On this day in 1977, a triumphant album with a tragically prophetic cover was released. Lynyrd Skynyrd's Street Survivors lp cover featured band members with a backdrop of raging flames. Just days after the album came out, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and his sister Cassie would lose their lives when the band's chartered tour plane crashed in rural Mississippi after running out of fuel. The pilot, co-pilot and the band's assistant road manager also perished. Gary Rossington sustained multiple injuries but survived the crash. Allen Collins, Billy Powell, Artimus Pyle, Gary Rossington and Leon Wilkerson were also among the 20 onboard that were rescued.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on October 17 include...
1946 Michael Hossack of the Doobie Brothers born.
1967 Memorial service takes place in London for Beatles manager Brian Epstein. All four band members attend.
1967 Hair debuts at the Public Theater in New York, where it would have a 1,758 performance run.
1967 Bob Dylan starts recording John Wesley Harding album.
1968 Ziggy Marley born.
1969 Jefferson Airplane's Paul Kantner arrested on marijuana charges in Hawaii 1969 Led Zeppelin II released, band opens US tour at Carnegie Hall.
1973 Keith Richards banned from France for 2 years because of drug arrest during 1971 party in Nice.
1980 Dire Straits releases Making Movies. 1980 Bruce Springsteen releases The RIver. 1989 Billy Joel releases Storm Front.
1991 John Mellencamp collapses during radio interview in Seattle and is briefly hospitalized.
1994 Bob Dylan makes unannounced appearance with Grateful Dead at Madison Square Garden concert.
1995 Sting's accountant convicted of stealing millions from him. 1999 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band do the first Rock concert at the newly opened Staples Center in LA.
2005 Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa join U2 in Philadelphia for a version of People Get Ready.
2006 Aerosmith releases Devil's Got A New Disguise.
2009 Bruce Springsteen & Patti Scialfa join Southside Johnny at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ.
