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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNo more Confederate flag for Lynyrd Skynyrd; some fans outraged (VIDEO) (al.com/CNN)
By Greg Richter, The Birmingham News al.com
"In Birmingham they love the governor" -- and that governor was George C. Wallace, who once proclaimed "segregration now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!"
But Lynyrd Skynyrd, who sings that line in their 1974 hit "Sweet Home Alabama" has, after almost four decades, decided that the Confederate flag will no longer be used as a backdrop at its concerts because its association has been hijacked by racist groups.
Gary Rossington, the only original member still in the band, and Johnny Van Zant, brother of original lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, were interviewed by CNN's Fredricka Whitfield and set off a firestorm of protests from some fans, who are accusing the group of becoming politically correct.
The band quietly quit using the flag at some point, but protestations didn't ensue until after they talked about it on CNN.
WHITFIELD: You all very much underscore tradition. You know, there are real main stays in your music, you know, in your look, in your sound. Something that was associated with your band for a very long time, the confederate flag whether it was on your album covers or the back drop, we don't see that anymore. At what point did you make a decision to lose that or what was the evolution of that?
ROSSINGTON: Well, it became such an issue, you know, about race and stuff where we just had it, in the beginning, because we were southern. And that was our image back in the 70s and late 60s because they kind of branded us from being from the south so we showed that. But I think through the years, you know, people like the KKK and Skinheads and people have kind of kidnapped the dixie rebel flag from the southern tradition and the heritage of the soldiers. That's what it was about. And they kind of made it look bad in certain ways. So we didn't want that to go to our fans or show the image like we agree with any of the race stuff or any of the bad things.
VAN ZANT: If nothing else we grew up loving old blues artists and Ray Charles, you know. So, you know, we just didn't want to be associated with that particular thing.
***
more: http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2012/09/no_more_confederate_flag_for_l.html#incart_river_default
http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1209/08/cnr.04.html
http://wonkette.com/484726/lynyrd-skynyrd-latest-victims-of-obamas-thought-police
(Linking to Wonkette really slowed my browser down; caveat emptor)
brewens
(13,645 posts)You at least had Rossington, Powell and Rickey Medlocke, who had been in and out of the band in between his Blackfoot days. Johnny Van Zant is no Ronnie but he's pretty good.
That Vicious Cycle CD from several years ago was fairly good at least. I haven't heard much of what they put out since.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)on October 20, 1977. The band touring and recording after that, using that name, is little more than a tribute band milking someone else's fame.
That was the end of the band, done, finished. They should have put it to bed long ago
Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)kentuck
(111,110 posts)in the 70's. Today, I think it is mostly a racist symbol. Much like a burning cross of the KKK...
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)is not against the law.
It's a symbol of slavery, racism, and armed insurrection against the government.
Fawke Em
(11,366 posts)isn't the Confederate Flag.
How many of these to you see flying?
That other one is the Battle Flag of the Northern Virgina Army.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)the Confederate flag was their battle flag. Which is perhaps, even worse.
Anyone who defends it as simply standing for Southern heritage is a bigoted ignoramus. But that's just my opinion.
bigtree
(86,013 posts)oh, man this just heartens me to one of my old, teenage bands that I just thrived on, but couldn't bear to watch as an informed adult.
What a promising gesture!
Dawson Leery
(19,348 posts)the Confederate Rag went the same way.
thelordofhell
(4,569 posts)tularetom
(23,664 posts)looooong before Rossington and Van Zant were gleams in the eyes of their daddies.
It wasn't just recently hijacked by the KKK and skinheads.