Lynyrd Skynyrd Live At Knebworth '76 A Classic Performance

On August 21, 1976, Lynyrd Skynyrd gave a performance for the ages at the Knebworth festival in England. And we're not just talking a classic southern rock performance but one of the most memorable, charismatic yet exacting rock-and-roll shows, period. Thankfully the concert is now available in its entirety for the first time. "Live At Knebworth '76" is available Friday, April 9, as a CD/DVD or CD/Blu-Ray package. The Blu-Ray also includes the critically acclaimed fully authorized documentary, "If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd."

But back to Knebworth, where Skynyrd blew everyone off the stage that day - yes, including headliners The Rolling Stones. In 1976 Skynyrd had been invigorated by the addition of new third guitarist Steve Gaines, who pushed fellow six-stringers Allen Collins and Gary Rossington to up their games. The three-man guitar work throughout the show is an incredible display. Collins' frenetic soloing, Rossington's slide and rhythm work, and Gaines' fitting perfectly in the middle provide a fiery, fully engrossing performance. It's also notable that singer Ronnie Van Zant did not provide any stage banter between songs. The group had a little over an hour to play, and they were going to make every second count.

Van Zant was the band's legendary front man, bandleader and musical director. The outlaw dressed all in black, performing with bare feet, his famous western hat atop his head. Perhaps no one could command a stage while standing mainly in the same spot throughout a show. Van Zant's rough and ready vocals, ubiquitous calling in the dogs whistle and encouragement of his fellow band members has the audience enthralled.

Meanwhile, bassist Leon Wilkeson and drummer Artimus Pyle propelled Skynyrd with a solid undercurrent and pianist Billy Powell brought the boogie with his excellent keyboard and piano playing. The band was backed by the Honkettes, a trio of feisty backing vocalists: JoJo Billingsley, Cassie Gaines and Leslie Hawkins.

The band, Collins especially, was champing at the bit to start the show, barely containing his enthusisam to hit the first note. You knew something special was about to take place. As soon as the group launched into opener "Workin' for MCA" they made the festival crowd at Knebworth their own intimate honkey tonk bar. Van Zant is in especially fine form vocal-wise and Powell's rollicking piano augments the edgy rocker.

"I Ain't the One" is driven by a staccato-riff and the classic "Saturday Night Special" tells a menacing tale vocal and instrumental wise alike. "Searching" sees the outlaw Van Zant admitting that salvation can be found in love - don't worry, this isn't a ballad but a searing guitar number.

The band then switch gear into road dogs mode with the upbeat "Whiskey Rock-A-Roller" and the swing of "Travelin' Man," which features a swampy bass intro and some fluid work by Wilkeson and Pyle's strong, athletic drumming.

The renowned honky tonk of "Gimme Three Steps" follows, the three-guitar wrecking machine of Collins, Rossington and Gaines again taking control. A couple of covers are next, with the band giving new energy to J.J. Cale's "Call Me the Breeze" and Jimmie Rodgers' " T for Texas."

It's then into the home stress with a joyful, exuberant rendition of "Sweet Home Alabama." Finally, it's "Free Bird" time. Skynyrd turns in one of its most memorable performances of the plaintive turned joyous celebration of rock-and-roll, a true all-time classic. It's a physically and emotionally powerful tune, the highlight of course being the ultimate guitar solo trade-off that is the song's grand finale.

The Stones only had one rule for opening bands at Knebworth: Do not go down the "tongue" ramp, a Stones stage feature that extended down near the crowd. Skynyrd, the bad boys they were, ignored this rule, Van Zant leading an at first hesitant Rossington and Collins down the ramp. While Mick may not have been pleased, he had bigger things to worry about: just how to follow a performance that took the house down. Turns out his band had no answer, as did most who took the stage after Skynyrd burned it down.

We all know the story: only 14 months after Knebworth came the plane crash. The question of what could have been, especially after watching this performance, lingers 45 years on. But for now, just bask in this awesome, awe-inspiring show. Skynyrd at Knebworth 1976 is a revelation, chronicling a time when no one could top this band; no matter how hard they tried.

Note: The Blu-Ray edition includes the feature-length documentary, "If I Leave Here Tomorrow." Featuring enlightening current and archival interviews with band members as well as classic footage, the film is the closest look you'll get into Skynyrd's trials and tribulations. Especially engaging is the focus on the band's early days as it rose from the hardscrabble section of Jacksonville, Fla., to international superstardom.