Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Ed King Dead at 68

[Type Orange+]

I believe that leaves Gary Rossington and Artimus Pyle as the last living members of the band.

Ed King, the Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist who joined the band in 1972 to give the Southern rock group its iconic three-guitar sound, died Wednesday in Nashville. He was 68. A cause of death was not specified, though King had been battling lung cancer and had recently been hospitalized for the disease.

A message on King’s Facebook confirmed his death: “It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Ed King who died at his home in Nashville, Tennessee on August 22nd, 2018. We thank his many friends and fans for their love and support of Ed during his life and career.”

A California native, King was a founding member of the psychedelic Sixties band Strawberry Alarm Clock, known for their hit “Incense and Peppermints.” He offered to join Skynyrd when, opening for the band at the Jacksonville, Florida, bar the Comic Book Club in 1968, he heard them rehearsing the song “Need All My Friends.” It wasn’t until 1972, however, when King would sign on with Skynyrd, temporarily replacing bassist Leon Wilkeson and then becoming a full-fledged member as third guitarist.

King played on the band’s first three albums: 1973’s (Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd), 1974’s Second Helping and 1975’s Nuthin’ Fancy. He most famously co-wrote Second Helping‘s “Sweet Home Alabama” – that’s him counting off “1, 2, 3” in the song’s intro – which, along with “Free Bird,” has become synonymous with the group.

After a dust-up with singer Ronnie Van Zant, King, tired of the Skynyrd drama and propensity for fighting, exited the band in 1975, detailing the incident in the superb new documentary If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Ed King Dead at 68

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

The first 2 bass players, 1 of the 3 Honkettes, and Rickey Medlocke have survived as well. Medlocke was originally a drummer and I think was on a couple songs from an early album or two.

Most people born after the 1960s don't realize how huge they were. They were on their way to possibly being the most popular rock band in the world as the Beatles had broken up long before, Pink Floyd's popularity hadn't peaked, and the Stones best works were behind them. I bet a lot of those same people are put off by the Confederate flags (they were everywhere in the 1970s and most thought nothing of it at the time) and are confused about the post crash "tribute" incarnations of LS.

RVZ was a volatile, mean and combative when drunk, genius that didn't make it to his 30th birthday. Ed King told some outstanding tales of his too brief stint in the band.

I love the early to mid 70s film of LS that's on YouTube. It's primitive video so not that interesting to many. A more recent YouTube must watch is Ed King's skit with Unknown Hinson.

 

[Type Orange+]

The first 2 bass players, 1 of the 3 Honkettes, and Rickey Medlocke have survived as well. Medlocke was originally a drummer and I think was on a couple songs from an early album or two.

Most people born after the 1960s don't realize how huge they were. They were on their way to possibly being the most popular rock band in the world as the Beatles had broken up long before, Pink Floyd's popularity hadn't peaked, and the Stones best works were behind them. I bet a lot of those same people are put off by the Confederate flags (they were everywhere in the 1970s and most thought nothing of it at the time) and are confused about the post crash "tribute" incarnations of LS.

RVZ was a volatile, mean and combative when drunk, genius that didn't make it to his 30th birthday. Ed King told some outstanding tales of his too brief stint in the band.

I love the early to mid 70s film of LS that's on YouTube. It's primitive video so not that interesting to many. A more recent YouTube must watch is Ed King's skit with Unknown Hinson.

That's right, their original bassist is still living. I had forgotten about him. And Leslie Hawkins is it? One of the Honkettes is still living. I never really knew to what extent Ricky Medlocke was associated with the original band, only that I have heard him say that he was a drummer. But, Bob Burns was the drummer during that time. And yes, as you said, they were about to become hugely popular before that fateful flight. I believe the addition of Steve Gains was going to catapult them to mega stardom. My musical tastes are eclectic, but Lynyrd Skynyrd is my all time favorite band. I cut my teeth on their music and still listen to it to this day. I have never grown tired of it.

 

[Type Orange+]

And - Ricky Medlocke did lead vocals on a couple of early tunes that were later released.
One song was titled White Dove and it's on the First and Last album.
If you listen to the song you'd never suspect it was Medlocke's voice when compared with his later vocal work with Blackfoot.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

R.I.P.

 

[VolinMC]

It's sad to see those original members dying off. Always has been and always will be my favorite band. RIP Ed King and prayers to the family.

 

[ruger1234]

Rip Ed King

I'm sippin some Dickel atm so I'll drop one of my favorite Skynyrd / whiskey drinking songs.... enjoy

[VIDEO=]

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Sad to hear. I loved Ed King's playing on those early Skynyrd albums.

I know this opinion will not be popular amongst Skynyrd fans, but for as talented as Steve Gains was, I didnt like the direction the band was going in when he joined. I thought Street Survivors was a weak album compared to Skynyrd's previous efforts. They had lost their hard rock edge and instead started sounding more honky tonk. Now, is it fair to criticize Gaines for that? Perhaps not. But I just prefer the Ed King era personally. Too bad we didnt get more from Gaines to make a better comparison. He definitely had talent.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Sad to hear. I loved Ed King's playing on those early Skynyrd albums.

I know this opinion will not be popular amongst Skynyrd fans, but for as talented as Steve Gains was, I didnt like the direction the band was going in when he joined. I thought Street Survivors was a weak album compared to Skynyrd's previous efforts. They had lost their hard rock edge and instead started sounding more honky tonk. Now, is it fair to criticize Gaines for that? Perhaps not. But I just prefer the Ed King era personally. Not just for his playing but also his songwriting. Too bad we didnt get more from Gaines to make a better comparison.