North American syndicated Rock radio program and website InTheStudio: The Stories Behind History's Greatest Rock Bands heads south to get the .38 Special story from founding members Jeff Carlisi and Donnie Van Zant on the 35th anniversary of their breakthrough album Rockin' Into The Night. Donald Newton "Donnie" Van Zant is an American rock vocalist/guitarist. After touring with the band through the spring of 1992, Max Carl decided to depart, making way for the return of Don Barnes. He is the middle of three sons; his older brother Ronnie was the original lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd who died in a 1977 plane crash in Mississippi, and his younger brother Johnny has been the lead singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd since 1987. It`s been nearly a year since 38 Special`s last album came out, and the band did intend to perform here long before now. However, Second Chance, became the bands biggest hit of their career. "It's about damn time," Carlisi said of the group's "Wild-Eyed Southern Boys" album, which has achieved platinum status. Larry Junstrom, Garry Moffatt, Don Barnes, Bobby Capps, Donnie Van Zant and Danny Chauncey of .38 Special perform at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on. Formed in Jacksonville, Fla. around 1974, 38 Special hit their stride in the late 70s/early 80s, by updating anthemic Southern-rock with hard-rock heat. Their Ronnie Van Zant was the older brother of 38 Special's Donnie. Hes back home, touch of pneumonia from it. Willing to lend a hand and stick by his bandmates, he was hard to beat when standing by your side. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Your email address will not be published. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved Donnie Van Zant: Career, Family and Net Worth. (Ironically, Junstrom was not a native Southerner like the musicians he played with in both of those bands. Who is the only original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd? 33 on the Mainstream Rock chart in 1997. Who is the richest member of Lynyrd Skynyrd? Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). According to a posting in March 2013 on the 38 Special website, "Donnie Van Zant has not been able to join the band's performances for the past six months. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. [citation needed], In October 1977 Ronnie Van Zant was killed when Skynyrd's plane crashed. Briefly, Van Zant was considering a higher-paying position for the railroad at which he worked, but was finally convinced by brother Ronnie to stick with music since it was "in his blood". What happens to atoms during chemical reaction? The resemblance between the two is remarkable. [citation needed], Larry Junstrom died on October 6, 2019, at age 70. [4] The band's name was thought up after an incident which found the boys practicing in a warehouse out in the middle of nowhere. The song reached all the way to No. and then the spotlights gonna shine on somebody else for a while. He was 59. The band has produced 15 albums since 1976. Your email address will not be published. We'll let this .38 special do the talking", and shot off the lock. When youre younger, you have a little bit of this this competitive spirit, where you dont like that somebody else does something, or are they better than you. However, in 2013 it was announced by the members of the band that due to health issues, Van wasn't able to perform for six months, and might not be able to perform with the band in future as well. However, they disbanded for a while. The . He plays and sings with Grand Funk Railroad now and we were doing a show in Nebraska somewhere, he came up on the bus and I told him, I want to thank you for carrying the name forward. And he did a great job. In addition to being contagious and propulsive tunes, they just sound better on radio than they do on vinyl or CD. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/donnie-van-zant-35116.php. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The solo albums called Ride The Storm, it was finally released a couple years ago after all this time. They released two more albums with Columbia Records, this time. The Big Man on the Big Bass has left us, the band posted. Why did Donnie Van Zant leave 38 special? Its like a book publishing thing. Why did Donnie Van Zant leave 38 special? Dunaway had previously filled in for Junstrom for a handful of shows in 2011 and a few shows in 2013 as well. Over the past 20 years, his work has appeared in dozens of leading music publications. Lee Zimmerman is a writer and columnist based in beautiful Maryville Tennessee. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. These two drummers, Jaimoe and Butch Trucks, quickly developed a unique musical relationship on and off stage. Van Zant is one of three famous singing brothers. They kept him in there for about three hours, too. As you get older you realize all thats deserving of respect. Its single Help Somebody contributed for the success of the album. Without a doubt the most known band with more than 2 drummers, Slipknot (as you all know) had one drummer and 2 percussionists/drummers. Guitarist Hughie Thomasson died from a heart attack in 2007. Formed by Donnie Van Zant, whose brother Ronnie was a founder of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special pumped out what a Rolling Stone writer called "the prototype of country-fried, down home, Southern style, rock 'n' roll." The band has had gold and platinum albums, top-ten hits, and sold-out stadium tours, and is still touring. At 68, the Jacksonville Florida native is stoked to be fronting the band he helped form more than 47 years ago. Youre from Jacksonville.. Since that time, the band has mostly concentrated on touring, with an occasional release of new material. Sung by 38's guitarist Don Barnes (who would sing lead vocals on all of the band's hits through 1987), the tune became their first song to receive national airplay, peaking at No. 38 Special in 1975 with Jeff Carlisi (guitar), Don Barnes (guitar, vocals), Ken Lyons (bass), Jack Grondin (drums), and Steve Brookins (drums). Born In: Jacksonville, Florida, United States, siblings: Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie Van Zant, See the events in life of Donnie Van Zant in Chronological Order. He has not performed in Chicago for about a decade. But you know how most people hold a guitar pick, with the pointed end plucking the strings? Donnie and Johnny also perform together from time to time as the group Van Zant. arrayan path, review So thats a little frustrating. Rock musician Jimmie Van Zant, the cousin of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Van Zant brothers, including Ronnie and Johnny, died Thursday in hospice care, according to multiple news sources. Thats where we are, this many years later. The band, .38 Special, which started as a Southern rock band and switched to a more straight-ahead rock. [5], Now that they had their name, the group spent most of 1975 and 1976 playing a steady grind of one-nighters, mostly in the South and the Midwest. And it was very simple. He was in a chartered plane along with five members of his band, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Your email address will not be published. Forming in 1975, guitarist Don Barnes and singer Donnie Van Zant come together and start the band. The song climbed to No. Although Junstrom and Van Zandt parted ways early on, Junstrom kept his ties to the Van Zandt clan intact when he joined another Jacksonville Florida-based rock band .38 Special in 1977, a group which featured Donnie Van Zandt, Ronnies younger brother, as its lead singer. Is Orthostatic Hypotension The Same As POTS? classic rock [6] Also, on September 27, 2008, they filmed a CMT Crossroads special with country singer Trace Adkins, performing both artists' hits from over the years. A plane crash killed the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1977, and 40 years later, the drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Artimus Pyle, can still remember that day. 38 Special. We dont pluck with the point. Donnie is a part of '38 Special' since 1974. . Ronald Wayne Van Zant was an American musician who became known as the lead singer, main lyricist, and founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. Don Barnes He and his brother, former .38 Special singer Donnie Van Zant, recorded "Sweet Florida," a tribute to Florida Gov. Not something Id highly recommend. So said guitarist Jeff Carlisi in a telephone interview Friday after the arrest this week of .38 Special lead singer Donnie Van Zant in Tulsa. You can`t erase that. He recorded an album called Ride the Storm, which, . Why did Donnie Van Zant retire from 38 Special? So I had (drummer) Jeff Porcaro and (bassist) Mike Porcaro from Toto, theyre like the quintessential engine room. A curious Steven Van Zandt received quite the shock along with his results from a recent DNA test. Donny Baldwin (ex-Jefferson Starship) filled in for Hoffman on some 1996 tour dates after Hoffman was down with a broken arm, but Gary "Madman" Moffatt (formerly of Cactus) has been the band's drummer since 1997. Its then, Barnes offers what he says is new insight on what makes 38 Special songs, well, special. "Now we're trying for a more contemporary or modern rock 'n' roll. Johnny Van Zant became Lynyrd Skynyrd's lead vocalist when the band reunited in the late 80s. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Hes been gone about 25 years now - people just move on. That made it very popular with police departments and civilians. And I said, What do you think about this title, Hold On Loosely? And Jim said, Oh, yeah, but dont let go. And that was the first thing out of his mouth. Nevertheless, Junstrom played a crucial role in Skynyrds early evolution. Krantz was replaced by Nancy Henderson (19791981), Lu Moss (19811984) and Lynn Hineman (19861987) before backup singers were dispensed with in 1987. 38 Special are that its effective in a self-defense capacity in service-size pistols. Tickets are $55 and up via ticketmaster.com or the VBC Box Office. . Donnie and Johnny Van Zant also perform together as the group Van Zant. [Laughs] But you make all your mistakes in public. It claimed a victim in 38 Special's Donnie Van Zant, who was forced to quit music a few years ago because of the damage it was doing to his ears. When things started takin' off for us we just couldn't believe it. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. When You Breathe In Your Diaphragm Does What. Is Donnie Van Zant related to Ronnie Van Zant? Why did Donnie Van Zant leave 38 Special? "Our sound has definitely changed," Carlisi said. By 1987, Don Barnes had decided to leave the band to go out on his own. "Ronnie's meanness, they all have it," remembers Jeff Carlisi, a neighbour of the Van Zants, and bandmate of Ronnie's younger brother, Donnie Van Zant, in .38 Special. Steven learned how to play the guitar in the mid-sixties when he was a teenager. He can play piano and drums, apart from guitar. He has been in the band from day one and his six-string slinging has been featured on every one of the bands releases. 38 Special only produces 264 foot-pounds of force (147-grain bullet at 900 feet per second out of a 4-inch barrel), while standard pressure 9mm can produce 365 foot-pounds of force (124-grain bullet at 1,150 feet per second). If I'd Been the One. Bobby CappsMax Carl It was decided and later, announced that Donnie wont be able to sing for the band, at least for time being, but he would be writing songs for the band. Their fathers contribution in their success is huge. Two years later, keyboardist Billy Powell died from heart problems. She was 35. The widow of Ronnie Van Zant, the late lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd, has confirmed to News4JAX that his final resting place has been moved to a new location in the same cemetery. In addition to being. Published Apr 7, 2016. And people relate to that and want to be part of that. A curious Steven Van Zandt received quite the shock along with his results from a recent DNA test. Joe Jackson, Sunday at the Chicago Theatre: Jackson`s current show is a 2 1/2-hour extravaganza featuring a 10-piece band and a set list ranging from R& B-flavored early hits to material from the impressive new ''Blaze of Glory'' album. Who is the original singer of 38 Special? '', Though not backed by a full tour, 38 Special`s ninth record, ''Rock & Roll Strategy,'' enjoyed what Carl described as ''a nice, long, steady, smooth (chart) ride'' of more than 40 weeks (and counting) and spawned the group`s biggest single to date, ''Second Chance.''. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Today Gary Rossington is the last surviving member of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup. "We just told everybody to have a drink for Donnie 'cause he's in jail. 38 Special (also stylized as .38 Special or spelled out as Thirty-Eight Special) is an American rock band that was formed by Donnie Van Zant and Don Barnes in 1974 in Jacksonville, Florida. When he was young Steven took the last name of his stepfather. Top 10 38 Special Songs (12 Songs) Greatest Hits (Donnie Van Zant) After thirty-nine years of being led by one of the Van Zant brothers, 38 Special were left in the more than capable hands of Don Barnes, who has been guiding them from show to show ever since. In the meantime, the group moved on, bringing in guitarist Danny Chauncey, after drummer Steve Brookins also decided to leave, and singer/keyboardist Max Carl, from West Coast rhythm and blues unit Jack Mack & the Heart Attack.[4]. He was the only one I . Is anyone from Lynyrd Skynyrd still alive? Label: 38 Special Records. 2. 27 in 1981).[4]. He has half siblings all over the world, including the famous Lynyrd Skynyrd singer, Ronnie Van Zant. When he was sober, he was a fair and kind person. delain, review And, you know, he deserves all respect. Donnie agreed to write and record music for the band, but unfortunately his health only deteriorated with time, and finally in late 2013, he decided to bid goodbye to the southern rock band. .' But in 2013, after nearly a year of missing performances, it was confirmed that Van Zant had officially left 38 Special after 39 years and was retiring from music. Ron DeSantis, and debuted the song on the . Your email address will not be published. And at the time, I didnt have anybody waiting behind the door for me when I came home, and its like, like (Rush bassist/singer) Geddy Lee said: This is something we always wanted to do, but its not the only thing we always want to do. Wed get off tour after nine months of promoting a record, and we were contractually obligated to have another album out in five months. Your email address will not be published. 38 Special. Former Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special member Larry Junstrom dead at age 70. And that song has been an anthemic song for us all these years. 38 Special came up when new rock music was a big part of mainstream culture. He was known as "Papa Ronnie". Rudge quickly set the group up to open shows for red-hot acts, like Peter Frampton, Foghat and Kiss, and got them signed to A&M Records, who assigned Dan Hartman (of Edgar Winter Group fame) to produce their first album, .38 Special, which was released in May 1977.[4]. Yeah, we are in touch. 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. It was said that Van Zant was a virtual catalog of automotive parts, he had a near photographic memory for them. The group will continue on in his absence, as they've done in the past, with singer-guitarist Don Barnes handling all lead vocals. Sea of Reeds Media. They soldiered on, even after the music business changed, and the hits stopped coming, after even after Donnie Van Zant's retirement from road work, due to progressive hearing loss, in 2013. In three decades of making and performing rock music, the band has sold more than 20 million copies of their albums. Each album was 40-ish minutes, and . The plaque notes Ronnie Van Zant's role in forming Lynyrd Skynyrd, Johnny Van Zant's role as lead singer in the reborn Skynyrd group and Donnie Van Zant's role as a founding member of .38 Special . The two flawlessly combined styles to become one massive drumming machine. He is best known for being a member of the band 38 Special, from its formation in 1974 until 2013. [4] He recorded an album called Ride the Storm, which, though slated for release in 1989, was shelved after A&M Records was sold and did not see the light of day until 2017 some 28 years later. Don Felder, the Eagles guy, he was from Gainesville. .38 Special, which had formed three years before, drew its name from an early incident in which the original members of the band were rehearsing in a warehouse and drawing the ire of some nearby residents who subsequently called the police to complain about the noise. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Doctors ordered Van Zant to stay home while his body recovers from the drug, and they're also monitoring him to come up with a new treatment plan, so that the original blood clots don't return. classic rock Hes just like Ronnie, says lead guitarist Gary Rossington. Nevertheless, the name served its purpose and the group became a top draw throughout the 80s and 90s. Honoree Donnie Van Zant of 38 special and family walk the Red Carpet before the 34th Annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards Concert and Show at. His older brother, Ronnie, the original frontman of Lynyrd Skynyrd, died in a plane crash 40 years ago. The musicians playing behind him in today's 38 Special, Barnes insists, are peerless. However, in late 2013 Donnie announced that he wont be able to do either due to his condition, and finally retired from the band. But the upside is there are all the streaming things, YouTube, Spotify. In 2013, Donnie suffered from inner-ear nerve damage, and other health issues. Double kick drumming involves both of your feet (instead of just one) and will allow you to play faster, more complicated beats, fills, and solos. He and his wife also vacationed at the beach, and back in Atlanta moved to a new house about 15 minutes away from their previous residence. He is the middle one among three brothers. We didn't think in terms of a hit. Billy (Gibbons, ZZ Top guitarist/singer) would be backstage, really soft spoken: Hey Don, how you doing? And then hed get out on that stage and its [imitating Gibbons vocal on hit boogie La Grange] Haw haw haw haw. And you realize its show business. During the pandemic, like many of us, Barnes binge-watched Netflix. Johnny Van Zant is currently the lead singer of the Lynyrd Skynyrd, while Donnie became the lead vocalist of 38 Special. Barnes rejoined 38 Special in 1992 and has remained with them ever since. On a recent afternoon, Barnes calls in from his Atlanta area home for a phoner. But southern rock, never the monolith many thought it was, means something different today than it did a decade ago, as the polished, mainstream sound of ''Rock & Roll Strategy'' suggests. It claimed a victim in 38 Specials Donnie Van Zant, who was forced to quit music a few years ago because of the damage it was doing to his ears. And Ronnie said to try to put what your influences are, what makes your heart sing, into a song, but also your real life experiences. Van Zant: I appreciate things more. The van Zant brothers all had a solid foundation in music. Donald Newton Donnie Van Zant, better known as Donnie Van, is an American rocker and guitarist. Who are the original members of the band 38 Special? Carl, a former member of Jack Mack and the Heart Attack, said he and Chauncey fit into the band easily, in part because ''we all have a sense of humor somewhere between Monty Python and the Beverly Hillbillys.'' What is Consumer Forum and its importance? The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackfoot, and the Outlaws are just some of the other bands that have risen to prominence after coming together in the city.. Like a lot of bands from their area, .38 Special set out to make it in the rowdy bars of the South, playing in bars where, to quote Van Zant .