NY (AP) - In the wake of the recent deaths of bassist Leon Wilkeson and the father-in-law of guitarist Gary Rossington,
Lynyrd Skynyrd has pushed back the start of its tour a bit more than originally planned. The band will now kick things off on August 11 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, rather than the previously announced August 9 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California.
Lynyrd Skynyrd promises to make up all the shows that were postponed.
The group has also announced Ean Evans as the replacement bassist for the tour. Evans has been a friend of the band's for some time, and has played with them on some dates in the past when Wilkeson was unable to perform. There's no word on whether or not Evans will keep the job when the tour ends.
In a statement, pianist Billy Powell said, "Leon would have wanted it this way. I met Leon in third grade and we've been buddies ever since. This is a huge loss to us personally and as a band. Being on stage has always been a safe haven to us and performing these songs is our therapy."
Added guitarist Gary Rossington, "We're all crushed. Leon's death was, and is, a shock. Lynyrd Skynyrd is a band of survivors, though. It was hard to pick back up and play again as Lynyrd Skynyrd in the '80s, and it's hard now. But that's what we're all about."
Lead singer Johnny Van Zant noted, "We're treating the remainder of this tour as a traveling memorial and tribute to Leon. Not everyone could make it to Jacksonville to say goodbye. We're playing these shows in his honor."
The postponed Lynyrd Skynyrd dates include:
August 3 - Reno, NV - Reno Hilton Amphitheatre
August 4 - Kelseyville, CA - Konocti Amphitheatre
August 7 - Spokane, WA - Fox Theatre
August 9 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
The new Lynyrd Skynyrd itinerary (subject to change):
August 11 - Las Vegas, NV - Mandalay Bay Events Center
August 13 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
August 16 - Mesa, AZ - Mesa Amphitheatre
August 17 - Camp Verde, AZ - Cliff Castle Casino August 18 - Yuma, AZ - Quechan Paradise
August 23 - Jacksonville, FL - Metropolitan Park
August 24 - Hinesville, GA - Fort Stewart
August 25 - Huntsville, AL - Redstone Arsenal
August 26 - Jonesboro, AR - Arkansas State University Convocation Center
August 30 - Johnson City, TN - Freedom Hall August 31 - Pelham, AL - Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
September 1 - Atlanta, GA - HiFi Buys Amphitheatre
September 2 - Antioch, TN - AmSouth Amphitheatre
September 5 - Salem, VA - Salem Civic Center
September 6 - Virginia Beach, VA - Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheatre
September 7 - Bristow, VA - Nissan Pavilion
September 9 - Brookfield, OH - Yankee Lake
September 12 - Raleigh, NC - Alltel Pavilion at Walnut Creek
September 13 - Charlotte, NC - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Charlotte
September 14 - Gulfport, MS - Grand Casino September 15 - Muscle Shoals, AL - Hall Of Fame
September 16 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Raceway.
