Southern rock band cancels shows due to health emergencies

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Lynyrd Skynyrd is facing a tough time after a series of health emergencies affected the southern rock band.

Frontman Johnny Van Zant has provided some clarification on the band’s Facebook announcements canceling numerous concerts, starting with their performance in Anchorage, Alaska (which was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 25). Following this cancellation, others were postponed in West Valley, Utah; Loveland, Colo.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The 64-year-old gave fans a glimpse of the cancellations in a video shared to the band’s Facebook page the following day, Thursday, September 26. Van Zant mentioned that his youngest daughter, Taylor, is facing health issues after finding a mass on her brain. He added that part of the lump was bleeding, which caused numbness.

The rock star mentioned that doctors don’t think it’s “the C-word,” referring to cancer, and that they’re “not out of the woods yet” but are “in a much better place ” than initially thought.

Further adding to the situation, he then revealed that Lynyrd Skynyrd bus driver Brad Gibson ended up in intensive care after getting into a scooter accident. Ironically, he was going to receive a get well card for Van Zant’s family. “He wrecked the scooter and hit his head and he’s in intensive care,” Van Zant told his fans.

Fans expressed their best wishes for both families in the comments: “I was so looking forward to Sunday in Albuquerque but I completely understand that family comes first. Prayers to your daughter and your bus drivers. God is awesome 🙏,” one fan said, while another said, “Praying for a speedy healing and recovery 🙏.”

The musician ended the video by asking his fans for positive thoughts and prayers for his daughter and her bus driver. It’s unclear if the band will reschedule the canceled concerts, but they mentioned that instructions on how to receive a refund will be provided soon.

Van Zant has been at the helm of Lynyrd Skynyrd since 1987, nearly 10 years after the tragic loss of his brother, Ronnie Van Zant, in a plane crash. The group’s last surviving founding member, Gary Rossington, died last year at the age of 71.