Lynyrd Skynyrd to Release New Songs Honoring Late Guitarist Gary Rossington

Lynyrd Skynyrd have revealed that they are sitting on a significant amount of unreleased material co-written with late guitarist Gary Rossington—songs the band still hopes may one day see the light of day.

In a recent interview with French outlet Riff X, singer Johnny Van Zant and guitarist Rickey Medlocke shared details about the recordings, estimating that there are “about 30 songs” Rossington helped create before his death.

“We have songs that we wrote with Gary that we never recorded,” Van Zant confirmed.

Unearthed Tapes Reveal Unfinished Songs and Ideas

According to Medlocke, the material came to light shortly after Rossington passed away in 2023. “We discovered [these songs] shortly after Gary’s passing,” he explained. “They brought us a load of tapes and all this stuff — [Gary’s] wife did — and we discovered we had about 30 songs that Gary had taken part with Johnny and myself and whomever.”

Medlocke added that the recordings offer an intimate glimpse into Rossington’s creative process. “You could hear him talking on the tapes and talking about lyrics and all that stuff,” he said, underscoring how personal and unfinished many of the ideas still feel.

Revisiting the tapes sparked new conversations among the surviving band members. “Johnny and I started talking about doing — possibly doing — another Lynyrd Skynyrd record that included Gary’s songs on it and stuff,” Medlocke noted.

Van Zant was careful not to make any promises but expressed a clear interest in honoring the material. “We’ll see what the future brings,” he said, “but we would like to bring that to the forefront and get it to our fans.”

Life After the Loss of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Last Original Member

Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s final surviving original member, died in 2023 at age 71. Despite the loss, the band has continued to tour—something Rossington strongly supported before his passing.

Lynyrd Skynyrd have previously hinted at the possibility of a new album, which would be their first since 2012’s Last of a Dyin’ Breed. While new music remains uncertain, the band recently announced plans to tour in 2026, including headline dates and an extended run with Foreigner.

Carrying the Name Forward Comes With Weight—and Pride

The band’s continued activity has prompted debate among fans about whether Lynyrd Skynyrd should go on without any original members. Van Zant acknowledges the gravity of that question but says the responsibility is one the group takes seriously.

“For us to carry on the legacy is, it’s a big responsibility,” he said, speaking from personal experience after stepping into the role once held by his late brother, Ronnie Van Zant.

“For me personally, it’s been a big weight on my shoulders for a long time,” he admitted. “I want to be able to, at the end of my life say, ‘Hey, I did it the best that I could.’ I’m not Ronnie, I’m never gonna be Ronnie. I didn’t want to be Ronnie. I’m not Ronnie, I’m Johnny. And to be able to have this honor to carry it on is amazing.”

Though Lynyrd Skynyrd shows no signs of slowing down, Van Zant can still imagine the moment when the road finally ends. “I hope to be on my porch someday, smoking a cigar, drinking a nice whiskey, and saying, ‘Wow, what a ride!’”

For now, the band remains focused on honoring its past while navigating its future—one that may yet include unheard songs shaped by Rossington’s voice, guitar, and enduring influence.