Gary Rossington whom Ronnie wrote That Smell about is kneeling behind the two kids on the far left. He still looks pretty much the same. Over to the right with his arm around Honkette Leslie Hawkins is producer, Tim Smith. Leslie is the only surviving member of the Honkettes. Sitting in front of the tall trophy is Honkette JoJo Billingsley, my personal favorite. She was a sassy little thing. She passed away in 2010. Behind JoJo is Jimmy Johnson of the Swampers, proudly sporting the trophy.
Sitting next to JoJo is Ronnie Van Zant. Ronnie famously said he wouldn't live to see 30. Less than a year and a half later, Ronnie died on impact at the age of 29 in a Mississippi swamp. It is said his ghost still haunts the old casket factory. One of the greatest songwriters of our time. You have to believe he would have become extremely prolific since he just experienced a rebirth of sorts with the addition of Steve Gaines. This picture was made shortly before Steve joined the band. I'm not sure who the young woman is behind Ronnie.
Over Ronnie's left shoulder is ball of fire, Allen Collins. About three months later, Allen and Gary were involved in separate wrecks. Allen escaped with minor injuries. Gary's new Torino went off the road taking down a telegraph pole, crashed through a car parking lot clipping a Volkswagen Beetle before hitting an Oak tree and part of a house doing seven thousand dollar’s (about 70,000 in today's worthless dollars)damage to the house. “Whiskey bottles, brand new cars, Oak tree you’re in my way.” Rossington was injured enough to have to delay the tour a month or so. After the plane crash, Allen's struggles continued because of the crash. He and Gary formed the great but short-lived Rossington-Collins band in 1980. Just before their tour supporting the album, Allen's wife passed away and he never recovered.
1986, Collins was at the wheel during a one-car accident in South Jacksonville, Fla., that resulted in the death of his girlfriend and left him paralyzed from the waist down. He died almost four years later after a struggle with chronic pneumonia. He was only 37 at the time of his death.
Seated next to Allen is Honkette Cassie Gaines. After joining the band, she told Ronnie about her brother. Ronnie was blown away by Steve's ability and quickly made him a part of the band. Cassie and Steve died in the crash. Cassie died in the arms of pianist, Billy Powell.
Standing to the right and behind Cassie is engineering wiz, Gregg Hamm. Not only did he engineer these sesions, he, along with Steve Melton, engineered some of the greatest tracks in rock, R&B, country and pop including Bobby Womack, Wilson Pickett, Sanford And Townsend, Kim Carnes, Blackfoot, Joe Cocker, Tony Orlando, The Staple Singers, Bob Seger, Levon Helm, Dr. Hook, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Bob Dylan, Dire Straits and Delbert McClinton among others .