1951–2023
AS GUITAR WORLD’S unofficial Southern rock correspondent for the past 33 years, I interviewed Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington, who passed away March 5 at age 71, many times over many years. He was always insightful, good natured and happy to talk.
A few conversations really stand out. Circa 1996, we did a great phone interview, speaking at length about his sobriety, which was quite new at the time. Shortly after we hung up, my office landline rang again.
“Alan, it’s Gary. I need to talk.”
“Ok, Gary, what’s up?”
“I told you a lie and it’s really bugging me.”
He corrected himself and apologized. The “lie” he had told me was minor and inconsequential — not something that would’ve been in the story anyhow — but he
