Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gary Rossington Suffers Heart Attack

Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitarist Stricken

LYNYRD SKYNYRD guitarist GARY ROSSINGTON, the last remaining original member of the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME band, is reportedly under observation after suffering a serious heart attack OCTOBER 8th, according to ULTIMATECLASSICROCK.COM.

The news was revealed in a note posted by his daughter MARY ELIZABETH at the RONNIE VAN ZANT fan page on FACEBOOK. “Please keep him and us in your prayers as well as all the amazing medical staff that have saved his life several times now,” reads one passage. “We were very close to losing him this time and just pray that they will develop even better techniques soon to deal with heart disease.”

ROSSINGTON’s been battling heart problems for some time, and has had stents inserted during previous surgeries — including a quintuple bypass  in 2003: “They went in to repair and unclog the two stents they did previously in the year which had a blood clot, added a third stent to one vein and in two weeks we will need to go in to do a fourth stent in one of his bypassed veins from 12 years ago.”

The guitarist's fans, friends and peers have already started reaching out through social media to express their support, including former SKYNYRD drummer ARTIMUS PYLE, who posted a quote reading, “I love you, GARY. Our band loves you. Stay strong and ‘May the force be with you.'” The members of FOGHAT have also tweeted their well wishes.

Earlier this year, ROSSINGTON was hospitalized with an abdominal infection, forcing the cancellation of a tour date. A pair of upcoming shows -- in TERRE HAUTE, IN, and MT. PLEASANT, MI -- have been put on hold for now and will be rescheduled in 2016.

The 63-year-old has been a part of every incarnation of the band dating back to 1964, when he joined up with RONNIE VAN ZANT and ALLEN COLLINS to form MY BACKYARD in JACKSONVILLE.

« see more Net News