K.T Simpson
The upcoming biopic surrounding Lynyrd Skynyrd, in particular the chartered plane crash the band was involved in on October 20 1977 is starting to rock n roll with a cast being announced. Ian Shultis, Taylor Clift, Samuel Kay Forrest and Rich Dally III have been cast in the flick, titled “Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash” and is set to begin shooting at the end of April in LA (via Deadline).
The “Free Bird” Southern rockers have a particularly tumultuous history, with the plane crash killing 2 original band members (Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines), backing vocalist Cassie Gaines (Steve’s sister), as well as an assistant road manager (Dean Kilpatrick) and the two pilots of the plane (Walter McCreary and William Gray). The accident occurred just 3 days following the release of their album “Street Survivors”, and the band was en route to play in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The other band members and crew were injured, including Artimus Pyle (the band’s drummer), who broke both of his arms, legs, wrists, ankles and his pelvis.
The biopic was written by Jared Cohn (also directing), who based it on a story written by Pyle. The flick will focus around Pyle and his recollections about his experiences of the events surrounding the accident. The band have since gone on to tour and record, even to this day.
