"Free Bird" (help· info) is a song by the American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. It is known for its long guitar solo and characterised by gospel organ, soaring and chirping slide guitar and a guitar duel. The song has been released by Skynyrd and charted on numerous occasions in both the U.S. and UK but reaching only #19 in the U.S. Billboard charts. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988 when it was combined with Peter Frampton's "Baby, I Love Your Way" by the band Will to Power. A collection of various CD singles In music, a single is a short recording of one or more separate tracks. ... Lynyrd Skynyrd (pronounced lÄ•h-nérd skin-nérd) (pronounced ) is an iconic U.S. Southern rock band. ... (Pronounced lÄ•h-nérd skin-nérd), commonly referred to as Pronounced, is the debut album from Lynyrd Skynyrd, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music). ... In music, a single is a short record, usually featuring one or two tracks as A-side, often accompanied by several B-sides, usually remixes or other songs. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music. ... Hard Rock redirects here. ... Skynyrds Innyrds is the title of the 1989 Lynyrd Skynyrd Greatest Hits album. ... One More From the Road is a live album by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... The Music Corporation of America was a United States based corporation in the music business. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Allen Larkin Collins (July 19, 1952 – January 23, 1990) was one of the founding members and guitarists of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... Ronald Wayne Ronnie Van Zant (January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was the lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Lynyrd Skynyrd (pronounced lÄ•h-nérd skin-nérd) (pronounced ) is an iconic U.S. Southern rock band. ... Sweet Home Alabama is a song by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album, Second Helping. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Saturday Night Special is a song by Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Free Bird Airlines (Hurkus Havayolu Tasimacilik Ve Ticaret SA) is an airline based in Istanbul, Turkey. ... Image File history File links Lynyrd_SkynyrdFreeBirdSolo. ... Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music. ... Lynyrd Skynyrd (pronounced lÄ•h-nérd skin-nérd) (pronounced ) is an iconic U.S. Southern rock band. ... Example of a bottleneck, with fingerpicks and resonator guitar. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Peter Kenneth Frampton (born April 22, 1950 in Beckenham, Kent) is an English musician, best known today for his solo work in the mid-1970s and as one of the original members of the band Humble Pie. ... Baby, I Love Your Way is a song written by Peter Frampton first featured on his 1975 album Frampton. ... Will to Power is the brain child of music producer,remixer, and DJ Bob Rosenberg. ...

BBC Radio 2 considers "Free Bird" a "rock radio staple matched only by Stairway to Heaven."^[1] Rolling Stone magazine ranked it the 191st greatest song in 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Ronnie Van Zant would dedicate concert encores to the Allman Brothers guitarist, Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley, saying that "without the Allman Brothers, I doubt very seriously whether you'd have heard from Lynyrd Skynyrd." BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBCs national radio stations and is by far the most popular station in the UK, reaching some 27% of the available audience in 2006[1]. It broadcasts throughout the UK on FM radio between 88 and 91 MHz from its studios in... For other uses of Stairway to Heaven, see Stairway to Heaven (disambiguation). ... ... Ronald Wayne Ronnie Van Zant (January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was the lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... The Allman Brothers Band is a pioneering and innovative Southern rock group from Macon, Georgia originally popular in the 1970s, described by Rolling Stones George Kimball in 1971 as the best . ... Howard Duane Allman (November 20, 1946 – October 29, 1971) was an American lead guitarist and noted session musician. ... Raymond Berry Oakley III (born April 4, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois, died November 11, 1972 in Macon, Georgia), was an American bassist who was one of the founding members of The Allman Brothers Band. ... Lynyrd Skynyrd (pronounced lĕh-nérd skin-nérd) (pronounced ) is an iconic U.S. Southern rock band. ...

Origins

The song was written early in the band's history, long before the death of Duane Allman, a close friend of the band. Roadie (at that time) and unknown (to the band) as a piano player Billy Powell was discovered when he played a piano intro to the song at a high school musical. Van Zant noticed his talent, and he became the newest member. Howard Duane Allman (November 20, 1946 – October 29, 1971) was an American lead guitarist and noted session musician. ... Billy Powell (born June 3, 1952) is the keyboardist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ...

The lyrics came about when Allen Collins' steady girlfriend, who realized that the music always came first with Allen, asked him the question: "If I leave here tomorrow would you still remember me?" Allen jotted the line down for future use. This question became the opening line of Free Bird.^[2] Allen Larkin Collins (July 19, 1952 – January 23, 1990) was one of the founding members and guitarists of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ...

Song structure

Since the song was written in early 1970^{[citation needed]}, Freebird has undergone many changes in its structure/pacing. As it was originally written and also recorded for the Shade Tree Record demos (See album "Collectybles"), Billy Powell had not yet joined the band, so the song opened with the double-tracked arpeggiated rhythm playing the verse chord progression once before the slide guitar entered. The song still follows the same format as the 1973 studio version on the "Pronounced" record. The solo section at this point was just in its infancy, so it did not have the defined 4x4x4 structure to the solo and rhythm guitars. The outro section is almost the same as the version played three years later. Billy Powell (born June 3, 1952) is the keyboardist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ...

Another recording from the same year, albeit on Quinvy records, follows the same pacing, however, the song fades out as Van Zant comes to the final "Lord help me, I can't change" line. This format would become familiar to some later when MCA put out Freebird as a single and also fading out as the verses came to a close. MCA can stand for: Maximum credible accident MCA (rapper) - A rapper in the group, The Beastie Boys Micro Channel architecture - a type of computer bus Music Corporation of America - a music booking company and record label. ...

The version recorded at the legendary Muscle Shoals studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama also has the same structure as the Shade Tree version. However, Billy Powell had informally joined the band at this time, so the signature piano opening to the song is present, closely resembling the final "Pronounced" version. During the solo section, some of Collin's trademark solo licks are present in this version. One odd thing about this version is that the song lacks the slide guitar track. Reasons for this are unknown, however, former guitarist Ed King said that when he was invited to overdub the tracks at Muscle Shoals in 1975, he did do a take of the slide guitar that ended up on the cutting room floor. Muscle Shoals is a city located in Colbert County, Alabama, USA. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 11,924. ... Muscle Shoals is a city famous for its music and contributions to American popular music, in Colbert County, Alabama, USA. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 11,924, and is included in The Shoals MSA. // Muscle Shoals is located at (34. ...

The next version that has been released commercially was the version of the song that defined the band to America. This version - off the "Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd" album, is very close to how the band would perform it live. The opening is slightly different from any other version of the song in that an organ was added - the only time it appears on the song. Powell's piano intro is faded in gradually as the song opens. By this time, Collins had refined the solo section, and this can be heard on the "outtake" version present on the "Skynyrd's Innyrds" compilation. The solo follows a very simple rhythm pattern of 4x4x4, meaning that one different way of playing the 3 chord jam is played 4 times before moving on to the next rhythm technique. As Ronnie Van Zant said several times "If you can count to 4, you can play Freebird, " noting the pattern. The traditional ending to the song is also in place as well, although the final bars of the end are slightly different, with the rhythm guitarists gradually sliding up to the higher G chord, rather than the sudden shift that would be later done live. The final G chord that ends the song is let ring as it fades out - something not present on any other version of the song. (Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd) (original title writing (pronouncedleh-nerdskin-nerd)) is a 1973 (see 1973 in music) album from Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... Skynyrds Innyrds is the title of the 1989 Lynyrd Skynyrd Greatest Hits album. ... Ronald Wayne Ronnie Van Zant (January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was the lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ...

During the period between 1973 and 1976, Freebird would gradually add more parts. For instance, while Ed King was still with the band, he would perform a short solo following the second slide guitar solo. After he left, Billy Powell was given the opportunity to fill in that space with a solo. The piano solo suddenly doubled in length after their appearance at the Winterland Ballroom in March of 1976. From that point on, no changes would be made to the "front end" of the song at all until March of 2006. Ed King Ed King (born September 14, 1949 in Glendale, California) is an American musician. ... The Winterland Ballroom, often simply referred to as Winterland, was an old ice skating rink and 5,400 seat music venue in San Francisco, California. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Also, guitarist Collins would add more and more to the final solo section of the song, eventually adding a second "build-up" to it before bringing the song to the outro. Many recordings of the band from 1974 show this facet of the song beginning to emerge. Van Zant also added the "How bout you?" ad-lib following the final "And I'm as free as a bird now" line. This is still done today by his brother Johnny.

Another addition that Ed King brought to the song was that he would perform some lead guitar licks over the outro section, except for Collins' final bit. This would only be performed while Ed was in the band, following his departure, Billy Powell picked up the slack on the piano and did some fast-paced fills.

By July of 1976, all of the changes had been made to the song, and they would remain permanent all the way through the performances of The Rossington-Collins Band and the Allen Collins Band shortly thereafter. The Rossington-Collins Band was an off-shoot of legendary southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, founded in 1979 by guitarists Gary Rossington and Allen Collins following the tragic 1977 plane crash which killed three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, thus ending that bands career. ... Allen Larkin Collins (July 19, 1952 – January 23, 1990) was one of the founding members and guitarists of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ...

Following the plane crash in 1977, all performances of the song were instrumental starting with Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam V in 1979. This lasted up until 1989, when an almost-rioting audience coerced Rossington to urge Johnny Van Zant to sing the song for the first time - something he had vowed never to do onstage during the Tribute Tour. Lynyrd Skynyrd (pronounced lĕh-nérd skin-nérd) (pronounced ) is an iconic U.S. Southern rock band. ... Charles Edward Charlie Daniels (born October 28, 1936 in Wilmington, North Carolina) is an American musician famous for his contributions to country and southern rock music. ... The Volunteer Jam was the annual Charlie Daniels Band concert first held on October 4, 1974 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee with band members Barry Barnes (guitar), Taz Digregorio (keyboards), Mark Fitzgerald (bass), Gary Allen (drums) and Freddy Edwards (drums). ... Johnny Van Zant Johnny Van Zant (born February 27, 1959 in Jacksonville, Florida) is an American Southern rock vocalist. ...

More recently, the newer version of Lynyrd Skynyrd has shortened the solo section back to the length that was showcased on the original studio version, and is still done that way today. Lynyrd Skynyrd (pronounced lĕh-nérd skin-nérd) (pronounced ) is an iconic U.S. Southern rock band. ...

One temporary change to the song was done at the 2006 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony when guitarist Ed King did a harmony slide guitar part behind Rossington's second slide solo. He also did his part in the solo section with a slide for most of it. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at sunset. ...

Reception

"Free Bird" is included in such lists as The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, and Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (holding spot #191). The song — half ballad, half up-tempo guitar boogie — quickly became a staple for Lynyrd Skynyrd at their live performances. Many recognize its nearly five-minute triple guitar solo section that closes it out. It often turned into an extended jam session at concerts. The band would consistently play it as the last song of every show, as it was their biggest crowd pleaser. While the live version played by the original band would include soloing by Allen Collins and a secondary solo by Ed King (later Steve Gaines), the recorded version is double-tracked by Collins alone. Gary Rossington plays the slide-guitar part in the song's first half, and plays the rhythm guitar for the second half. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fames 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll is based on the permanent exhibit of the same name. ... The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone magazine published in November 2004. ...

Popular culture cliché

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (April 2007)

It has become a popular culture cliché for the audience of almost any concert to shout "Free Bird" as a request to hear the song, regardless of the performer or style of music. There are equivalents for "Free Bird" in some countries; in Brazil, it could be translated to "Toca Raul!" ("Play Raul!"), in a reference to Raul Seixas. In Australia, the audience may shout "Play Khe Sanh!" referring to the Cold Chisel classic. In Finland, the audience is often heard shouting "Soittakaa Paranoid!" ("Play Paranoid!") referring to the song "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath. In Argentina, heavy metal fans use to request for "Destrucción" originally composed by V8 in a similar way. In the 2006 movie Cars, an unseen audience member yells out "Free Bird!" during an awkward silence while Lightning McQueen prepares to make a speech. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Raul Seixas (June 28, 1945 – August 21, 1989), was a Brazilian composer, singer, and songwriter. ... This article is about the Australian pub rock band. ... Paranoid is a song by Black Sabbath that appears on the bands breakthrough album Paranoid. ... For other uses, see Black Sabbath (disambiguation). ... V8 is an argentine heavy metal band created in 1982, financed by Pappo and one of origins of argentine heavy metal. ... This article is about the animated movie. ...

This phenomenon began earlier in the 1970s with The Allman Brothers Band's epic "Whipping Post", but then took off to a much greater extent with "Free Bird". This can be traced back to Skynyrd's first live album, 1976's One More From The Road. Skynyrd did not play the song during the main portion of the concert, or even in the encore performance. Instead they saved it for their second encore. After leaving the stage following the first encore of the concert, the crowd was riled by the apparent omission of Skynyrd's signature song. The crowd then began chanting "Free Bird, Free Bird ...". No one left the auditorium. The band then returned to the stage for a second encore and upon taking the microphone Van Zant asked the crowd, "What song is it that you wanna hear?", which was immediately followed by several more shouts of "Free Bird". This interaction is recorded as an intro to the song on the album, and the band responded with a 14-minute version of the song. More recently, they play the song on the first encore. The Allman Brothers Band is a band from Macon, Georgia, labeled by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the principal architects of Southern rock. ... Whipping Post is a song from The Allman Brothers Band. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... One More From the Road is a live album by Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ...

In the 1980s, Chicago Radio DJ Kevin Matthews urged his listeners to shout "Free Bird!" at a Florence Henderson concert as a sort of joke towards the musician and actress. Credited with starting the tradition of yelling "Free Bird!", he stated that "It was never meant to be yelled at a cool concert -- it was meant to be yelled at someone really lame. If you're going to yell 'Free Bird,' yell 'Free Bird' at a Jim Nabors concert."^[3] Kevin Matthews is a Midwest-based radio personality, best known for his 12-year association with the Loop and its onetime sister-station, AM1000. ... Florence Agnes Henderson (b. ... Jim Nabors on The Muppet Show James Thurston Jim Nabors (born June 12, 1930 in Sylacauga, Alabama to Fred and Mavis Nabors), is an American actor, singer, and comedian. ...

A harsh reaction to "Free Bird" came from comedian Bill Hicks during a Chicago gig in 1989. On a bootleg recording of the show, I'm Sorry, Folks, Mr. Hicks at first just sounds irked. "Please stop yelling that," he says. "It's not funny, it's not clever - it's stupid." The comic soon works himself into a rage, but the "Free Birds" keep coming, eliciting the now infamous outburst: "Hitler had the right idea, he was just an underachiever; kill everyone, Adolf, kill them all!" "Free Bird," he finally says wearily, then intones: "And in the beginning there was the Word - 'Free Bird.' And 'Free Bird' would be yelled throughout the centuries. 'Free Bird,' the mantra of the moron." This Section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Credits

(Studio Version) - 1973

• Ronnie Van Zant - Vocals
• Allen Collins - 1964 Gibson Firebird I (Rhythm Guitar/Double-Tracked solo/Acoustic Guitar)
• Gary Rossington - 1969 Gibson SG (Slide Guitar/Rhythm Guitar)
• Ed King - 1964 Fender Jazz Bass
• Billy Powell - Wurlitzer Electric Piano
• Bob Burns - Drums
• Roosevelt Gook (Producer Al Kooper) - Organ, Mellotron

(Live Version) - July 7, 1976 Ronald Wayne Ronnie Van Zant (January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was the lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... Allen Larkin Collins (July 19, 1952 – January 23, 1990) was one of the founding members and guitarists of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... Gary Rossington (born December 4, 1951 in Jacksonville, Florida) is a founding member and lead guitarist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... Ed King Ed King (born September 14, 1949 in Glendale, California) is an American musician. ... Billy Powell (born June 3, 1952) is the keyboardist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... Lynyrd Skynyrd 1973 For other people named Bob Burns, see Bob Burns (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

• Ronnie Van Zant - Vocals
• Allen Collins - 1964 Gibson Firebird III (Rhythm guitar/solo)
• Gary Rossington - 1969 Gibson SG (slide guitar/rhythm guitar over solo)
• Steve Gaines - 1958 Gibson Les Paul Custom (rhythm guitar/secondary solo guitar)
• Leon Wilkeson - 1962 Fender Jazz bass
• Billy Powell - Steinway and Sons Concert Grand Piano
• Artimus Pyle - Slingerland Drum kit

Ronald Wayne Ronnie Van Zant (January 15, 1948 – October 20, 1977) was the lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... Allen Larkin Collins (July 19, 1952 – January 23, 1990) was one of the founding members and guitarists of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... Gary Rossington (born December 4, 1951 in Jacksonville, Florida) is a founding member and lead guitarist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... Steven Earl Gaines (September 14, 1949 – October 20, 1977) was an American musician. ... Leon Russell Wilkeson (2 April 1952 - 27 July 2001) was the bass guitarist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2001. ... Billy Powell (born June 3, 1952) is the keyboardist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. ... Artimus Pyle was drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1975 to 1992. ...

References

is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore - article about the cultural cliché
• Wall Street Journal: Rock's Oldest Joke: Yelling 'Free Bird!' In a Crowded Theater
• The Curse of the Freebird