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    Rock and roll Hall of Famers Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Topp will perform Sunday at Smokies Stadium

The sounds of classic rock will resonate through the hills of East Tennessee this Sunday when two legendary rock bands, both members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, take the stage at Smokies Stadium in Kodak.

   Legendary Southern Rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Topp  will rock the house at the annual Concert in the Smokies.

 “It’s always a hoot to work with ZZ Topp,” said Johnny Van Zant in a telephone interview. “We’ve been on the road with them before and we are looking forward to coming to Sevierville.”

   Lynyrd Skynyrd formed in the mid-1960s and made the music charts in the 1970s and ‘80s with classic tunes such as the “Gimme back my bullets”, “Give me three steps” and the unofficial state song of Alabama, “Sweet Home Alabama.” The band is best remembered for the immortal song “Freebird.”

  “We are coming up on 50 years since Lynard Skynard first formed” Van Zant said. “It’s amazing. We’ve now carried our music on to three generations. We call them the Skynard nation. The music is timeless. We see a fan base that includes aunts, uncles, parents and kids who are just discovering the music for the first time.”   

   Lynyrd Skynyrd was involved in a plane crash in 1977 killing three of the bands founding members including frontman Ronnie Van Zant. The crash sent shock waves across the nation among stunned fans who were devastated by the loss of the young stars and went into mourning. Following the tragedy it appeared as though the band was finished and went on hiatus. Though the band’s future seemed to be in doubt, the timeless music of Lynyrd Skynayrd continued to top album sales as fans refused to let the music die. The band reformed in 1987 for a reunion tour with Van Zant's younger brother, Johnny, as frontman. While the tour was intended as a one-time tribute, fans simply couldn’t get enough of the iconic band and the group has been touring worldwide since. Currently, only one original band member, Gary Rossington, continues to tour. Lynyrd Skynyrd was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 13, 2006.

  “We’ve had our tragedies and we’ve had our triumphs as well,” Van Zant said. “The loyalty of our fans is one of those triumphs. When we put the band back together in 1987, it was intended as a six-week tour. But after the six-week tour it was like the family was breaking up again. We decided to continue on.”

   It has now been 25 years since Johnny Van Zant picked up where his brother left off. And the dedicated fans continue to fill arenas around the world and continue to listen to the music that made the band iconic.

  “They say that time flies when you’re having fun. The last 25 years of my life seems like 25 seconds. I always think of Ronnie as having been like the quarterback and I am the receiver. When I go on stage he is with me in spirit.  Our latest album is ‘last of a dying breed,’” Van Zant said. “It charted at #14 and it is doing well in the U.S. and Europe.”  
      

  ZZ Topp is best known for the bluesy rock melodies that launched them to fame in the 70s and 80s. The band is best remembered for such classic rock songs such as “Sharp dressed man”, “Give it up” and of course, the ever popular multi-platinum “Legs.” 

    ZZ Top has released 15 studio albums and is among the most popular rock groups, having sold more than 50 million albums worldwide. They have won three VMAs, and in 2004, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. VH1 ranked ZZ Top at number 44 in its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock". They have performed at many charity events and raised $1 million for the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

 The concert will be at Smokies Stadium in Kodak, Sunday Sept. 16 the show begins at 7 p.m. rain or shine. Tickets are on sale now at Knoxville Tickets and can be purchased by calling 865-654-4444 or 877-995-9961.  Tickets are $46.50 to $67.50.

  ZZ Topp has sold more than 50 million records worldwide