I wanted to clarify the discussion of the Confederate Flag in our recent CNN interview. Myself, the past and present members (that are from the South), are all extremely proud of our heritage and being from the South. We know what the Dixie flag represents and its heritage; the Civil War was fought over States rights.

We still utilize the Confederate (Rebel) flag on stage every night in our shows, we are and always will be a Southern American Rock band, first and foremost. We also utilize the state flag of Alabama and the American flag, ‘cause at the end of the day, we are all Americans.

I only stated my opinion that the confederate flag, at times, was unfairly being used as a symbol by various hate groups, which is something that we don’t support the flag being used for. The Confederate flag means something more to us, Heritage not Hate…
-Gary Rossington

"Thoughts and prayers going out to Gary Moffat and family. His long time wife has lost her battle with a sickness that hopefully someday soon will be wiped from the face the earth. Their love for one another was like none we've ever seen. Unshakeable! We have lost a very beautiful part of our 38 Special family. Rest in peace Mary Moffat. We will take care of Gary for you until it's time for you to be together again..." The entire 38 Special Family

For those who are unaware of this situation.... The monstrously talented drummer of 38 Special, Gary Moffatt, lost the love of his life last night to an amazingly fast spreading form of cancer. She was first diagnosed with lung cancer ( she was a non-smoker ) back on May 11th and has lost her valiant battle a mere 9 weeks later. Mary was a shining light to everyone she came into contact with and will be sorely missed by all.

NEW YORK, May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records announced today the release of Last Of A Dying Breed from Lynyrd Skynyrd, the band's first studio album since the September 29, 2009 release of God & Guns which debuted at #18 on the Billboard Top 20 and gave the band their highest debut since 1977. Last Of A Dying Breed reunites the band with producer Bob Marlette who produced God & Guns.

"It was great to get back in the studio with Bob for this new album," said Gary Rossington "we kind of went back old school this time. All of us playing together in the studio as a band, tracking songs and creating licks. We had a lot of fun and the music really flowed for us, so that's when you know you are on to something good. We can't wait to let the fans hear these songs and play 'em live."

Led by core members Gary Rossington (guitar), Johnny Van Zant (vocals) and Rickey Medlocke (guitar), along with longtime drummer Michael Cartellone, Lynyrd Skynyrd have recorded an album that continues the tremendous legacy that began over 35 years ago in Jacksonville, Florida, a legacy that was halted for a decade after the 1977 plane crash that killed three band members, including Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines. Since then, the band tragically lost Billy Powell, Ean Evans, Allen Collins, Leon Wilkeson and Huey Thomasson, yet they rock on.

Joining Lynyrd Skynyrd will be bass player Johnny Colt, an original member of the Black Crowes who has also played with Train and Rockstar Supernova. When asked about receiving a phone call from Rickey Medlocke on behalf of Lynyrd Skynyrd to join the band, Johnny said, "What else do you say to Medlocke, Rossington and Van Zant? We're talking southern rock royalty. We're talking Lynyrd Skynyrd. The only thing out of my mouth was when and where!"

With a catalog of over 60 albums, sales beyond 30 million worldwide and their beloved classic American rock anthem "Sweet Home Alabama" having over two million downloaded ringtones, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Lynyrd Skynyrd remains a cultural icon that appeals to all generations.

Lynyrd Skynyrd will be on tour throughout the summer in North America and Europe. View a complete list of dates here.

http://www.lynyrdskynyrd.com/ http://www.facebook.com/LynyrdSkynyrd?ref=tshttps ://twitter.com/Skynyrd www.roadrunnerrecords.com

SOURCE Loud & Proud/Roadrunner Records

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Third Annual ‘Bash on Broadway’ Offers a Full Evening of
Free Concerts to Revelers

NASHVILLE – Southern Rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, the legendary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band, will headline the third annual Music City New Year’s Eve ‘Bash on Broadway’ concert in downtown Nashville, the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, producers of the event, announced. The music-filled evening will also feature performances by pop/rock band TOY and new country artists Edens Edge and THE FARM.

“People expect world-class live entertainment from Nashville, and they certainly won’t be disappointed with this show,” said Butch Spyridon, president of the CVB. “The diversity of musical acts will provide a perfect backdrop for locals and visitors to ring in the New Year in Music City.”

Revelers attending Music City’s “Bash on Broadway” will count down to the New Year as a new 15-foot-tall red “music note®,” drops slowly from a 115-foot structure, taller than in previous events. The “music note®” drop, presented by Grand Avenue, will trigger a fireworks display and major confetti cannons as it reaches the midnight mark.

“We felt the new music note best represented the diversity of talents and genres that call Nashville home,” said Spyridon. “Music City has gained its reputation due to the artists, songwriters, musicians, producers, managers and promoters who call Nashville home. The music note is the best graphic to represent Nashville.”

The confetti cannons are also new this year and are done in partnership with the TJ Martell Foundation. The Foundation, which supports innovative and lifesaving research for cancer and AIDS, will be selling ‘wishes’ to revelers throughout the evening for donations as part of its national “My New Year’s Wish” campaign. Revelers can put their wishes for the New Year on a strip of paper, and literally see their wishes begin the New Year as they are released as part of the confetti cannon at midnight. The local Wish campaign is sponsored by Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.

The show, which is free to the public, will take place on Broadway between 1st and 4th avenues beginning at 7:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The show, which will be broadcast live to a national audience on Sirius XM Radio, and the show will be emceed by Storme Warren, host of GAC’s Headline Country and Sirius XM Radio personality.

The event will provide three consecutive nights of entertainment offerings for visitors. December 29 kicks off the festivities as visitors can enjoy Zac Brown in concert at Bridgestone Arena and annual Music City Bowl activities at Riverfront Park. On December 30, the Music City Bowl pre-game concert will feature Small Time Rock Stars at 3 p.m. at Riverfront Park followed by the Bowl Game at 5:40 p.m. at LP Field. For additional details on the events go to visitmusiccity.com/newyearseve.

LAS VEGAS – One of the most iconic rock bands in American history will bring Texas-style barbecue and entertainment to Excalibur Hotel & Casino with the ten day grand opening celebration of Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer on Thursday, Dec. 1.

“With Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer, we created the kind of place we would want to hang out at,” said Johnny Van Zant of Lynyrd Skynyrd. “This is the perfect spot for rock and barbecue fans to kick back, listen to some great music and have a good time in Vegas.”

“Lynyrd Skynyrd fans from around the globe have reached out about attending the grand opening of Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer,” said Michael Frey, co-owner of parent company, Drive This! Entertainment. “We plan to put on a party that fans and barbecue lovers alike will never forget.”

The grand opening celebration will kick-off the first day of National Finals Rodeo on Thursday, Dec. 1, and extend through Saturday, Dec. 10. The packed lineup of live music and appearances includes the Official American Country Awards After Party complete with an informal jam session by some of the industry’s top performers and the Jack Daniel’s “Eat ‘N’ Greet” luncheon followed by a special benefit concert later that evening, both hosted by Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The full lineup includes:

• Thursday, Dec. 1 at 10 p.m. – Ryan Whyte Maloney Band
• Friday, Dec. 2 at 10 p.m. – Southern Rockers
• Saturday, Dec. 3 at 10 p.m. – Colt Ford
• Sunday, Dec. 4 at 10 p.m. – DJ Silver
• Monday, Dec. 5 at 9 p.m. – Official American Country Awards After Party
• Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 10 p.m. – Felice Garcia
• Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 9 p.m. – Lynette Skynyrd (all-girl Lynyrd Skynyrd cover band)
• Thursday, Dec. 8 at 12:30 p.m. – Lynyrd Skynyrd “Eat ‘N’ Greet” luncheon with Jack Daniel’s Master DistillerJeff Arnett
• Thursday, Dec. 8 at 9 p.m. – Lynyrd Skynyrd Benefit Concert
• Friday, Dec. 9 at 10 p.m. – Felice Garcia
• Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 p.m. – Felice Garcia

The “Eat ‘N’ Greet” luncheon will feature an incredible opportunity for fans to enjoy an intimate meal with the band members of Lynyrd Skynyrd along with an interactive presentation by Jeff Arnett, the 7th master distiller in Jack Daniel’s 142-year history. The evening concert will offer Lynyrd Skynyrd fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be one of just a few hundred people to see the iconic band perform in their first dining venue.

Tickets for the grand opening concert are priced starting at $300 per person. Tickets for the “Eat ‘N’ Greet” and concert package are available for $750 per person. This package also will include an array of signature grand opening items including a limited edition single-barrel bottle of Jack Daniel’s topped with a commemorative bronze bottle-necker autographed by Arnett and the band members of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Tickets for this 21+ concert are available at the Excalibur Box Office by calling 702.597.7477. A portion of proceeds from both events will be donated to the Lynyrd Skynyrd Foundation, Epicurean Charitable Foundation of Las Vegas and Nevada Children’s Medical Center.

Developed in partnership with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Drive This! Entertainment, a Las Vegas-based hospitality company that owns and operates RHUMBAR at The Mirage, Tacos & Tequila at Luxor Hotel and Casino and Casa Fuente in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer will serve fare from Kreuz Market in Lockhart, Tex. A tour of barbecue joints throughout the nation led them to the 111-year-old Texas institution, where the barbecue has been refined to perfection by the Schmidt family. Kreuz Market has been widely recognized as one of the top barbecue restaurants in the country, with top honors for their brisket and sausage by the Food Network and Travel Channel, and a rating as Zagat’s number two barbecue spot in the nation.

The band’s famed “Hell House” is the inspiration behind the atmosphere, and band members Van Zant, Gary Rossington and Rickey Medlocke have consulted with the culinary team to highlight some of their barbecue favorites.

Designed to capture the spirit of the band’s “Hell House,” the walls are made of authentic 150-year old barnyard wood, with concrete floors and aged brick completing the downhome feel of the space. The tables are made from floors of historic grain barns and the surface marks are hoof marks from many generations of animals. The tabletops are made of rough-faced old growth Doug fir from pre-World War II era from historic sites including a 1927 Brentwood house and a Los Angeles church. The staff is part of the action – hot bartenders and servers will be swinging and singing - leading riotous sing-alongs to classic rock songs and Lynyrd Skynyrd favorites.
More information is available on the Lynyrd Skynyrd BBQ & Beer web site at LynyrdSkynyrdLV.com, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LynyrdSkynyrdLV, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LynyrdSkynyrdBBQ.