On this day, October 20, 1977, three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd were killed in a plane crash.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

• 1977 – Three members of the American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd died when their chartered plane crashed in Gillsburg, Mississippi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_20

• 1977 – A plane carrying the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashes in woodland in Mississippi, United States. Six people, including three band members, are killed.

[Docreed2003]

1. What's interesting is that it could have been Aerosmith

They had actually interviewed the pilot for charter work just before Skynyrd hired him. They passed because the guy was a known heavy drinker

[lark]

2. It's a day I will never forget.

My x had been an aquaintance of theirs and I went to my senior year in high school with Dale. We sat next to each other in English and competed to see who could complete the self-taught course first and make the best grade.

When the airplane wrecked, it was totally an arrow to my heart. Not that long later, Allan died. They were my age and died way too young.

[ProfessorGAC]

3. If You've Never Seen The Biopic...

..."If I Leave Here Tomorrow", I highly recommend you do.
The crash & aftermath is beautifully covered by the survivors.
I always respected the playing but didn't pay a lot of attention to the songs.
After the biopic, my respect went even higher by a couple notches, at least.

[highplainsdem]

4. So tragic. VH1's Behind The Music on the band: