AXS.com Interview with Rickey Medlocke

October 21, 2015
Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist
Rickey Medlocke
discusses new live album,
DVD package
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Photo by Clay Patrick McBride and used with permission
Classic and Southern rock fans will certainly rejoice at the release of
Lynryd Skynyrd’s new live album package - Pronounced Leh-nerd
Skin-nerd & Second Helping – Live From Jacksonville At The
Florida Theatre, from Eagle Rock Entertainment. That's becasue the
2-CD / DVD set recorded earlier this year captures the band at the
top of its game. Performing the band's first two albums in their
entirely in front of hometown fans at Jacksonville’s Florida Theatre.
These shows mark the first time many of these Skynyrd songs have
ever been performed along with classics like “Gimme Three Steps,”
“Freebird,” “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Needle And The
Spoon.” For new and longtime fans this is a chance to witness the
epitome of Southern rock and arguably the quintessential American
rock band.
Lynyrd Skynyrd is: Gary Rossington (guitar), Johnny Van Zant
(lead vocals), Rickey Medlocke (guitar), Michael Cartellone (drums),
Mark Matejka (guitar), Peter Keys (keyboards) and Johnny Colt
(bass). Honkettes: Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Chase
(background vocals).
AXS recently spoke with guitarist Rickey Medlocke about the new
live Lynryd Skynyrd package and more in this exclusive interview.
AXS: When did the idea for this new live package originate?
Rickey Medlocke: We had always been kicking around the idea of
filming it; picking a place and doing it. A few years ago, we even
went in to the Sirius/XM studios and actually played the
Pronounced record live from top to bottom. It wasn't until after we
had done One More For The Fans that the idea came up to really
record and do a live DVD of the first two records in their entirety.
We’re excited that it’s now out and hope the fans enjoy it and get a
thrill out of it, because I know we did!
AXS: Can you tell me a little about your history with the band?
RM: In the early formidable years - after they had named the band
Lynyrd Skynyrd, I was a drummer for the original lineup. Not a lot
of people know that or may count me as an “original” guy but I’ve
always considered myself part of the original group. There’s even a
song on the Street Survivors record called “One More Time” where
I did the drums and sang background.
AXS: Are there any extra nerves going in and doing a project
of this magnitude?
RM: We never take any night before the fans or any album we
record for granted. But we’re so seasoned from being musicians and
playing all of our lives that it’s almost like a walk through the park.
We went in knowing that it was going to be great!
AXS: A lot of these songs have special meaning for longtime
fans. What were some of the highlights for you?
RM: There are a few songs that really stood out as a highlight for
me. The band had recorded but had never played - (and I’m going
all the way back to the original group), the song, “I Need You” from
the Second Helping record. I love it because Gary and I both play
the lead in unison. That was a special moment. Some of the others I
love are “Tuesday’s Gone” and “The Needle and The Spoon”. I
love playing both of those tunes. Those were just a few of the
highlights of my evening.
AXS: What does Lynryd Skynyrd have planned for 2016?
RM: Right now, Gary Johnny and I are talking about getting
together to start writing for a new record that we’re going to try to
start recording next year. There have also been discussions about a
great package deal for amphitheaters and arenas and talk about
Europe, Australia and New Zealand again. There’s a lot on our plate
right now.
AXS: What’s been the biggest highlight of your career?
RM: There’s been a lot of them. Memorable things like when you
hear yourself on the radio for the first time; your first hit record or
playing the first concert for people who love to hear your music. I’m
also being honored by the Native American Society of North
America with a Lifetime Achievement award. This is for Blackfoot,
Skynyrd, the soundtracks and everything I’ve been involved with in
arts and entertainment. That will be another memorable moment. I’ve
also been very blessed and fortunate to have stood on stage and
played with some of the world’s best musicians. A lot of people
never get to experience that. When I think about how I went through
this tunnel called life and came out on the other end I just look back
and say, “Man, I’ve been against all odds. Someone up above must
have really been smiling down on me.”
AXS: Is there something you’d like fans to take away from this
new live Lynyrd Skynyrd package?
RM: It’s to go back and remember. Maybe what it will do for people
who were there in the beginning will be to help them remember
where they were when they first heard the music or saw the band
play. And for people who never got to see the original line-up, this is
the group now. These shows will either take you back to a time and
put a smile on your face or put a smile on your face because this is
the band now. We’ve got extraordinarily talented people playing on
stage and we feel very fortunate. This is Lynyrd Skynyrd.