It was a Lynyrd Skynyrd that hadnt been seen before, blowing the Rolling Stones out of the water. For the fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the mystery of Van Zant's gravesite location has been solved. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. But he soon proved his worth and his career thus took off. The Outlaws and Ghosts of The NatchezTrace, Movie Trailer: The Mark of the BellWitch, "From Turkey Creek A Memoir" Fan Page on Facebook, "Ghostly Cries From Dixie" Fan Page on Facebook, "MORE Ghostly Cries From Dixie" Fan Page on Facebook, "The Bell Witch: The Full Account" Fan Page on Facebook, "The Outlaws and Ghosts of The Natchez Trace" Fan Page on Facebook. Burns left and was replaced by Artimus Pyle in 1974. A lonesome railroad track runs through a rural area between Middleburg, Florida, and Doctors lake, in the Brickyard community, where Ronnie Van Zant started a family and spent his last years. On October 20, 1977, three days after the albumStreet Survivorswas released (and five dates into the band's most successful tour yet), a plane carrying the band between shows fromGreenville, South CarolinatoBaton Rouge, Louisiana, crashed outside ofGillsburg, Mississippi. "Investigators said it's unlikely anybody could have broken it with their fist or foot. Van Zant's family decided to relocate his remains to Riverside Memorial Park cemetery in Jacksonville. At 1:30 p.m., Steve and Cassie Gaines' childhood street in Miami, Circle Drive, will be co-named Gaines Drive in their honor. But the break-in at the mausoleum has left the family particularly shaken, Justino said. His girlfriend Caroline followed Bators' wishes to be cremated and spread over the grave of Jim Morrison -- except, according to filmmaker John Waters, for the small amount she snorted. I have placed it behind the read more link (but like most things WordPress, its probably not working right). He was the oldest son of six children (3 sisters and 2 brothers - musicians Donnie and Johnny). His first band, The Ravens (a local High School rock band that Steve's friends formed), made its first recording at the famousSun RecordsStudio inMemphis, Tennessee. It was here that Ronnie and the band stopped in one afternoon early in their career to have some beer before playing a local dance. A story that the remaining ashes had been stolen from Courtney Love and were to be smoked in a spliff by Australian artist Natascha Stellmach turned out later to be a hoax. "I think it's wrong, totally wrong. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Arguably the first true Southern rock group, the Allman Brothers Band, formed following a jam at a Riverside home known as the Gray House. The relocation was prompted by a June 29 break-in at the crypts for Van Zant and Gaines at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park, where fans had gathered to pay tribute to the band for more than 22 years. and help keep the future of the Houston Press, Use of this website constitutes acceptance of our. On October 17, 1977, Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd released their fifth studio album titled "Street Survivors." It sums up Ronnies life perfectly. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. A few months later, Gaines was invited to join the band for the production of their live album, One More from the Road. In 1975, his sister, Cassie, whose group had been hired to sing back up. They jammed with him informally a couple of times more, then invited him into the band just in time for the recording of Skynyrd's live albumOne More From The Road. Also, several of the band interviews in Freebird: The Movie were filmed on the dock. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The Jaxson is produced by Modern Cities in association with WJCT. Her ashes were buried in the garden outside her bedroom window in Connecticut underneath a Japanese Maple Tree. Yoko Ono had Lennon's body cremated at the Ferncliff Cemetery, and scattered his ashes in Central Park, in sight of their New York apartment. 28years (19491977) It was on the original dock that Ronnie Van Zant would sit and fish, swat at alligators, and come up with the lyrics to the bands most famous songs. Is Sweet Home Alabama Song racist? The crash also killedRonnie Van Zant, Steve's sisterCassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary, and co-pilot William Gray. Laura Nyro: Laura Nyro wrote songs for some of the most popular rock stars of all time before ovarian cancer claimed her in 1997. Embed from Getty Images. After he was hit by a car in 1990, he left the hospital without being seen because he was bored. Stiv Bators: One of punk rock's most important voices was Stiv Bators of the Dead Boys and the Lords of the New Church. Gaines was born in Miami, Oklahoma. We would be grateful if you would support our work by recording your loved ones, preserving their memory for future generations. Gary Rossington Rocks Off Magazine contains a number of affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission when you click these links, at no additional cost to you. Its on Doctors Lake, a tributary of the St. Johns River and where Ronnie and Gary were fishing during the 1970s Pepsi Cola Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd videos opening shots. He was elected, and was then re-elected for a second one-year term at the 2017 annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. When he was 15 years old, he saw the Beatles performing live in Kansas City. Do you need underlay for laminate flooring on concrete? There have been a few other minor incidents of vandalism to Van Zant's burial tomb, including the theft in February 1982 of a stone memorial with an inscription by country singer Charlie Daniels. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". As reported by Rolling Stone, Wilkeson was buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Jacksonville. When did Steve . "They don't understand why, after almost 23 years, anybody would go to this extent to do something like this.". Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Five years later, the Strawberry Fields Memorial was dedicated on the approximate spot, and more or less serves as Lennon's official gravesite. 8. Winehouse was extremely close with her grandmother Cynthia, who passed away from lung cancer in 2006. At the time, the band was in need of a new guitarist to replace the position of Ed King who departed from the band in the middle of 1975. What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? The remains of Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, two founding members of the '70s Southern rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd, will be relocated to unmarked graves in the aftermath of the recent . Pat Fitzhugh is best known for his extensive research and books about the history, legends, and lore of the American South, and his epic investigations of the paranormal. All rights reserved. The secret was leaked through Craigslist. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. During this time, the band was in the midst of searching for a guitarist to replaceEd King, who left the band in mid-1975. Sammie Ketcher, a member of two of Gaines early bands recalls. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. For more than 10 years, people have wondered where Lynyrd Skynyrd front man Ronnie Van Zant was buried. fishing, seafood, and live music. On February 15, 1979, the mother of Steve and Cassie, also named Cassie LaRue Gaines, was killed in an automobile accident near the cemetery where Steve and Cassie are buried. "Ronnie knew that he was going to die," he said. . "I used that as a segue to try to sell the lots because it was right next to the people, so I thought, 'OK, somebody might be interested in it just because of that reason,'" Cochran said of why he mentioned Van Zant's burial site in the listing. . The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". (1964) and Surfari (1967). Johnny Ramone: Half of the original Ramones are laid to rest in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery sort of. I always felt that Ronnie belonged to his fans but I never thought anyone would do something like this to his resting place.". In 1977, the body of Steve Gaines was cremated and his ashes buried in Orange Park, Florida. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any material without explicit, written permission from this blog/sites owner is strictly prohibited. To open the vault would . Lynyrd Skynyrds Sweet Home Alabama meaning is often interpreted as being racist because of the the lyrics reference In Birmingham [where a black church was bombed killing 4 young girls] they love the governor [George Wallace ] who was a segregationist. Rossington, Van Zandt, and Collins were the only founding members left in the band. They didn't leave until around 4 p.m., 12 hours later. Musician. Our content aims to be informative and entertaining, often discussing the lesser-known moments in history. It runs past the site of his last home, which is a quarter-mile down a modest rural lane just behind the camera. In 2000, their graves were vandalized and opened, some say in order to prove whether or not Van Zant had been wearing a Neil Young shirt when he was buried. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - For more than 10 years, people have wondered where Jacksonville's own Lynyrd Skynyrd front man Ronnie Van Zant was buried. "I hope the Lord will forgive them for what they have done.". Steven Earl "Steve" Gaines(September 14, 1949 October 20, 1977) was an American musician. Assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, the pilot, and co-pilot Walter McCreary and William Gray also died. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The remains of Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, lead singer and guitarist for the 1970s rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd, have been moved by family members to an undisclosed and private burial site. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Excerpts and links may be used in the interests of education and fair use, and in a non-defamatory manner, provided full and clear credit is given to Pat Fitzhugh and www.patfitzhugh.com, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. 7. Van Zant openly disclosed his awe and admiration for Steve Gaines, even predicting that the other band members would all be in his shadow one day.. The band ended up recording a single for Stax Records in 1971. 4. Shortly after, he had started his first high school band, The Ravens. TheJaxsonMag.com "They are no longer at Jacksonville Memory Gardens," said Mary Justino, sheriff's spokeswoman. Steven Earl Gaines was born on the 14th of September in 1949 in Miami, Oklahoma. Age of Death. In December 1975, Steve's older sister,Cassie, became a member ofLynyrd Skynyrd's female backup singers,The Honkettes. Gaines died from blunt-force trauma to the head; he was 28 years old and likely was killed on impact. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. On October 19, they performed a concert in Greenville, the last song they performed being Free Bird.. As the birthplace of so many bands, Jacksonville also has been the final resting place for many Southern rock musicians. "I had never seen it," said Marsh, who was trying to snap pictures of the tomb as deputies shooed her and Carpenter away. Amy Winehouse: Winehouse is another member of the 27 club who was cremated after her death. Other successful bands to emerge from Jacksonvilles fertile scene at this time included Cowboy, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, and 38 Special. The final resting places of Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmembers Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines were desecrated by vandals last week at Florida's Jacksonville . Their mausoleums remain as memorials for fans to visit. Van Zant himself realized that Steve Gaines was bringing about a rebirth of the band. Steven Earl Gaines was an American musician. Ever since, the site has served as a shrine for fans, who often leave flowers, guitar picks, an other tokens in tribute to the band members. Funding for the park and its ongoing operations is provided by The Freebird Foundation. The first of the three shows recorded for the album was only Gaines third time playing with the band. I have posted a few pictures here and there, always with the promise of one day publishing all of them, along with the stories history behind them. Cassie was buried in Orange Park, Florida, together with her brother, Steve Gains. (The two musicians were killed in a 1977 plane crash.) These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Authorities did not speculate on a motive, nor whether the intruders may have been deranged fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd seeking a bizarre memento or simply vandals out for a night of destruction. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Throughout the 1970s, Steve Gaines played in bands such as ILMO Smokehouse from Quincy, Il, and Detroit. Gaines was cremated and his ashes were buried in Orange Park, Florida in 1977, but were relocated to an undisclosed location after vandals broke into his and bandmate Ronnie Van Zants tombs on June 29, 2000. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. A plane that had problems the previous year. "We were lucky that they were not able to pry open the casket. Steve Gaines: Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines was cremated and had his ashes housed not far from the gravesite of fellow Skynyrd member Ronnie Van Zant. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This store was the inspiration for The Ballad of Curtis Lowe.. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Gaines and Van Zant were 29 years old when they died in the 1977 plane crash. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He also appeared in the 2006 motion picture DVD, An American Haunting, starring Sissy Spacek and Donald Sutherland. Memorial bench for Ronnie Van Zant at Riverside Memorial Park. In 1977, the body of Steve Gaines was cremated and his ashes buried in Orange Park, Florida. John Lennon: After he was shot in 1980, there was no funeral for the legendary Beatle. Born to parents Edgar and Dorothy Gaines, Steve and his only sibling, Ed, spent most of their youth in the small town of Dyersburg, Tennessee. It does not store any personal data. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Lacy and Marion Van Zant (Ronnie, Johnny, and Donnies parents) graves at Riverside Memorial Park. After the break-in was discovered, additional deputies, investigators and evidence technicians, including a team from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, were called to the scene. The remains of Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, two founding members of the 70s Southern rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd, will be relocated to unmarked graves in the aftermath of the recent vandalizing of their Florida burial sites. He joined the band for their performance of T-For Texas, (Blue Yodel #1) by Jimmie Rodgers in Kansas City, Missouri at the Municipal Auditorium. Gaines headstone stands just in front of the graves of his sister and parents, and nearby other members of the Gaines family and the former tomb of Ronnie Van Zant. privacy policy, by continuing you accept our The Gaines siblings and Van Zant, along with three members of the group's road crew, were killed in October 1977 when their twin-engine airplane crashed into a Mississippi swamp. Ronnie Van Zant (1948 1977), born on Woodcrest Street in Westside Jacksonville, was the frontman and founder of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Due to the June 29th, 2000, vandalizing of this gravesite, his casket was moved to Riverside Memorial Park and buried in a massive underground concrete burial vault. Like Van Zant had forecasted that the band would be under the shadow of Gaines one day, it is sad we never got to experience it. After the release of the album, the band and Gaines seemed to be entering a new and improved era musically. Steve Gaines brought a kind of magic to Lynyrd Skynyrd that no other member quite had He was a great songwriter and singerand an incredible guitarist. Steve Gaines, the 28-year-old guitarist so full of promise that Van Zant once claimed the band would "all be in his shadow one day," was buried along with his sister Cassie on October 23rd . In December of 1975, Cassie Gaines, Steves older sister, was inducted into Lynyrd Skynyrds The Honkettes, a group of female singers who sang backup vocals for the band. Steve's contributions included his co-lead vocal with Ronnie on the co-written "You've Got That Right" (a solid hit single released after the plane crash) and the rousing guitar boogie "I Know A Little" which he had written before he joined Skynyrd. This is the tiny dock behind the former Hell House. The original, older dock is underneath this oneyou can see it from the edge of the creek. He was previously married to Teresa Gaines. Rocks Off is a digital collection of stories, articles, and music. What kind of guitar did Steve Gaines play? "It was broken into about six large pieces found on the ground," she said. The original mausoleum remains in place. His proficiency in rock, blues, and country music, as well as his desire to widen his scope and vision, may have led to significant pieces of work in the future. However, they had to relocate it to a new location after his and Van Zant's tombs were broken into. He obtained his first guitar at about age 14. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Although the band themselves couldn't hear Steve's playing onstage, soundman Kevin Elson was listening through headphones and told the band that Steve was an outstanding player. Steve Gaines was cremated and buried inOrange Park, Floridain 1977, but was relocated to an undisclosed location after vandals broke into his and bandmateRonnie Van Zant's tombs on June 29, 2000. "We are saddened that we had to do this, but we have been left no choice," Jenness said in the statement. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. ", The new burial sites, Justino said, "will not be disclosed for security reasons.". Cassie and Steve Gaines were buried in Orange Park, Florida . Memorial bench for Teresa Gaines Rapp, widow of guitarist Steve Gaines and sister-in-law of backup singer, Cassie Gaines. To me, this was the most somber, heart-wrenching site on my entire trip. In 1975, his sister, Cassie, whose group had been hired to sing back. When Lynyrd Skynyrd wasn't busy with their music, Van Zant's go-to activity was fishing. In the not-too-distant past, I created and took a self-guided tour of the various sites associated with the Lynyrd Skynyrd band. And, as one might guess, the lake where Ronnie kept his fishing boat is just to the left. Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. Rocks Off Magazine is reader-supported. In June 2000, the graves of Van Zant and Steve Gaines were vandalized. Recorded in the renowned Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, Gaines contributed four original compositions, two singles of his own, and two in collaboration with Van Zant. The caller had been waiting for someone to pick him up at the mall. Ronnie attended Lee High School in Jacksonville with fellow band members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins. King left in 1975 and was replaced by Steve Gaines in 1976. Gaines was cremated and his ashes were buried in Orange Park, Florida in 1977, but were relocated to an undisclosed location after vandals broke into his and bandmate Ronnie Van Zant's tombs on June 29, 2000. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It is adjacent to the ball field where the famous fly ball incident occurred, which became the bands starting point. At the height of their fame in the 1970s, the band popularized the Southern rock genre with songs such as Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird. So confident was Skynyrd's leader of Steve's abilities that the album (and some concerts) featured Steve delivering his self-penned bluesy "Ain't No Good Life" one of the few songs in the pre-crash Skynyrd catalog to feature a lead vocalist other thanRonnie Van Zant. Train, roll on. Prior to the show, members of the band told the sound technician that, Cassies brother is going to come up and play with us, if he does not have the level, unplug him.. The bag containing Gaines' ashes was broken, and some were spilled. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - For more than 10 years, people have wondered where Lynyrd Skynyrd front man Ronnie Van Zant was buried. Votes" polls, earn exclusive profile badges and claim your Rocks Off Mag merch! Their mausoleums remain as memorials for fans to visit. He is the subject of the 2001 song "Cassie's Brother" by rock band Drive-By Truckers. Whiteys Fish Camp. Ronnie Van Zant Ronnie was the lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd. In the course of researching that article, I came across a lot of tales about the cremated remains of rock stars. In 2000, nearly 23 years after Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines . After being driven home from the concert, he pestered his father enough to buy him his first guitar. Security manager Gene Odom was seriously burned on his arm and face and lost the sight in one eye as a result of an emergency flare on board the plane that was activated during the crash. In 1975, the band recorded at the notable southern rock hub, Capricorn Studios in Macon, Georgia. On February 15, 1979, the mother of Steve and Cassie, also named Cassie LaRue Gaines, was killed in an automobile accident near the cemetery where Steve and Cassie are buried. Theirmausoleumsremain as memorials for fans to visit. After the crash, the Street Survivors album cover had to be replaced as it was too tragic to see Steve Gaines in the center of the photo surrounded by fire with his eyes shut. After the death of three of their members, the band decided to change the cover photo of the album, which initially featured a picture of the band engulfed in flames. We cannot record everything. Download Image. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". His first band recorded its debut at Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, and later bands included RIO Smokehouse and Rusty Day. Many in Florida believe that Ronnie's spirit is just roaming the swamps Florida while enjoying his favorite hobby. A fish that dies naturally in the ocean sinks to the depths, taking with it all the carbon it contains. Their father worked for the Illinois Central Railroad and retired in 1976 as a track supervisor. If you can't make the recordings, you can support us by donating. The longtime pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church in suburban Memphis and the three-time Southern Baptist Convention president died Nov. 15 at the age of 74 following a battle with pneumonia and cancer. When Steve was 15 years old, he sawThe Beatleslive in Kansas City. Whilst in Manalive, Gaines was playing with his famous Les Paul Black Beauty, which according to friends never left his side. privacy policy. His first band recorded its debut at Sun Recording Studio in Memphis, and later bands included RIO Smokehouse and Rusty Day. Both Cassie and Steve Gaines lost their lives in the crash as well as Ronnie Van Zant. Some have told me that Derek Trucks, formerly of the Allman Brothers Band and a Jacksonville resident, has also been spotted there a few times with is wife, Susan, and others from their musical camp. She was buried near her children. The Jaxson The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Gaines, along with Allen Collins and Gary Rossington (who later formed the Rossington Collins Band), came together for what is arguably the best guitar trio in rock music. Only three days later on October 20, tragedy struck when the plane carrying the band crashed in a Mississippi countryside, leaving vocalists Ronnie Van Zant and Cassie Gaines, as well as guitarist Steve Gaines, dead. Kurt Cobain: Visiting the final resting place of Kurt Cobain's ashes involves several trips. In a conversation with Gene Odom, the bands security manager, Van Zant told him, that Steve Gaines is the best thing to ever happen to this band., On October 13, 1977, the band departed on a tour in their old plane to support and promote their new album. She was buried near her children. Steve Gaines was killed instantly upon impact and his sister Cassie Gaines perished as well. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Among the six who died were Van Zant, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, and guitarist Steve Gaines. Original grave of Steve Gaines He has been in the band from day one and his six-string slinging has been featured on every one of the bands releases.
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