Lynyrd Skynyrd Is Still a Touring Force

The 1970s Southern rock band could qualify for the endangered species list. Bands like Molly Hatchet, .38 Special, Black Oak Arkansas and the Outlaws have all but vanished from the pop landscape.

But not Lynyrd Skynyrd, which is still selling an estimated 25,000 to 40,000 albums a week from its catalog, interest in the band no doubt helped by its continuing popularity on classic-rock radio.

Additionally, the nine-member band still tours and can command as much as $95 a ticket for shows like Sunday’s New Year’s Eve bash at the Sun Theatre in Anaheim.

Skynyrd left its indelible imprint on the genre with such ‘70s hits as “Gimme Three Steps,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “What’s Your Name” and “Free Bird,” yet the group also has released three new studio albums in the last four years (plus 1998’s “Lyve From Steeltown” album.)

“I think what the public knows as ‘Southern rock’ will never be repeated. . . . It had its day, but people have moved on,” guitarist Rickey Medlocke said by phone from his home in Fort Myers Beach, Fla. “The future of this band is in writing and recording new material. It’s funny . . . here I am, a guy who plays in one of the world’s biggest classic-rock bands, and to tell you the truth, I listen to classic rock the least.

“It’s exciting and refreshing to listen to new rock. And I like a lot of it--Filter, Vertical Horizon, Stabbing Westward. . . . I even enjoy some Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock.”

Skynyrd, whose lineup also features guitarist Gary Rossington, lead singer Johnny Van Zant, ex-Outlaws guitarist Hughie Thomasson, bassist Leon Wilkeson, keyboardist Billy Powell, drummer Michael Cartellone, and singers Dale Krantz Rossington and Carol Chase, has veered into uncharted terrain with its first holiday album, the new “Christmas Time Again.”

A pleasant surprise, the 11-song collection offers standards given a Southern rock spin (“Greensleeves,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”) and several well-crafted originals, including the warm “Classic Christmas,” written by Van Zant and Medlocke.

“We’d never really given much thought to doing something like this, but the record company [CMC International] approached us about doing a recording that would be fun and different for everybody,” said Medlocke, who played from 1972-75 in the first Skynyrd lineup and returned five years ago. “We mulled it over, and said, ‘Why not?’

“Before we knew it, we had selected some classics that have touched us, and then Johnny, Billy, Hughie, Gary, Dale and I got cranking with our own ideas,” he said. “It was definitely a challenge, but at the same time, we had a lot of fun with it.”

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is another matter.

For the fourth straight year since Skynyrd became eligible for induction, the group has failed to make the final cut. As is usually the case, some controversy surrounded this year’s selections. Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Aerosmith and Queen were no-brainers to get in, but the choices of ‘50s doo-wop group the Flamingos and ‘60s soul singer Solomon Burke appear open to debate. In addition to Skynyrd, longtime critical favorites Lou Reed and Patti Smith were shunned.

“I honestly don’t understand why we’re not in,” said Medlocke, who fronted the ‘70s hard-rock group Blackfoot after leaving Skynyrd. “We’ve sold millions of albums all over the world, and many of today’s rock bands have cited us as an influence, like Limp Bizkit and the Goo Goo Dolls.”

The Dolls even play a crunching version of “Sweet Home Alabama” in concert frequently.

But Medlocke acknowledged that Skynyrd’s actions may have something to do with it.

“Yes, we’ve flown the Confederate flag behind the stage and been labeled ‘rednecks,’ but we are not prejudiced,” he said. “We’re just proud of our heritage. . . . We’re a rock band playing Southern rock songs. All I can say is we love what we do, and the audience is still there for us. I think what’s given us such longevity is that our music may not be fancy, but it touches a nerve with the average Joe.”

Will the average Joe be interested in what Skynyrd has to say these days?

“We don’t try to emulate that ‘70s-period Skynyrd,” Medlocke said. “The essence is still there, but when I returned to the band, Gary came up to me and said, ‘Rickey, I want to put the rock back into this band.’ So ever since Hughie and I jumped in, we’ve brought a bit of our own sound and style to the table.

“It is a tough thing, though, I’ll admit. Every single time we put a new record out, it’ll be compared to vintage Skynyrd, to those songs that have been etched in history. The classic ones will be around a lot longer than the guys in the band. But we can’t worry about that. . . . Every night I play the hell out of my guitar, and when I finish that ending to ‘Free Bird,’ I walk offstage knowing I’ve done my job for this band.”

SHOW TIMES

Lynyrd Skynyrd and Sunchild, Sun Theatre, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim. Sunday, 9 p.m. $95. (714) 712-2700.