One of the original members of the classic Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd has passed away, as drummer Bob Burns died last night (April 3) in a car crash. He was 64.
According to local authorities, Burns' car went off the road near Cartersville, GA. The car hit a mailbox and a tree in the crash. The exact cause of the single-vehicle accident hasn't been confirmed.
In a statement on Lynyrd Skynyrd's Facebook page, the band's guitarist Gary Rossington wrote the following tribute statement:
Well, today I'm at a loss for words, but I just remember Bob being a funny guy. He was just so funny, he used to do skits for us and make us laugh all the time, he was hilarious!
Ironically, since we played Jacksonville yesterday. Dale, my daughter and I, went by the cemetery to see some of the guys in the band and my parents grave sites. On the way back, we went by Bob Burns old house, it was there in the carport where we used to first start to practice with Skynyrd. My heart goes out to his family and God bless him and them in this sad time. He was a great great drummer.
Born Robert Burns Jr., he was involved in the early incarnations of the long-running Florida band, and he played on their first two albums, 1973's (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) and 1974's Second Helping. He played drums on iconic songs like "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama" before leaving the group in 1974 (a few years before the 1977 plane crash that killed three band members).
Burns was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the group in 2006. Has has not taken part in recent touring incarnations of the band.
According to local authorities, Burns' car went off the road near Cartersville, GA. The car hit a mailbox and a tree in the crash. The exact cause of the single-vehicle accident hasn't been confirmed.
In a statement on Lynyrd Skynyrd's Facebook page, the band's guitarist Gary Rossington wrote the following tribute statement:
Well, today I'm at a loss for words, but I just remember Bob being a funny guy. He was just so funny, he used to do skits for us and make us laugh all the time, he was hilarious!
Ironically, since we played Jacksonville yesterday. Dale, my daughter and I, went by the cemetery to see some of the guys in the band and my parents grave sites. On the way back, we went by Bob Burns old house, it was there in the carport where we used to first start to practice with Skynyrd. My heart goes out to his family and God bless him and them in this sad time. He was a great great drummer.
Born Robert Burns Jr., he was involved in the early incarnations of the long-running Florida band, and he played on their first two albums, 1973's (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) and 1974's Second Helping. He played drums on iconic songs like "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama" before leaving the group in 1974 (a few years before the 1977 plane crash that killed three band members).
Burns was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the group in 2006. Has has not taken part in recent touring incarnations of the band.