WCSX Classic Cuts : Free Bird
WCSX Classic Cuts Lynyrd Skynyrd: “Free Bird” The Hook: Ed King, who plays bass on it, says when he first heard it, he thought it was just a bunch of…
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – APRIL 09: Lynyrd Skynyrd performs prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 9, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Credit: Ron Jenkins / gettyimagesWCSX Classic Cuts
Lynyrd Skynyrd: "Free Bird"
The Hook: Ed King, who plays bass on it, says when he first heard it, he thought it was just a bunch of noise.
Year: 1973
Album: (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd)
Writers: Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant
Stats: An edited version became Skynyrd's second Top 20 hit, peaking at number-19 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Background: Former Strawberry Alarm Clock guitarist Ed King first met Skynyrd when they opened for that band back in 1968. He initially joined to replace bassist Leon Wilkeson, who got cold feet about being in the group just before they started recording their debut album, but rejoined soon after they finished it. It's King you hear on bass on "Free Bird." He says his initial reaction to the song probably wasn't what you'd expect.
Former Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Ed King on “Free Bird.” OC:…all time. :10
“When I first joined the band and they played the song for me, I just said to myself, ‘Boy, what a bunch of noise this is.’ But as it turned out it was the anthem – probably one of the greatest rock anthems of all time.”
