Ron Eckerman wants you to honor a moment of silence for his former clients Lynyrd Skynyrd. He wants this so badly that he is actually soliciting radio stations to do so. This of course, in memory of the October 1977 plane crash that killed several members of the band.
It has apparently taken 35 years for Eckerman to feel the need for this homage. Killed in the crash were lead singer/guitarist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines plus the band’s assistant road manager as well as the pilot and copilot.
“We ask for all stations and all people to observe this date by going silent for 20 seconds, and follow that with the airing of ‘Freebird,’ the most requested song in history,” Eckerman said in a statement.
Think about it, radio is corporate, satellite or internet now. This thought is so out of date it’s almost as archaic as the band. There are no platter spinners anymore who are going to lift the needle on the album together on the 20th. Silly dude.. it’s sorta sad.
This of course would occur on October 20th, the day of the accident. I need a Bic. Anyway, this I suppose is to coincide with the retelling of the event in Eckermans book “Turn It Up”.
Yes Lynyrd Skynyrd reformed and no they were never the same again but heck I’ll take 20 minutes of silence if I don’t have to hear “Freebird”.