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Has anyone refused to play a Lynyrd Skynyrd tune?

abngourmet

abngourmet

In Memoriam
Nov 11, 2004
1,276
460
USA
#1
Folks,

Last night, we had a gig. We do a bunch of original stuff in the vein of John Mellencamp and Springsteen, and then some covers (Petty, Mellencamp, Springsteen, The Doors, Van Halen [yes, Van Halen], some country, etc.). We always get the "do y'all play Skynyrd" from the crowd here in Fayetteville, North Carolina (where the men are men and the fat women are choosey - and yes, I realize I'm going to hell for that last statement!). For the record, the offending tunes are:

Sweet Home Alabama
Simple Man
Freebird

We ended up the night playing Freebird, which none of us wanted to do, liked, nor were compensated for. Yes, I know the customer is always right, etc. In this case, we got signed up for it by the bar manager. Have to please the bar manager, don't you know .... BTW, I hadn't played Freebird in nearly 25 years, yet still knew the bassline. Either I've been thoroughly corrupted, or brainwashed (Leon Wilkeson, RIP, BTW - you were a great bass player).

Regardless of where we play, we hear requests for these tunes. It's like the plague. I'm sure there are others that have experienced this. Like most musicans we know, we hate these tunes, not because they're bad tunes, but because we're sick of playing them without being appropriately compensated for playing something we don't like to play (most guys I know who aren't southern rock afficianados don't like to play Skynyrd, but I could be wrong). Granted, the customer is always right, but if I have to play Sweet Home one more time, I'm going to cut off all the strings on my bass.

We've jokingly suggested to one another that we put a sign out in front of the bandstand stating simply, "Freebird - $100" as a deterrent.

My question is: is anyone as sick and tired of these tunes as we are, and have you refused to play them?

Thanks,

Alan
 
#5
CapnSev said:
I have refused Freebird on multiple occasions, even though my band plays it sometimes.

EDIT: All three of those tune you mentioned make me cringe - not that the tunes are bad, but the demographic that worships them is.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I had a woman, obviously very intoxicated tell me last night that "you sure can play that guitar good" last night. I pointed out to her that it was a bass, not a guitar, and basically, she said "well, I liked the Skynyrd you played."

Even after I account for her level of intoxification, there's no wonder why I don't like playing it.

Alan
 
#7
abngourmet said:
Exactly. I had a woman, obviously very intoxicated tell me last night that "you sure can play that geetar good" last night. I pointed out to her that it was a bass, not a guitar, and basically, she said "well, I liked the Skynyrd you played."

Even after I account for her level of intoxification, there's no wonder why I don't like playing it.

Alan
Click to expand...


Fixed it fer ya' boss.
 
#9
Agreed those songs are way over played... I try to distance myself from those listed when I can because I actually really like Skynyrd (Even though I'm not from that demographic area as some other poster mentioned :)) and I'd like to keep enjoying the songs. (Hard as it may be).
 
#10
I play black metal/thrash. Freebird isnt a popular request, but we play the songs the people want to hear if we know them. Ive played Raining Blood 40000000000 times, and its great everytime. Musicians are servants of the people. We are supposed to make the fans happy. Thats my aim at least. Pay me in happiness and cheering.:hyper:
 
#15
Hell, I don't care. If someone wants to hear a tune, I will do my best to make it happen. It's the Drummer and the singer that poo-poo songs and refuse to play them. We do the Shine Down version of Simple Man (Acoustic guitar and vocals) so me and the drummer hang out and drink during that one. It goes over huge. As does Sweet Home Alabama and Gimme 3 steps..........

If the audiance wants me to play a certain song, it just translates into "The audiance wants me" in my mind. I'll do whatever I can to encourage that.
 
#16
That's one of the things about living in the south.You don't have to play any Skynard,but it doesn't hurt to have it in the quiver just in case.I always suggested learning "I Know A Little" in place of the usual LS covers. It has a fun bassline,and keeps the LS wolves at bay. If you know it,and someone requests it,it's usually a good idea to play it.You may get future gigs from it.
 
#17
Whenever our guitard starts playing 'Sweet Home Alabama' I start singing 'Werewolves of London' (same form and key), It gets a laugh and limits the damage to a few measures.

Here in Virginia I am taking a risk, f'ing with Skynyrd is tantamount to pissing on the flag with some of the locals...
 

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