Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist looks forward to Rockies during Canadian tour

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The key to Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd’s resilience is “a great spirit watching over us from above” — and their classic songs — says guitarist Rickey Medlocke, the second-longest serving band member.

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“That is the key secret to keeping this band really going back time after time because these songs are loved and people want to hear those tunes,” said Medlocke, 74, down the line from Minnesota a few days after Lynyrd Skynyrd announced a 10-date Canadian tour in September, celebrating 50 years as a group.

While there are no Toronto shows, the band will play in Oshawa’s Tribute Communities Centre on Sept. 18, and Niagara Falls’ Fallsview Casino on Sept. 19. Tickets go on sale Jan. 24.

“The resilience of the band, I don’t know. We lost (last original member and fellow guitarist) Gary (Rossington) several years ago now (in 2023) and it was his wish for the music not to perish with him. We all know at some point, one day, it probably will be the end of it. But not anytime soon.”

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Lynyrd Skynyrd’s famous back catalogue includes the group’s signature track, Free Bird, the most shouted out song request at concerts — even sometimes when it’s not Lynyrd Skynyrd on stage.

So do the band get a kick out of that particular phenomenon?

“I’ve heard other artists kind of get annoyed at their own shows by it. They get annoyed at people yelling out ‘Free Bird,” said Medclarke.

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“But it gets yelled to us and sometimes I have responded by saying, ‘Hang out. Hang on. We’re getting to it.’ It is a testament honestly to an incredibly great song,” he added. “I really get to let go and when I do the ending lead (guitar solo), it just takes me to another place. My adrenaline is slamming so hard. And when it’s over with, I’ve got to blink my eyes and shake my head, because where did I go? I love playing it.”

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The Jacksonville, Fla., group released their first album in 1973 before a 1977 devastating plane crash in Gillsburg, Miss., that killed lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backup singer Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick and the two pilots. That tragedy led to a 10-year hiatus before Ronnie’s brother, Johnny, replaced him as frontman.

More recently, Lynyrd Skynyrd had announced their farewell tour in 2018, but COVID-19 hiccups had them performing until 2022 and beyond.

“When I heard that there was a possibility that we were going to do Canada again, I was really, really happy,” said Medlocke, whose 31 years with the group saw him first join as a session drummer in 1971-72 before fully rejoining as a guitar player in 1996.

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“This time, September will be a beautiful month to be up there, and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Medlocke also hopes to see an old friend and some scenery out west.

“I have a Native-Canadian friend (and actor) named Eugene Brave Rock, who’s Blackfoot, because I’m about two-thirds Native-American, and I met him actually in Calgary during the Calgary Stampede,” said Medlocke.

“He and I stuck up a great friendship. And it was so cool. But I love coming to Calgary. It’s just a gorgeous area there with the Rockies.”

The musician said the biggest difference between touring now versus the early days is comfort and taking care of themselves.

“I had to ride in the back of the equipment truck on a mattress or in a very stuffed up van,” he said with a chuckle.

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“Nowadays it’s quite a bit different. We spend most of our time on the bus and in hotels. I’m buzzing (after a show) and then when the adrenaline crashes I’ve got to stretch out and lay down and try to get as much rest as I possibly can,” he said, adding that “in our early 20s, early 30s, the drinking and carousing around, you recovered great. But now, we gave that stuff up many years ago because I can’t even imagine that now. It would take me weeks to recover.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Canadian tour dates:

— Sept. 10: Calgary, Scotiabank Saddledome

— Sept. 11: Edmonton, Rogers Place

— Sept. 12: Saskatoon, Sask., SaskTel Centre

— Sept. 13: Winnipeg, Canada Life Centre

— Sept. 18: Oshawa, Tribute Communities Centre

— Sept. 19: Niagara Falls, Fallsview Casino

— Sept. 20: Laval, Que., Place Bell

— Sept. 22: Moncton, Avenir Centre

— Sept. 23: Halifax, Scotiabank Centre

— Sept. 25: St. John’s, N.L., Mary Brown’s Centre

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