Ean Evans, Lynyrd Skynyrd Bassist, Dead At 48

COLUMBUS, Miss. — Bassist Donald "Ean" Evans of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd has died after a battle with cancer.

Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant said Evans died Wednesday at his home in eastern Mississippi. He was 48.

In a statement posted on lynyrdskynyrd.com the band said, "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of longtime Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Ean Evans. Ean put up a valiant battle with an aggressive form of cancer and he will be sorely missed by family, friends and fans."

Evans was born in Atlanta, but moved to Columbus after marrying his wife, Eva. He joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2001 and had been touring regularly with the band until being diagnosed with cancer in 2008, when he cut back on performances with the band.

Survivors include his wife and two daughters.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

"He was just one of those guys who was always a dreamer and always seeing ahead. And he was the most positive person I've ever met," Mike Chain, a guitarist who was close friends with Evans, told The Commercial Dispatch in Columbus, Miss.

The Jacksonville-based band was formed in 1966 by a group of high school students _ famously, it took its name from a physical education teacher they disliked, Leonard Skinner.

They released their first album, "Pronounced leh-nerd skin-nerd." It became one of the South's most popular rock groups and gained national fame with such hits as "Free Bird," "What's Your Name" and especially "Sweet Home Alabama," which reached the top 10 on the charts in 1974. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

The band suffered a tragic loss on Oct. 20, 1977, when their chartered plane crashed in a swamp near McComb, Miss. The crash claimed the lives of six people, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. Keyboard player Billy Powell survived the plane crash that killed three band members. He died in January.

In 2001, bassist Leon Wilkeson died in his sleep in a hotel room near Jacksonville, Fla., and Chain said he was with Evans the night he got hired by the band.

"We were spending New Year's Eve together when this Skynyrd thing was happening," Chain said. "It didn't look like it was going to happen. But he just set his feet in the ground ... and was ready to stand up and fly to the moon. And he did."

Comments

[Roman777]

Free Bird has always made me nauseous.

[ignorantwillyharper]

I'm burning the candle at both ends
I may not last thru the night
Yo to my foes and yeah to my friends
Oh, what beautiful light

[Citizen54]

This band must have the worst mortality rate of all.
But they left us some great tunes.

[MalMNN]

Evans also played bass for awhile with the other southern rockers, the OUTLAWS (who lost their leader and one-time SKYNYRD member Hughie Thomason in sept 77)-

http://www.musicnewsnet.com/2009/05/another-lynyrd-skynyrd-loss-bassist-ean-evans-dead-at-48.html

[skybar]

"Gimme Two Steps" never fails to pump me up.

[whatthel]

It's "Gimme Three Steps". But I agree, it's a great song.

[skybar]

Oops. "Three Steps" it is. Whatever it's called, it's one of my favorite guitar songs.

[skybar]

I saw L.S. open for the Who in 1973 at the Capitol Centre in Landover, Md. All I remember is Ronnie Van Zant handing out bottles of Jim Beam to the people in the front rows.
What a great songwriter, and what a great band they were. Gun control nuts should take a listen to "Saturday Night Special."

[macchugsid]

I saw this band back in the 70's in Sacramento,CA at the old Memorial Auditorium along with the Outlaws. They came out and did an encore together. Have never seen that many guitars on on stage since. Makes one take stock of their age to see these guys slowly dying off. RIP

[jesuslovesObama]

I saw the same tour in Spokane, WA. Amazing show.

[davism97]

Lynyrd Skynyrd is one of the greatest bands ever.

[Puffin16]

LS was one of my all-time favorite bands. In fact, I told my sons that I want them to play "Free Bird" at my funeral and release doves when then they sing "won't you fly high, free bird, yeah!" My younger son says that whenever Free Bird comes on the radio now he has to turn the station.

[InLosAngeles]

The Ronnie Van Zandt led Lynyrd Skynyrd may have been the most musically talented US rock group to ever reach superstardom. If you are a musician and watch their live concert videos at Knebworth on youtube, you can't help but be impressed at the level of talent they had at such a young age (watch "T for Texas" or "Call Me the Breeze". Just looking at the 70's crowd is worth it alone.) It is a somewhat forgotten art. Their practice sessions were legendary. It was truly sad they (and us) only got to enjoy it for such a short time.

As far as Donald Evans, RIP and know you were a part of something special.

[dukeuch]

Great band, but interesting that you specifically note two cover tunes they did not write.

[DSOTM]

How many original members are left?

[KCFreedom]

The ones that still play in the band are only pianist Billy Powell & guitarist Gary Rossington. Guitarist Rick Medlocke was an early member of the band as their drummer, so you could stretch it to say they still have 3 original members.

As for other original members still alive but not playing in the band, guitarist Ed King and drummer Artemis Pyle are still around. I'm not certain but early drummer Bob Burns may still be around, too (he replaced Rick Medlocke and was replaced by Artemis Pyle).

Personally, I stopped paying attention to them them after bassist Leon Wilkeson died. I was lucky to see them in concert just a month or so before Leon died. I wish they'd call themselves something different at least, but oh well, it's not my call...

[rektruax]

Powell died last January.

[Angelus2007]

Wow, he was 16 in 1977 when Lynyrd Skynyrd died.

[Kenji]

That's a band name, btw.

Hey, how about a photo with this article?

[Bettysdad]

"I hope Neil Young will remember, Southern Man doesn't need him around."

Who's not around?

[TakingBackTheUSA]

You obviously do not know about the joke that line was implying..­...

[Titus Pullo]

http://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/lynyrd.htm

[dukeuch]

They were dissing Young's depiction of the South in "Southern Man". Ok, but what's the joke?

[Bettysdad]

You obviously never heard the song.

[aweissnet]

Wow, where I have been? I saw Leonard Skynard in the 70's. I was not grokking this article, cuz I thought Leonard Skynard was done and over.

[Pema]

me too, it was the first concert i ever went to, cant remember the exact year but the ticket price was 4.50....wo­wser
may he rip

[massive]

We're at the point where we're not seeing just the original members of Lynyrd Skynyrd die, but their replacements are dead too.

Basically, it's not Lynyrd Skynyrd, it's a Skynyrd cover band.

[LiberalBuzz]

It's kind of hard to call them a cover band but it's kind of hard not to.

Hard one to call in my mind.

At what point can you no longer call a band by their name?

The Allman Brothers Band has had a few replacements like the bass player and both guitar players. Are they still The ABB with just the original keyboard player and two drummers?

Tough call.