A legendary rock band has plans for two big projects in 2026, plus fans might get to soon hear new music.
Lynyrd Skynyrd manager Ross Schilling says that the band is working on its first “official autobiography” and is in talks to make a movie about the band’s story. The biopic would likely chronicle the Southern rockers’ early years; the tragic plane crash that killed original lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and two other touring band members in 1977; and the group’s continued legacy led by Ronnie’s brother, current vocalist Johnny Van Zant.
“We have two or three big players interested in doing the official movie for the band,” Schilling told Ultimate Classic Rock. “We think, obviously, the story is tremendous. There’s probably not a better story out there in music, certainly in rock ‘n’ roll. We don’t know if it will be a two-hour motion picture film or go to Netflix or somebody and do a six- or eight-episode series.”
There’s no word on a potential cast, director or when fans might get to see a screen adaptation of Skynyrd’s story. Several biographies have been written about the “Sweet Home Alabama” group, but “none by the people that were closest to it and lived it,” Schilling said.
Schilling has been Lynyrd Skynyrd’s band manager since 1999 and recently left Vector Management to form his own company, King Duke Entertainment. According to UCR, he’ll continue managing the group, its current frontman (Johnny), and the estates of the original band members, the last of whom (Gary Rossington) died in 2023.
Skynyrd’s 2026 plans also include a joint tour with Foreigner, featuring an Aug. 23 concert at the Broadview Stage at SPAC (Saratoga Performing Arts Center) in Saratoga Springs. The iconic song “Free Bird” will also be featured in a Super Bowl commercial next month, Schilling said, and new music could be on the way.
Lynyrd Skynyrd released its last album, “Last of a Dyin’ Breed,” in 2012. Only one other song has been released since, back in 2020: “Last of the Street Survivors,” written by Van Zant, longtime guitarist Rickey Medlocke and Rossington.
“There’s 30 songs that Johnny, Rickey and Gary wrote that are kind of sitting there that could be revisited and recorded at some point,” Schilling told UCR. “Will they come out as Skynyrd music? I don’t know. That has yet to be determined. If Rickey and Johnny want to (finish) them, maybe that’ll happen, but right now there isn’t a big plan to do that.”
“None of us feel the story ended in 1977; it came back and it kept going, stronger, and still is,” Schilling added.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group formed in the 1960s and released its first album, “(Pronounced ‘Lĕh-’nérd ‘Skin-’nérd),” in 1973. The band’s hits include “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Free Bird,” “Gimme Three Steps,” “Free Bird” and “Tuesday’s Gone.”
Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of Lynyrd Skynyrd reforming with Johnny Van Zant replacing his older brother Ronnie on lead vocals. During the band’s New York State Fair concert last year, he remarked at how multiple generations of fans were among the 33,000 attendees.
“I think we’re four generations full,” Van Zant remarked, observing some younger audience members who came with parents, grandparents or great-grandparents. “You guys are the best fans in the world.”
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