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Originally formed in 1964 as “The Noble Five,” this notorious band changed their name to My Backyard when bassist Larry Junstrom and drummer Bob Burns were inducted into the group. They changed it again in 1970 to Lynyrd Skynyrd, as a mockery of their Physical Education teacher, Leonard Skinner, who had a strict policy against boys sporting long hair. They changed the name after he sent guitarist Gary Rossington home for wearing his hair too long. They went on to record several platinum albums between 1970 and 1977, before 3 of the band members were tragically killed in a plane crash. After a 10 year hiatus, they returned to the music scene recording and touring with Johnny Van Zant as their new lead singer, and they have since recorded 9 studio albums and been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as of 2006. |