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Although I am a lifelong Skynyrd fan, I never had the fortune of experiencing Steve Gaines play live. I saw Skynyrd with Cassie in 1975, a few months before Steve joined the band. I paid my respects to Steve, Cassie, Ronnie and Dean last summer when I visited the crash site of the Freebird. A moment in silence and prayer as I kneeled beneath the final tree where the plane came to it's resting place.

Will
Oxford, GA

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Had the honor of seeing him and Skynyrd live in Columbia Sc in 1976. He was the most awesome guitarist ever. Brilliant!!! Him and Alan Collins were fantastic. If they were alive today they would be
two of the best no doubt. That evening in 1976 is a night I relive every night! God Bless Steve and Allan, two guitarist made for each other,
and Skynyrd!
Paul
chapel hill nc
march 19, 2006

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Your comments: Steve was a guitar man fantastic and I love your music and music lynyrd skynyrd,the very best on slide guitar, thanks Steve I
love forever
milko

Italy, March 19, 2006

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Just wanted to congratulate Steve's family on his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This was long overdue. I went to see Skynyrd this weekend in Kansas City and had to wonder how great it would have been with Steve up there playing with them. He was a great guitar player and from what I have seen on video and read about him he was a great person as well.

Tony King
Springfield, Mo.
3/18/2006
 

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Your comments: I have a couple questions; Steve's "One in the Sun" CD  gives a completely differrent line up of players on "One in the Sun" then "Legend".  Was that song re-recorded and if it was, at what date? And I
was wondering about the 1977 Asbury Park black and white film footage. 

Does anyone have plans to release it? It's owned by Metropolitan Entertainment and I can't see why they wouldn't release this whole concert
because it was at there peak. I just have to wonder where Steve would have taken Skynyrd with his style and song writing.  Great site, God Bless!
Kevin
Niagara Falls New York
March 18, 2006
 

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Well, this past Sunday I was lucky enough to accompany
Artimus Pyle and his family to watch the Skynyrd rehearsal for the Hall Of Fame. I have to say it was amazing, but I do wish that Steve was up there playing because he was one of my favorite guitar players ever. In a way I do know he was there in the room, because that honor fell on him as well.

Congratulations Steve, you made the Hall Of Fame.
James
NYC
March 15, 2006

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SADLY, THE CLOSEST I EVER CAME TO SEEING STEVE WAS BACK
IN THE EARLY 1990'S WHEN I MADE A STOP AT THE PAST BURIAL SITE OF RONNIE, STEVE AND CASSIE AT ORANGE PARK! I HAVE PICTURES OF THAT, BUT HE IS ALWAYS IN MY HEART WHEN LISTEN TO HIM ON CD OR PLAYING MY OLE' SIX STRING!! HIS GUITARMANSHIP IS TIMELESS!! WE MISS ALL OF YA! FLYHIGH OKIE SPECIAL! HILLBILLY STEVE FROM TENNESSEE!
(PLEASE MAKE A GOOD COLOR PHOTO AVAILABLE OF STEVE THAT I COULD PUT ON MY GUITAR WALL OF FAME!)
Steve
TN
March 15, 2006

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He was rock, I'm country. I was older but he could out
play me 10 times over. Wished he could have been around till we grew up.
Still love his music.
Charles
Oklahoma
March 14, 2006

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I can't wait for a detailed history about Steve Gaines.
Hopefully it'll be soon. I'd like to know everything about his playing, from what his influences were, and if he ever took lessons, things like that. He was a BEYOND sick player, who could really shred with the best of them. Hopefully, with Lynyrd Skynyrd's recent induction into the Hall of Fame, more light will be shed on his amazing playing ability from guitar magazines and the like.

He's up there with players like Dimebag
Darrell and Randy Rhoads, as far as I am concerned.

Thanks for the website, Steve has a lot of younger fans like me that are eager to learn more about him.

Jon
Arkansas
March 14, 2006

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GAINES FAMILY FOR STEVE'S INDUCTION TO THE ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME I BET YOU ARE SO PROUD  EVEN THOUGH HIS TIME WAS CUT SHORT HIS WORK WAS GREAT WITH SKYNYRD HE WAS THE FINAL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT MADE THEM GREAT  I WILL BE AT THE SHOW 
GOD BLESS
AND THANKS
TROY
NJ
March 11, 2006
 

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Thanks Steve for your great contribution to Skynyrd. You brought to them the freshness they so desperately needed after Ed's departure and after their 4th studio album (gimmie back my bullets). I watch the "freebird" movie over and over and I keep wondering what these guys would have given to the music world if that horrible plane crash hadn't happened!!!!

We'll never know, unfortunatelly. Listening to the skynyrd live
album "one more from the road", you can hear clearly that guitar army, as Ronnie used to call the three guitarists is well back in form.
 

Maybe Steve, Ronnie, Cassie, Allen and Leon can still see from up above that their message has broken through all over  this planet and their music is still in our hearts.
 

Be proud Free Birds and keep on flying.
Rock will always be alive!!!!
From a fan that is so far away from Jacksonville and yet so close to the skynyrd legend
Thank you guys for everything!!!
Bill
Greece
March 11, 2006

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STEVE LIVES ON IN MY SOUL FOR ETERNITY!!!HIS INFLUENCE
LIVES IN MY HEART  AS A GUITAR PLAYER AND BROTHER! (I WAS NAMED AFTER
HIM! STEVE
HILLBILLY STEVE
KNOXVILLE, TN
(March 10, 2006)

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As I sit here typing this, I cant stop getting a tear in my eye, I've never met the guy, but after a lot that Ive read about him, and others of the Skynyrd band, I feel that I have met him, mentally. 
Steve was a damn good guitarist, along with the other Skynyd band members, so Steve, If ya can see this, I love ya like a bro. and I'll keep the music going. thanks for the great music, and the great memories

Wes
Tennessee
(March 6, 2006)

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Steve brought something to skynyrd (and too Ronnie)
that ed king couldn't add. together the two of them (with the help of Allen, Gary, & Leon) wrote some of the best skynyrd songs ever put out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ken-man
Flint, MI
(March 8, 2006)

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I grew up with Steve and Cassie in Miami. Knew them both
very. Especially Cassie. Also very close to Bud and LaRue. Been to their house many times. Miss that Cassie. She was simply the best.

George
Houston, TX
(March 2, 2006)

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I MET CHARLIE DANIELS AT A CONCERT AND I KNOW HE LOVES
LYNYRD SKYNYRD AND SO DO I. I HATE WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE PLANE CRASHED. I WAS A LITTLE TO YOUNG TO SEE EVERYONE WHEN THEY PLAYED IN ATLANTA.
WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED DID YOU PLAY AT A THEATER IN MABLETON GA.? I TRIED TO GET TO THE CONCERTS BUT I COULD NOT SNEAK OUT OF THE HOUSE AND NOW I REGRET THAT, NOW I AM 44 AND DISABLED AND JUST CANT AFFORD TO GO
MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU ALL WITH ALL MY LOVE,

CONNIE
LITHIA SPRINGS GA
February 25, 2006

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I think Steve was an excellent addition to Lynyrd Skynyrd. His guitar playing was really unique and it was obvious the effect he had on the rest of the band. While I like virtually all of Skynyrd's songs, my favorite album by far is Street Survivors. I still listen to it quite often. It never fails that when someone hears it for the first time, they always ask me who it is and tell me how awesome it sounds. I've probably sold 20-30 extra CD's just from people who have heard mine. It would have been great to hear him and Stevie Ray Vaughan play together.

Ron  Houston, TX 

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WITHOUT HIM LYNYRD SKYNYRD WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WHAT THEY ARE NOW. A TRUE GUITARIST. WE LOST A GREAT MAN. 

PASCAL   FRANCE 

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Steve and Cassie both landed roles within Skynrd due to both of their extreme talents-many-many-thanks to the Gaines family for making it possible for fans to be able to purchase his music! I have looked everywhere in stores for "one in the sun;" I am a forever fan!

Rose Willis   Berea, KY

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I'm the slide guitarist of the Southern steel band. Every time I play my guitar I have in my heart Steve and his slide and lead guitar style. I love his music and his way of play the guitar. Thanks Steve....thanks forever.

Marco Andrea   Turin, Italy

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Steve is awesome.. every time I hear "you got that right" or "I know a little" it makes me cry. ever since I heard Steve, Allen, and, Gary play Freebird live I always wanted to play guitar and now I do.  Just wanted the people to know how much of a Steve Gaines and Skynyrd fan I am. I do truly miss Steve and all the other Skynyrd members that have passed. to anyone reading this ROCK ON

Chris "Allen" Johns  Pennsylvania 

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I thought Steve was the greatest spark that could ever have happened to Skynyrd and he is sorley miss by all of us here in this comunity. His muisic is still the insperation I need to get me going when I can't seem to get myself going on the guitar. We love and miss him.

Brian Baker   Mississippi 

I'm a Steve Gaines fan from when he played with Pink Peach Mob, Magic Kitchen, and Man Alive. I have memories of Steve standing on the front edge of the stage at the 'Gay Purita Ballroom' in Scammon, Ks. He is leaning back with his eyes closed. His tall lanky body dripping with sweat from wet long hair as he sliced, ripped, and caressed notes, sounds, and colors from a black Les Paul Gibson like some entranced wizard atop a sacred mountain. Sometimes Cassie would be back in town and sing with Steve. They did a cover of Dave Mason's ......'I mean what I say so don't go..... and take it the wrong way.', that made you feel so good you want to run home and kiss your Mama just for giving you life so you could have that moment. .......Steve, I miss you Bro' !!! I'm sure you're ripping those harp strings in the Great Mystery. See ya' ....Peace.

Rick Evans   Pittsburg, Kansas

Wow nice, the changes in the site. I look at the black Les Paul Custom Steve's holdin' and it reminds me of my Brother's, he had a '74 BLC, and all the tunes of the 70's come rushing up to me and takes me back to my days growing up in Florida.  Steve was a gifted artist and now he belongs to the ages.

Tim Jenkins    Rossville, California

Gaines was a great guitarist. We miss you.

Greg   Louisville, Kentucky

For a 17 year old guitarist just starting out, Steve Gaines was the epitome of "lead guitarist". I spent countless hours moving the needle, and later the rewind button on 'One More From the Road', memorizing all his lead breaks and fills. I could listen to any song on the record and tell you exactly what part Steve was playing. He was, and still is, my favorite artist from that band. He deeply influenced the way I play, and the melodic approach I take to solos and rhythm. In the world of music, as I'm sure he was in other aspects of life, he was a great man, a tremendous force in guitar, now and forever. Play on Steve, play on.

Kevin Jensen   Pedro Bay, Alaska

Lexington,Ky. May 20,1977. Skynyrd came to town, I was 16 and on the front row, Steve was right in front of me playing amazing guitar with seemingly effortless ease, he was that good! Although "Street Survivors" wouldn't be recorded till 3 months later, Skynyrd played several songs from it. "That Smell","You Got That Right","What`s Your Name". The crowd went wild! Later, Dickey Betts joined them onstage for "Freebird" and the place was totally ROCKIN`! I`d like to say that "The Honkettes" backing vocals on "That Smell" are the most awesome ever laid down on vinyl, What a trio! Wish ya`ll could have been there!

Vito Wilson  Lexington, Kentucky

Steve Gaines was a true guitar hero. I was born in 1991 and am inspired to play guitar because of him. He was a genius. I even bought a sunburst strat to match his. He is the best.

Neil

I have just visited your site to Steve and Cassie for the first time. Thank you so much for creating the site and sharing all the photos. They brought tears to my eyes, especially the family ones when your daughter was a toddler. How kind and sharing it is of you to share your life with the fans. I always seemed like us fans were "family" because of the love for the band over all the years. I've loved them since I was 18 and heard Sweet Home Alabama on the radio. I became the die hard fan when Street Survivors was released. I went absolutely crazy listening to it and have NEVER tired of it. The songs have been a major part of my life, good and bad. Whenever things are tough, a Skynyrd song will come on the radio and I have to smile and crank it up. I can't put into words how the songs make me feel. I was never fortunate enough to see the band in the 70's, but the music was always with and a part of me and then my ultimate dream came true when I saw the Tribute Tour in 87 and had 2nd row seats. I have never, ever been to a concert when I had to fight back tears from the emotion of it all. Again, thank you for sharing your life with us.