Artimus Pyle, a distinguished Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Member and former drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, unveils his tribute album, Anthems – Honoring The Music of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Nearly 47 years after the horrific plane crash that killed Lynyrd Skynyrd leader Ronnie Van Zant, a new album honoring Ronnie and the original Lynyrd Skynyrd band is being released.
I first heard the Artimus Pyle Band in 2020 when he, Dolly Parton, and others raised money to benefit the W.O. Smith Music School and the Scott Hamilton CARES Foundation. I met Artemus Pyle in May of 2022 when the former Marine was at an event honoring my ancestor, Lt. Presley O’Bannon.
I was thrilled at the opportunity to speak with Pyle when I found out he was producing a tribute album for one the best southern rock bands on the planet, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Not only that, he has assembled a great collection of country and rock artists to help him pay tribute to the late Ronnie Van Zant and the original band.
Pyle said of friend, Ronnie Van Zant, “You know Ronnie didn’t write a bad song. His songs will be still around 1,000 years from now.”
Produced by Dolly’s renowned producer, Kent Wells, Pyle states he got him the “best drum sound I ever had.”
Once they got Dolly on board to sing “Freebird” it opened the door for the likes of Sammy Hagar, Warren Haynes, Ronnie Dunn, Lee Brice, Michael Ray, Chris Janson, Billy Ray Cyrus, LoCash, Jerrod Niemann, Marty Raybon, and Lindsey Ell to sing and play alongside The Artimus Pyle band.
“We got the tracks sounding great, put modern application on the songs, and then brought in these incredible vocalists to honor Ronnie,” Pyle surmised.
He continued, “We didn’t do this to make money. It’s for Lynyrd Skynyrd members who are up in Rock and Roll heaven, the ones who wrote the songs. It’s their children and grandchildren who will benefit from any sales of this album. We did it because of the love of the music.”
One thing that Pyle is especially proud of is that before he passed in 2023, they were able to get original guitarist, Gary Rossington, to play his iconic slide solo on Dolly’s rendition of “Freebird.” On Dolly’s version of her Rockstar record, they could drop in the voice of Ronnie Van Zant. Ronnie’s widow, Judy Van Zant, permitted them to dub his voice in.
Besides Dolly, they have Ronnie Dunn singing “Sweet Home Alabama.” Pyle loved his take on it because Ronnie Dunn has a twang in his voice that is different than Ronnie Van Zant’s.
“I loved the way he sang it. It’s authentic, a good match,” he gushed.
They also have Chris Janson singing “The Ballad of Curtis Loew,” Marty Raybon singing “Gimme Three Steps” and Sammy Hagar’s gritty vocals covering “Simple Man.”
I was thrilled, to see Canadian country rocker, Lindsey Ell, cover “Needle and the Spoon.” Pyle was not familiar with the talented guitarist, but he soon learned that she could sing and play.
He advised, “She played the iconic Alan Collins Stratocaster solo on that on ‘Needle in the Spoon.’”
I was proud that she was one of the females chosen to cover a Skynyrd song.
The Artimus Pyle Band is comprised of Jerry Lyda, Scott Raines, Brad Durden, Dave Fowler, and Pyle. They are the basic track on every single song. The song they chose to perform was “The Hunt.” They thought the song was a good fit for their lead singer, Brad Durden. With his barrel-chested baritone and the rest of the band, they did Lynyrd Skynyrd proud with their version of the song.
I’ve heard the entire album and I assure you that country music fans and Lynyrd Skynyrd fans alike will be thrilled with the final product.
Pyle confirmed, “We had the greatest producer, Kent Wells. I didn’t have any restrictions on me, and I could play those songs the way I wanted, which is wide open. Everyone’s already saying, ‘We love it.’ It’s been very hard against all odds to get it done, but it’s one of the best tribute albums ever.”
I agree.
You can stream Anthems – Honoring the Music of Lynyrd Skynyrd here.
You can buy copies of the Anthems – Honoring the Music of Lynyrd Skynyrd CD or Vinyl here.
You can follow the Artimus Pyle Band on their website, Facebook, X(Twitter), Instagram, and all streaming platforms.
– – –
Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X(Twitter).
‘Anthems – Honoring The Music Of Lynyrd Skynyrd’ Track Listing:
I Know A Little – Micheal Ray
Sweet Home Alabama – Ronnie Dunn
Simple Man – Sammy Hagar
Needle And The Spoon – Lindsey Ell
The Ballad Of Curtis Loew – Chris Janson
Workin’ For MCA – Lee Brice
That Smell – Jerrod Niemann
Gimme Three Steps – Marty Raybon
Call Me The Breeze – Billy Ray Cyrus
Saturday Night Special – Warren Haynes
The Hunt – Artimus Pyle Band
What’s Your Name – LOCASH
Freebird – Dolly Parton
Bethany Writes 
I’ve been a true “LYNYRD SKYNYRD” fan from day one and there’s NOBODY that sound like RONNIE VAN ZANT not even his younger brother his brother or anyone else can’t carry a candle to sing or sound like Ronnie my honest opinion Johnnie Van ZANT shouldn’t be able to sing the songs from the original “LYNYRD SKYNYRD”making money from older brother. It sad to say Jonnie can’t sound like Ronnie.
My heart goes out to Gary Rossington to his family and fans he was a big part of the band and the lose of him was a BIG LOSS OF LYNYRD SKYNYRD nobody can replace him.
i still have the original ticket from Oct 25 1977 and never cashed it in just something that can’t be replaced. I can replace the albums, cassettes but I have a good size of LYNYRD SKYNYRD but none of albums from the new band cause they don’t and can’t sound like the original LYNYRD SKYNYRD.
I’m very proud of Artimus Pyle taking the interest in keeping “LYNYRD SKYNYRD” name alive and with his band and with his album, I haven’t heard the album yet rather listen to an album over CD or Cassette. I tip my hat off to Artimus Pyle for keeping his heart with the original LYNYRD SKYNYRD music cause the songs had apart of him with every song that was on all the albums and if his album that Artimus recorded should come out as a top seller.
Back in 77 when I heard about the plane crash really broke my heart and even took 3 days off from the job at work my foreman had no clue who LYNYRD SKYNYRD was and when I saw it on TV I broke down in tears I played all the albums I had for 3 days just like it was my family and even days afterwards and to the day every Oct 25 1977 I will bring out LYNYRD SKYNYRD albums and play some of the best songs the one of most played would be “FREE BIRD” that should be the “NATIONAL ANTHEM” of the South.
When I heard the bad news I really didn’t listen to any albums, cassettes for a long time just listen to the radio then I heard about that the survivors of the plane crash was forming another band named ROSSINGTON COLLINS BAND I knew I had to go there turned out to be a dang good concert the last song that was played was FREE BIRD with no vocals just a mic with RONNIE’S HAT on the mic that brought chill bumps and tears to a lot of people in the crowd and bought a tee shirt and the day after bought the album and found out that was the only album that they came out with needless to say I still have that album.
Back in the mid or end of the 80’s LYNYRD SKYNYRD came to CHARLIE DANIELS VOLUNTEER JAM the last band was LYNYRD SKYNYRD waited all day into the night just to hear the band play 3 songs and of course it was FREE BIRD and again no vocals just RONNIE ‘S HAT that was the last time seeing and hearing before younger brother took over
So for Artimus Pyle with his new album to come out just keep your heart with RONNIE VAN ZANT and the members that lost their life’s on that bad night and make sure FREE BIRD always fly
LikeLiked by 1 person