Photo: AFP
Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist and co-founder Gary Rossington is recovering after undergoing an emergency procedure on his heart last week.
The band announced the news this weekend via Facebook, explaining that Skynyrd's lone-remaining original member expects to fully recover.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Gary Rossington as he recovers from emergency heart surgery," the band announced. "Gary is home resting and recovering with his family at home. He wants everyone to know he is doing good and expects a full recovery."
Rossington reportedly urged the band to go continue its scheduled tour in his absence, noting that after a year of pandemic-related shutdowns, fans need to experience live music again.
"We wish Gary a speedy recovery and we will see the Skynyrd Nation very soon!" the band concluded. "Please do us a favor and say some prayers for the Rossington family and if you would like to leave him a (positive) message please do! He will look forward to reading them!"
Lynyrd Skynyrd played two shows last week in Minnesota and North Dakota. The band's next run of shows begin on August 9. Go here for all the 'Big Wheels Keep on Turnin' tour dates.
Rossington, who had a heart attack in 2015, has deal with heart issues for a number of years. His health issues were a large part of the reason Skynyrd announced a farewell tour in 2018.
Following the pandemic, however, the band struck any retirement references from its touring media, deciding it wouldn't put an expiration date on its career.
In a statement in June, announcing the new Skynyrd tour, Rossington explained that the band hoped a new tour this year would be a way of "[bringing] back some joy and happiness after so much turmoil this past year. We're still standing, still keeping the music going."