Steve Gaines/Spouse. He was the lead vocal in the song Aint No Good Life. But its songs like That Smell, I Know A Little (written before he joined Skynyrd), and Honky Tonk Night Time Man where he displays his remarkable guitar playing. His proficiency in rock, blues, and country music, as well as his desire to widen his scope and vision, may have led to significant pieces of work in the future. He was an actor, known for A Way Back In (2010), Locked in! The guys were in shock and the car was silentwell, except for Allen Collins, who started muttering something to the effect of I was cuttin the rug down at a place called the jug. The rest is history. Cassie Gaines Lynard Skynyrd plane crash was one of the band's most challenging moments. Ronnie Van Zant (1948 1977), born on Woodcrest Street in Westside Jacksonville, was the frontman and founder of Lynyrd Skynyrd. This was reflected in his sole studio album with the band, Street Survivors (1977). Following her death in the 1977 plane crash, Gaines was buried just behind her brother Steve's grave in Jacksonville Memory Gardens. It has some of my favorite things in life. Prior to the show, members of the band told the sound technician that, Cassies brother is going to come up and play with us, if he does not have the level, unplug him.. Arguably the first true Southern rock group, the Allman Brothers Band, formed following a jam at a Riverside home known as the Gray House. Ronnie attended Lee High School in Jacksonville with fellow band members Gary Rossington and Allen Collins. 5. I always felt that Ronnie belonged to his fans but I never thought anyone would do something like this to his resting place.". Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. It's disrespectful.". At the time, the band was in need of a new guitarist to replace the position of Ed King who departed from the band in the middle of 1975. Copyright 2012-2022, Pat Fitzhugh; all rights reserved. After the break-in was discovered, additional deputies, investigators and evidence technicians, including a team from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, were called to the scene. Cause of Death. The Jaxson is produced by Modern Cities in association with WJCT. He died tragically on the 20th of October in 1977. Cassie convinced him to drive to Kansas City from his small farm just outside West Seneca, Oklahoma. "Due to the June 29th, 2000 vandalization of his original grave site, his casket was moved to this new location and buried in a massive underground concrete burial vault. They soon formed what would become Lynyrd Skynyrd. 7. Present-day Skynyrd band members, including Johnny Van Zant, have been spotted there, as have former members of .38 Special, Molly Hatchet, and all those other famous Jacksonville bands. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In the 1970s Steve played with bands Rio Smokehouse,DetroitwithRusty Day(formerlyThe Detroit Wheels) and Crawdad (a band that Steve had started around 1974). He died on October 20, 1977 in the plane crash that also took the lives of Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines. But their greatest achievement was playing a show in Memphis with ZZ Top. Sky Michele written and performed by Jake Fisher (MidniteliteCo) with a beautiful tribute and moving piece to Steve and Cassie Gaines. Steve Gaines was cremated and buried in Orange Park, Florida in 1977, but was relocated to an undisclosed location after vandals broke into his and bandmate Ronnie Van Zant's tombs on June 29, 2000. After he was hit by a car in 1990, he left the hospital without being seen because he was bored. In 2000, nearly 23 years after Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines . At the height of their fame in the 1970s, the band popularized the Southern rock genre with songs such as Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird. A listing name reads: "Two plots with vaults adjacent to the late Ronnie Van Zant.". Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Gaines theology is best described as conservative and evangelical.Steve Gaines (pastor). Portions of the Nirvana front man were scattered in a dozen places, including the muddy banks of the Wishkah River, in various ceremonies. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Although initially reluctant, the band relented and on May 11, 1976 Steve joined Skynyrd on stage for one song. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - For more than 10 years, people have wondered where Lynyrd Skynyrd front man Ronnie Van Zant was buried. Only three days later on October 20, tragedy struck when the plane carrying the band crashed in a Mississippi countryside, leaving vocalists Ronnie Van Zant and Cassie Gaines, as well as guitarist Steve Gaines, dead. The remains of Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines, two founding members of the '70s Southern rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd, will be relocated to unmarked graves in the aftermath of the recent . 1 What date did Steve Gaines join Lynyrd Skynyrd? Register here, by continue you accept our Where is Steve Gaines buried at? He dined there often, and the place was only a stones throw from his last home, just off nearby Brickyard Road. The Surprising Thing Ronnie Van Zant Is Buried With. "I think it's wrong, totally wrong. Let's go, man. 19741977 It's about 2 inches thick.". Later on, Steve Gaines formed a band called Manalive. The Jaxson A few months later, Gaines was invited to join the band for the production of their live album, One More from the Road. Thank you for signing up to the Rocks Off. "Ronnie knew that he was going to die," he said. Winehouse had her grandmother's name tattooed on her arm, and her ashes were mixed in with Cynthia's after cremation. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. "I hope they [the vandals] get help, because they have to be twisted to do what they did," Morris said. Authorities did not speculate on a motive, nor whether the intruders may have been deranged fans of Lynyrd Skynyrd seeking a bizarre memento or simply vandals out for a night of destruction. Ronnie Van Zant, however, brushed it off and said: "Hey if the Lord wants you to die on this plane, when it's your time, it's your time. Whilst in Manalive, Gaines was playing with his famous Les Paul Black Beauty, which according to friends never left his side. 10. He obtained his first guitar at about age 14. On October 20, 1977, three days after the albumStreet Survivorswas released (and five dates into the band's most successful tour yet), a plane carrying the band between shows fromGreenville, South CarolinatoBaton Rouge, Louisiana, crashed outside ofGillsburg, Mississippi. To me, this was the most somber, heart-wrenching site on my entire trip. "We are saddened that we had to do this, but we have been left no choice," Jenness said in the statement. And the music was all I played while learning guitar and for the first 25-30 years of my musical life. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Don't have an account yet? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Yoko Ono had Lennon's body cremated at the Ferncliff Cemetery, and scattered his ashes in Central Park, in sight of their New York apartment. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. As the astonished band members quickly drove away, no one said a word. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Their mausoleums remain as memorials for fans to visit. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Getty Images. The rest is history. The bands bassist, Leon Wilkeson, was one of the survivors of the plane crash. Embed from Getty Images. Gaines was cremated and his ashes were buried in Orange Park, Florida in 1977, but were relocated to an undisclosed location after vandals broke into his and bandmate Ronnie Van Zants tombs on June 29, 2000. Celebrities Who Died in Plane and Helicopter Crashes, The Rock Road Claims Another Tragic Victim: Ronnie Van Zant of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band, The Skynyrd Tragedy Behind Them, Rossington Collins Now Plays 'Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere', Remembering the 59 Slain Victims of the Las Vegas Concert Massacre, 3 Years Later, Heaven's Gate, 25 Years Later: Remembering 38 People Who Died with Cult Leader. Johnny Ramone: Half of the original Ramones are laid to rest in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery sort of. was killed in an automobile accident near the cemetery where Steve and Cassie were buried. On February 15, 1979, the mother of Steve and Cassie, also named Cassie LaRue Gaines, was killed in an automobile accident near the cemetery where Steve and Cassie are buried. This is the tiny dock behind the former Hell House. The original, older dock is underneath this oneyou can see it from the edge of the creek. ORANGE PARK -- Nearly 23 years after Lynyrd Skynyrd rock singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines were laid to rest at Jacksonville Memory Gardens, vandals broke into a tomb and disturbed their remains yesterday morning. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000. They and their music have always played a big role in my life. Steve Gaines: Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Steve Gaines was cremated and had his ashes housed not far from the gravesite of fellow Skynyrd member Ronnie Van Zant. The plane landed in a swampy area and crashed into trees. His two brothers also became notable Southern rock musicians: Donnie Van Zant was a member of fellow Jacksonville band 38 Special, while Johnny became lead singer for the reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987. "On behalf of the Van Zant family," Jenness said, "I would like to personally thank all of those who have been so caring. We would be grateful if you would support our work by recording your loved ones, preserving their memory for future generations. The band ended up recording a single for Stax Records in 1971. A plastic bag containing Gaines' cremated ashes and an urn also were found nearby, said Mary Justino of the Sheriff's Office. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Steve Gaines. Family members gathered at the cemetery yesterday morning but declined to discuss the incident with reporters. The program provides counseling about different issues including depression, stress, anxiety, and relationships. Assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, the pilot, and co-pilot Walter McCreary and William Gray also died. Gaines was cremated and his ashes were buried in Orange Park, Florida in 1977, but were relocated to an undisclosed location after vandals broke into his and bandmate Ronnie Van Zants tombs on June 29, 2000. Cassie Gaines, the bands backup vocalist, was his older sister. privacy policy, by continuing you accept our You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. ", The new burial sites, Justino said, "will not be disclosed for security reasons.". Everyone stayed calm when the plane was about to go down. Gary Rossington In December of 1975, Cassie Gaines, Steves older sister, was inducted into Lynyrd Skynyrds The Honkettes, a group of female singers who sang backup vocals for the band. "I used that as a segue to try to sell the lots because it was right next to the people, so I thought, 'OK, somebody might be interested in it just because of that reason,'" Cochran said of why he mentioned Van Zant's burial site in the listing. When did Steve . fishing, seafood, and live music. He was 29 yeas old. With a focus on the 60s, 70s, and 80s, we aim to grow into the modern age as we grow ourselves. Gaines headstone stands just in front of the graves of his sister and parents, and nearby other members of the Gaines family and the former tomb of Ronnie Van Zant. Today Gary Rossington is the last surviving member of the original Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup. Johnny's widow Linda has his actual remains in her keeping. He is best known as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter with rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1976 until his death in the October 1977 airplane crash that claimed other band members and crew. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Winehouse was extremely close with her grandmother Cynthia, who passed away from lung cancer in 2006. He was an actor, known for A Way Back In (2010), Locked in! . This is that day. Burial. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Our content aims to be informative and entertaining, often discussing the lesser-known moments in history. His grave was vandalized on June 29, 2000, which prompted his family to move his remains to an unknown location. The ash remains of Cassie Gaines, Steve Gaines' sister and a vocalist with the band, were undisturbed. When not researching cases and sharing his findings on radio and TV, Pat Fitzhugh can be found speaking at paranormal conferences, teaching classes on paranormal research, and leading live, professional investigations of Americas most haunted locations. The relocation was prompted by a June 29 break-in at the crypts for Van Zant and Gaines at Jacksonville Memory Gardens in Orange Park, where fans had gathered to pay tribute to the band for more than 22 years. Musician. Her mother, also named Cassie Gaines, and father Earl Gaines are buried in adjacent plots and memorialized on the same headstone. Two weeks later, Steve Gaines received a phone call from Ronnie Van Zant inviting him to join the band. Get even more exclusive content on my Patreon page:https://www.patreon.com/RNRTrueStoriesToday we take a look at the 2000 news story. Steve Gaines (1949 1977) joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in May 1976. Chris Soldt, a Boston photographer who spent much of his life in Jacksonville, recently took a tour of the citys Southern rock graves. Sammie Ketcher, a member of two of Gaines early bands recalls. The Highway 16 bridge over the St. Johns River, a good ways south of Jacksonville. The band had been looking for a new third guitar player to replace departed member Ed King, and gave Gaines an audition at the suggestion of his older sister Cassie. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Clay County Sheriff's deputies found Van Zant's unopened casket on the ground about 3 a.m. at the rear of a marble mausoleum on the northern edge of the cemetery grounds next to the Orange Park Mall on Blanding Boulevard. When you buy via the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Artimus Pyle emerged with several broken ribs, and bleeding everywhere you could. Among the six who died were Van Zant, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines, and guitarist Steve Gaines. Their father worked for the Illinois Central Railroad and retired in 1976 as a track supervisor. Its where part of the 1970s Pepsi Cola Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute video was shot. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Steve Gaines_CROPPED.jpg. "They are no longer at Jacksonville Memory Gardens," said Mary Justino, sheriff's spokeswoman. When the plane crashed, Ronnie Van Zant instantly died due to blunt force trauma to his head. Finally, on May 11, 1976, they gave Steve Gaines a chance. Go get yourself a six-pack, kick back, and start reading. What kind of guitar did Steve Gaines play? Along with another compilation of live recordings with Detroit and Crawdad released as a CD titled Okie Special. On October 19, they performed a concert in Greenville, the last song they performed being Free Bird.. Though they shipped out for Macon, Georgia just a few weeks later, their impact was immense in their city of origin, with a number of bands following in their footsteps over the next decade. Also in the area are benches bearing inscriptions about music. He looked at life and music in a positive way, never taking his success for granted. A lonesome railroad track runs through a rural area between Middleburg, Florida, and Doctors lake, in the Brickyard community, where Ronnie Van Zant started a family and spent his last years. "We were lucky that they were not able to pry open the casket. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Gaines was born in Miami, Oklahoma. Three kids by the name of Van Zant grew up here. In 1964, when he was just fifteen, he went to see the Beatles live in concert in Kansas City. It was hard for the band to hear Gaines playing onstage amid the distortions and sounds. What Is The Meaning Of Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelins Amazing 1971 Musical Epic? Excerpts and links may be used in the interests of education and fair use, and in a non-defamatory manner, provided full and clear credit is given to Pat Fitzhugh and www.patfitzhugh.com, with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Please enter the adress associated with your account. Initially, the band members did not expect a lot from Gaines. Musician. After the release of the album, the band and Gaines seemed to be entering a new and improved era musically. During surgery, it was said that his heart stopped beating twice. Mausoleums, however, will remain at the Blanding Boulevard cemetery as memorials to the two musicians who died in a November 1977 plane crash, along with three road crew members. Many in Florida believe that Ronnie's spirit is just roaming the swamps Florida while enjoying his favorite hobby. On February 15, 1979, the mother of Steve and Cassie, also named Cassie LaRue Gaines, was killed in an automobile accident near the cemetery where Steve and Cassie are buried. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Just clear tips and lifehacks for every day. Steve Gaines grave site at Jacksonville Memory Gardens. Born to parents Edgar and Dorothy Gaines, Steve and his only sibling, Ed, spent most of their youth in the small town of Dyersburg, Tennessee. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The final resting places of Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmembers Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines were desecrated by vandals last week at Florida's Jacksonville . Powell's nose had been nearly ripped from his face after crashing head first through a table. This is a very lengthy, detailed post. She was buried near her children. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Download Image. Memorial bench for Teresa Gaines Rapp, widow of guitarist Steve Gaines and sister-in-law of backup singer, Cassie Gaines. Vince Neils Daughter Inspired More Than Just A Song, Rudy Sarzos Tragic Detailing of Randy Rhoads Plane Crash, The 10 Best Bob Dylan Songs That Defined His Career. "They don't understand why, after almost 23 years, anybody would go to this extent to do something like this.". Steve Gaines, Actor: A Way Back In. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. And, as one might guess, the lake where Ronnie kept his fishing boat is just to the left. Ronnie Van Zant, one of his sisters, and his parents, are now buried here.