Despite the fact that it stopped being funny at least a decade ago (and even then wasn't all that funny to begin with), Lynyrd Skynyrd has been immortalized at concerts by people calling out requests for "Freebird." The reason it started was because "Freebird" was such a staple of the Southern-fried rock they cooked up, and it's hard to imagine a hardcore Skynyrd fan that's had their fill of the hit.

Skynyrd became the pride of the South as far as rock was concerned, and continue to be an influence in rock bands that come out of the region today. Their hard-living matched their music, and made them one of the most popular bands throughout the '70s and early '90s.

The band's genesis was a high school garage band called My Backyard consisting of vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Allen Collins, guitarist Gary Rossington, bassist Leon Wilkeson and keyboardist Billy Powell. Drummer Bob Burns would join after the band changed their moniker, naming themselves after Leonard Skinner, a particularly hated gym teacher who disliked any student with long hair.

The band gigged extensively throughout the south before scoring a record deal and releasing their debut, 1973's helpfully titled Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd. They were an immediate success, drawing in fans to their explosive live shows. "Free Bird" became the hit that would define them at the time--though later in their career, "Sweet Home Alabama" would be even more popular. They would release four LPs plus a live album throughout the mid-'70s.

Tragically, the band was riding a private plane in 1977 when it crashed, killing a number of the band's members. After releasing Street Survivors, which they had been working on, they broke up. They would be reunited in the early '90s and be received warmly by adoring fans.