On the heals of an epic Led Zeppelin concert at Madison Square Garden, the soon to be legendary southern rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd arrived at the Nassau Coliseum with the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent, and opener Rough Diamond.

Months after the missed opportunity of attending a Lynyrd Skynyrd show at New York City’s Paladium with Bebop Deluxe, I was given a second chance to see the original line up with Ronnie Van Zant. Our seats were midway up to the left of the stage; where a white piano was a visual focal point while the dual guitars bobbed and weaved around Van Zant who was clearly the ring master of the southern rock virtuosity on display.. The double live album “One More From the Road” had cemented the band’s reputation as a force to be reckoned with along with the Allman Brothers Band and the road warriors aimed to prove their mettle live.

Ted Nugent was with the Asbury Dukes when “Journey to the Center of the Mind” hypnotically grabbed people’s attention but his solo albums developed hardcore fans with those enamored with their lead guitar hero. His first solo album containing “Stranglehold”, and my personal favorite collection “Free For All”, made Nugent a seemingly odd but logical second act on this arena tour.

It was a golden age for live rick and roll.

Wang Dang Sweet Poontang

Rock on!

GQ