Van Zant

Johnny Van Zant, who would later take over his older brother Ronnie's spot in the revamped Lynyrd Skynyrd, was still fronted his own band, Van Zant, before he stepped into his brother's oversized shoes. Van Zant would attempt to keep his solo career going for another few years before getting frustrated with the music industry and quitting to drive a truck. Johnny was just beginning with his solo career (with extensive help and mentoring from his late brother, Ronnie, and older brother, Donnie of 38 Special) when the Skynyrd plane crashed and left the two younger brothers to pick up the pieces. Johnny had already secured a record deal with Mercury Records, but after the death of his most famous brother, he was constantly living and performing in his shadow.

Van Zant was more of an '80s metal group than a Southern Rock band. Numbers like, "Midnight Sensation," "No More Dirty Deals," "You Gotta Believe," "Heart To The Flame," and "Rock Survivors" are typical of the MTV-era music that bands like Winger and Whitesnake made, but lack the radio friendly pop elements that those acts usually incorporated in their music. Especially on "Standing In The Darkness," written about the death of his older brother, does Johnny really shine.

When the surviving members of Skynyrd decided to reform and tap Johnny Van Zant for the lead vocalist spot, there was apprehension from fans and critics alike. The pairing was an obvious choice because Skynyrd has carried on as one of the most successful classic bands of all time. Though he continues to release the occasional solo album, he has seen the biggest success outside of Lynyrd Skynyrd by way of a country music project done with his other brother, Donnie, in which he revived the Van Zant band name.