What Is The Meaning Of Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelins Amazing 1971 Musical Epic? Memorial bench for Ronnie Van Zant at Riverside Memorial Park. Among the six who died were Van Zant, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, and guitarist Steve Gaines. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. He was the oldest son of six children (3 sisters and 2 brothers - musicians Donnie and Johnny). Thank you for signing up to the Rocks Off. Laying on the ground, still alive for only a moment, to slowly bleed to death. 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. Fans will be permitted to continue visiting this site to pay their respects. On June 29, Van Zants tomb and Gainess mausoleum were broken into. 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. 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. Five years later, the Strawberry Fields Memorial was dedicated on the approximate spot, and more or less serves as Lennon's official gravesite. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The final resting places of Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmembers Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines were desecrated by vandals last week at Florida's Jacksonville . The Ronnie Van Zant Memorial Park is on Highway 17 near Green Cove Springs, Florida. Other successful bands to emerge from Jacksonvilles fertile scene at this time included Cowboy, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, and 38 Special. Throughout the 1970s, Steve Gaines played in bands such as ILMO Smokehouse from Quincy, Il, and Detroit. 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. In 2000, nearly 23 years after Van Zant and. She was buried near her children. Born Steven Earl Gaines, the son of Cassie Hatfield and Earl Gaines. His two brothers also became notable Southern rock musicians: Donnie Van Zant was a member of fellow Jacksonville band 38 Special, while Johnny became lead singer for the reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987. Cassie Gaines Lynard Skynyrd plane crash was one of the band's most challenging moments. King left in 1975 and was replaced by Steve Gaines in 1976. "Investigators said it's unlikely anybody could have broken it with their fist or foot. 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. He is most well known as a guitarist and songwriter forsouthern rockbandLynyrd Skynyrd, and is the younger brother ofCassie Gaines, who was a back up vocalist for the band's live performances. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Her mother, also named Cassie Gaines, and father Earl Gaines are buried in adjacent plots and memorialized on the same headstone. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. The Highway 16 bridge over the St. Johns River, a good ways south of Jacksonville. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Arguably the first true Southern rock group, the Allman Brothers Band, formed following a jam at a Riverside home known as the Gray House. It is about a hundred yards down the creek from Hell House, the bands official writing and rehearsal studio. October 20, 1977. Burial. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The Van Zant family plot at Riverside Memorial Gardens in Jacksonville, Florida. Steve Gaines was born on September 14, 1949 in Miami, Oklahoma, USA. How many children does Steve Gaines have? TheJaxsonMag.com Gary Rossington What is causing the plague in Thebes and how can it be fixed? Theres no telling what he would have developed cause he kept progressing. Mausoleums, however, will remain at the Blanding Boulevard cemetery as memorials to the two musicians who died in a November 1977 plane crash, along with three road crew members. Gaines and her fellow singers Jojo Billingsley and Leslie Hawkins provided a crucial element to the bands distinctive sound. Meanwhile, she said, auxiliary deputies will be assigned to guard the mausoleum grounds for the next two weeks from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. "should anybody get any ideas to do a copycat vandalism or anything like that.". Musician. Following her death in the 1977 plane crash, Gaines was buried just behind her brother Steve's grave in Jacksonville Memory Gardens. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". "It was broken into about six large pieces found on the ground," she said. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. The first of three shows recorded for the album was Gaines' third gig with the band. . For the fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd, the mystery of Van Zant's gravesite location has been solved. What date did Steve Gaines join Lynyrd Skynyrd? Next time we may not [be] so lucky.". Due to the June 29th, 2000, vandalizing of his original grave site, his casket was moved here and buried in a massive underground concrete burial vault. 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. 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.. Don't worry! In 1975, his sister, Cassie, whose group had been hired to sing back up. Cassie was buried in Orange Park, Florida, together with her brother, Steve Gains. He was an actor, known for A Way Back In (2010), Locked in! Present-day Skynyrd band members, including Johnny Van Zant, have been spotted there, as have former members of .38 Special, Molly Hatchet, and all those other famous Jacksonville bands. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. It sums up Ronnies life perfectly. Teresa Gainesm. It does not store any personal data. Interestingly, Ed King and Steve Gaines were both born on September 14, 1949. He was elected, and was then re-elected for a second one-year term at the 2017 annual meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. He was 29 yeas old. When not researching cases and sharing his findings on radio and TV, Pat Fitzhugh can be found speaking at paranormal conferences, teaching classes on paranormal research, and leading live, professional investigations of Americas most haunted locations. The band released the album on October 17, 1977, soon becoming gold certified. However, they had to relocate it to a new location after his and Van Zants tombs were broken into. Following her death in the 1977 plane crash, Gaines was buried just behind her brother Steve's grave in Jacksonville Memory Gardens. Get even more exclusive content on my Patreon page:https://www.patreon.com/RNRTrueStoriesToday we take a look at the 2000 news story. And, as one might guess, the lake where Ronnie kept his fishing boat is just to the left. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These alleged sightings also happened at Lake Delancy, one of Ronnie's favored fishing spots. The Jaxson is produced by Modern Cities in association with WJCT. His experience in the field spans nearly four decades. 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. Cassie recommended her brother, and after initial reluctance, the band allowed Steve to join them onstage for a show in Kansas City on May 11, 1976. Once you cross this bridge heading west, you are officially in Skynyrd Country. The Lynyrd Skynyrd historic sites will begin at Green Cove Springs (a few miles past this bridge), and extend north some 20 miles into Jacksonville. However, they had to relocate it to a new location after his and Van Zant's tombs were broken into. Ronnie Van Zant, one of his sisters, and his parents, are now buried here. Original grave of Steve Gaines 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. The listing claims the value is at $8,780, but Cochran is selling it for $4,000. "And at the family's request, the cemetery will pay off-duty officers to provide additional security as well for the next couple of weeks," she said. 19741977 However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". 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. Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, The Alice Cooper Fact Sheet 5 Things You Need To Know. 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. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. For more than 10 years, people have wondered where Lynyrd Skynyrd front man Ronnie Van Zant was buried. Cassie and Steve Gaines were buried in Orange Park, Florida. A $22,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the culprits has been posted, says the sheriff. Per Rolling Stone, the surviving members of the band weren't immediately told about Van Zant's death to allow them to heal from their grave injuries before hearing the devastating news. How many times should a shock absorber bounce? "The family is extremely upset," Justino said. The intruders may have been frightened off by the first deputy who arrived on the scene shortly after someone telephoned the Sheriff's Office about 3 a.m. and reported hearing unusual noises coming from the cemetery. They soon formed what would become Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was the lead vocal in the song Aint No Good Life. But its songs like That Smell, I Know A Little (written before he joined Skynyrd), and Honky Tonk Night Time Man where he displays his remarkable guitar playing. The original mausoleum remains in place. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". In 1975, the band recorded at the notable southern rock hub, Capricorn Studios in Macon, Georgia. 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. Embed from Getty Images. 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. Also, several of the band interviews in Freebird: The Movie were filmed on the dock.