):
to thank my wife, who I love very much, Ellen,
and all four of my kids, Ashley, Maggie, Brandon, Joel
sitting right over there. I love you very much. One
for you, I wouldn't be here, Thank you, Hello, Thank you.
(10:56):
First of all, I can thank God, of course, through
all things are blessed, and especially us and and I
really would like to thank Ronnie van Zane, Allan Collins
and Leon Wilberson and Steve Games for all the great
songs they wrote that that allows me to be here.
And all these guys you know, and it's an honorary
(11:17):
have known him and played with him and and then
been on friends and um. And there's one more thing
I gotta say. I really would like to thank that
the fans, and and that's not enough. God bless you
off from the bottom of our hearts, and each of them,
one of me al will thank you so so much
for helping me and all my brothers and sisters keep
the name of Ronnie, Allen, Steve and Dean and Cassie
(11:40):
and Leon and Leonard Skittered alive. I'm here on Bill
having Leon Wilkinson, and I just want to thank him
for all the blood, sweat and tears. I'm here on
(12:01):
behalf of my father, Alan Collins, and I'm proud to
say he was my daddy and he was the best
guitar in this world as far as I am concerned.
And the heavens are rocking tonight, and I am so
proud to accept this award to thank all y'all. Yeah,
(12:25):
I'm lark and calling down lit father. I wish he
would here tonight do his own honor, but since he's not,
I would like to take the pleasure to think all
the band members and the other people that make this possible.
(12:47):
Which one's letter, I miss, everybody that they've mentioned, all
the people that we wish were here, that we lost
in the plane crash in n and Um. It's appropriate.
It's almost the end of the evening and we're gonna
(13:08):
end it with freebird and from all of us and
are the families. We would like to thank our families,
all of our friends, and all of the fans that
made it possible. And thanks to the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame Foundation. Thank you. Thanks for joining us
(13:45):
on this week's episode of Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame Induction Vault. For more on your favorite inductees, to
shop inductee merch or to plan your trip to the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, visit rock hall dot
com plus Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Special
on Tomay and on HBO Max. Our executive producers are
Noel Brown, Shelby Morrison and Esa Gurkey. Supervising producer is
(14:08):
Taylor Shakoin Research and archival assistants from Isabelle Keeper and
Shannon Herb. Thanks again for joining us on this week's
episode of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Vault.
Induction Ball is a production of I Heart Radio and
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For more podcasts
(14:30):
from I heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
M Welcome to Induction Vault, a production of I Heart
Radio and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Good
set the Cruel Hall of Fame. So rap rocker and
(00:31):
multi instrumentalist Kid Rock is a quintessential example of down
home values. It's bidding that is rock call induction speech
for the Southern rock giants. Leonard Skinner would spotlight that idea,
even designating Freebird as the national anthem of the South.
The acceptance speeches of the band and their families makes gratitude,
celebration and the somberness that have companies a band that
(00:53):
lost so many members over their story past. But in
the words of Kid Rock quote one of Ronnie's gray
his lyrics was if I leave here tomorrow, would you
still remember me? And quote? And on this night they
absolutely do remember. Pay tribute to and honor Ronnie van
zandt along with all members of Leonarx Kenry Oh. Between
(01:26):
the between the sun going down last night and the
sun coming up, we jotted down a couple of notes here. Um,
let me just say that Leonard Skinners, I mean simply
as the ship period to me, Ronnie van Zand I
mean Ronnie van Zand was the truth. To me, he
(01:47):
was a true Southern poet. I mean it really was. Um.
He was a simple man that he sang about when
you really get into those lyrics and you start to
talk about him, and I always say that Leonard Skinner
is really um, it's kind of Ronnie van Zant's house
to me. But and it was built by a lot
of hands, a whole lot of hands, great hands. Um
(02:11):
talking about the west side of Jacksonville, Florida. Uh not
not not not rich people, not any money, you know,
the wrong side of town. And uh to me, Leonard Skinner,
these guys were like, uh kind of what A lot
of the the guys in Britain and other places that
that absorbed this rock and roll blues music so well
wanted to be. They wanted to be poor white boys
(02:33):
from the South and knew how to pick and play
like that. And these guys are the epitome of it
to me, Um, I mean you can't talk about Ronnie
without of course, uh Alan Collins and uh Steve and
Cassie Gaines and you know some of them that are
not with us anymore, and uh Bob Burns and Ed King,
(02:54):
I mean Bob Burns, I mean, I understand these guys
were playing a softball game and uh and uh, Ronnie
hits the ball and hits, uh, hits Bob Burns in
the head with a softball and knocks him out and
somehow him Gary Rossing to him get together and go,
hey man, we should start a band where fun is that?
(03:18):
That's great? Um. Also, of course the great Leon Wilkinson,
who was a very dear friend of mine, the mad Hatter,
the mad Hatter. And to go back to Ronnie, I
think one of the most amazing things that I've learned
about him is that he never wrote his lyrics down.
And when you listen to these lyrics and the songs
(03:40):
that that he penned, from Curtis Low to Tuesday's Gone,
who that smell? Give Me Back My Bullets? Saturday Night Special,
the Needle in the Spoon, What's your Name? Of course,
the national anthem of the South, Freebird. And you imagine
a man that never wrote these lyrics down. I mean,
that's it's pretty incredible to me. And of course Sweet
(04:02):
Home Alabama. I mean, to me, that is probably the
greatest song ever written. I mean, pound for pound that
song Sweet Home Alabama, that lick Ed King wrote, I
mean I went to uh Iraq a couple of years
ago to play for our troops and we were kind
of in front of a five thousand kids at Saddam
International Airport and the hangar there, and we didn't really
(04:24):
have a band together. There was a military band on stage.
You know, these kids are kind of like, hey, man,
get up and play for us, Get up and play.
So we kind of grabbed her some musicians and other
people together we kind of put together and makeshift band.
Last second, I looked out those kids and like, what
do they want to hear? The first thing I did,
bomb battom, bom, bombottom, and they went nuts. And I
(04:46):
mean that kind of sums it up for me right there. Um,
the three Guitar Army, you know that was some pioneering things.
You know, three part harmonies on guitar. You know where's
that going nowadays? Hiding in the haystacks somewhere. I assume, um,
(05:09):
the influences that they've influenced, not only myself, but people
like Hank Williams Jr. Charlie Daniels, Gretchen Wilson, Metallica, I mean,
all of us are you know the songs where they've
been played in movies like Forrest Gump and Happy Gilmore.
I've seen these songs. I've spun him as a DJ
and clubs in London, New York City. I've seen him
(05:29):
banging the honky Tonks in Nashville, you know, down at
Tutchies and whatnot. And uh, that's pretty incredible. Uh. And
the and the way the tradition is carried on today
with his younger brother, Johnny, who's out there singing those
songs every night. Now, I mean, that's pretty incredible to me,
because the hardest thing to do, I would imagine, in
life is to stand in the shadows of somebody very
(05:52):
famous to try and fill those shoes. And I think
he's done it with class and dignity. And I'm sure
his brother would be very happy that they're airing on
that one nowadays. Um, Artemis Pyle, I mean, you know,
come on, great drummer. You know, we go through the
(06:13):
list now, Johnny and Ricky Medlock and Gary Rossington, Billy Powell,
Ian Evans, Carol Chase Dale, Rossington, Michael Kellyoni. There's been
this is a hard speech to write. There's been over
twenty five members in this fucking band, all right. They
had more members in the freaking y m c A.
You know what I mean. But um, I love it
(06:34):
to death. I lived by it, and I think, uh,
you know, one of Ronnie's greatest lyrics as if I
leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me? And we
do remember Ronnie, We do remember Alan Collins, Steve and
Cassie Gaines and being Killpatrick. And you know the histories
(06:55):
out there if you want to learn about it, and
I wouldn't. I would. I would encourage everyone to dig
into that. But more importantly, I think we're here to
celebrate the music and the families. And what a wonderful,
wonderful side it was to walk in the other day.
And you know, I've played with Skinnert a few times,
and to look at the stage and see you know,
Add up there and and and uh and and Bob
Burns and Artemis and like, you know, these guys you know,
(07:18):
all playing together again and Judy here and everyone. It's just, uh,
it's really a special feeling. And um, congratulate them. And
it's long overdue for these southern boys, you know, flag
waving simple people to be inducted into the rock and
Roll Hall of Fame, Leonard Skinner, good evening. I'm a
(07:56):
little nervous. No one deserves to be here tonight anymore
than Ronnie van z Aunt, and he would truly be honored.
There's a couple of people I'd like to mention while
I'm up here that aren't here tonight, that we're very
instrumental in Ronnie van z Aunt's life and his career.
(08:20):
That would be Lacey and Mary and Van's aunt, his parents.
Also a dear friend of ours, Tom Dowd. H I
have Ronnie's two daughters up here as well as his
(08:40):
granddaughter Riah, and be thank you and on behalf of
his family, his friends and all the Leonard skinnered fans.
Thank you very much. And he's really it's a great
(09:04):
honor for Steve. Thank you very much. I am really
the luckiest guitar player in the world. I was really
privileged to play with Ronnie Van's aunt. My name is
ed King. By the way, I wrote the One Great Lick,
(09:28):
and it was God's gift to me and uh I
when I saw Solomon Burke in the opening act here,
I kind of felt like the fat guy on this
first night at Shawshank You know, I I don't belong here,
you know, but I'm very lucky guitar player. I want
to thank my wife, Sharon for making me laugh for
(09:50):
the past ten years. I wouldn't have been here. Thank you.
Let me go through it. I'd like to thank the fans,
especially the band and the man Hello. That's why I
briefly say, you know, I think it's every musician's dream
(10:12):
to be just acknowledged in the world of music, you know,
and then uh, later on down the road, another dream
would be to have a hit record. And uh, I
don't think it ever crossed our minds for years, you
know that maybe one day we might be inducted to
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But uh, you know,
right now I think I'm dreaming, you know, but I've
actually realized I am wide awake and this is not
a dream. That is unbelievable. And uh, I just want
(10:35):
to thank my wife, who I love very much, Ellen,
and all four of my kids, Ashley, Maggie, Brandon, Joel
sitting right over there. I love you very much. One
for you, I wouldn't be here, Thank you, Hello, Thank you.
(10:56):
First of all, I can thank God, of course, through
all things are blessed, and especially us and and I
really would like to thank Ronnie van Zane, Allan Collins
and Leon Wilberson and Steve Games for all the great
songs they wrote that that allows me to be here.
And all these guys you know, and it's an honorary
(11:17):
have known him and played with him and and then
been on friends and um. And there's one more thing
I gotta say. I really would like to thank that
the fans, and and that's not enough. God bless you
off from the bottom of our hearts, and each of them,
one of me al will thank you so so much
for helping me and all my brothers and sisters keep
the name of Ronnie, Allen, Steve and Dean and Cassie
(11:40):
and Leon and Leonard Skittered alive. I'm here on Bill
having Leon Wilkinson, and I just want to thank him
for all the blood, sweat and tears. I'm here on
(12:01):
behalf of my father, Alan Collins, and I'm proud to
say he was my daddy and he was the best
guitar in this world as far as I am concerned.
And the heavens are rocking tonight, and I am so
proud to accept this award to thank all y'all. Yeah,
(12:25):
I'm lark and calling down lit father. I wish he
would here tonight do his own honor, but since he's not,
I would like to take the pleasure to think all
the band members and the other people that make this possible.
(12:47):
Which one's letter, I miss, everybody that they've mentioned, all
the people that we wish were here, that we lost
in the plane crash in n and Um. It's appropriate.
It's almost the end of the evening and we're gonna
(13:08):
end it with freebird and from all of us and
are the families. We would like to thank our families,
all of our friends, and all of the fans that
made it possible. And thanks to the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame Foundation. Thank you. Thanks for joining us
(13:45):
on this week's episode of Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame Induction Vault. For more on your favorite inductees, to
shop inductee merch or to plan your trip to the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, visit rock hall dot
com plus Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Special
on Tomay and on HBO Max. Our executive producers are
Noel Brown, Shelby Morrison and Esa Gurkey. Supervising producer is
(14:08):
Taylor Shakoin Research and archival assistants from Isabelle Keeper and
Shannon Herb. Thanks again for joining us on this week's
episode of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Vault.
Induction Ball is a production of I Heart Radio and
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For more podcasts
(14:30):
from I heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app,
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
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