Today in 1977 the airplane carrying the band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed in the woods of Gillsburg, Mississippi. Band members Ronnie Van Zant and Steve and Cassie Gaines were killed along with one of the band’s managers and the pilot and co-pilot. The band was en route to a show at LSU at the time.

The crash came only three days after the release of the band’s fifth album “Street Survivors”. The cover of the album featured the band standing in the middle of the street while flames burn in the background. In a cruel premonition, Steve Gaines is in the middle of the photo and appears to be fully engulfed. The band re-issued the album with an alternate cover after the crash.

The album would go on to be the band’s second platinum record and featured hits like “What’s Your Name” and “That Smell”. The band would break up following the tragedy and would reunite in 1987 with Ronnie Van Zant’s brother Johnny taking over on vocals.

Here is “I Know a Little”, written by Steve Gaines, off of the “Street Survivors” album: