Dale Krantz - vocals; Gary Rossington - guitar; Allen Collins - guitar; Barry Harwood - guitar, vocals; Billy Powell - keyboards; Derek Hess - drums, percussion; Leon Wilkeson - bass
Rossington Collins came together two years after the tragic plane crash that killed three members and demolished the classic Southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Formed in 1979 (after the surviving Skynyrd members did a one-off performance at the annual Charlie Daniels Volunteer Jam), the first line-up of the Rossington Collins Band had all the surviving Skynyrd members, including drummer Artimus Pyle. As the band began rehearsals for its debut MCA album, Pyle was in a serious accident that involved a broken leg. Not wanting to hold the band back, he suggested they hire another drummer, which they did with Derek Hess.
Feeling it was best to considerably distance themselves from the music of Skynyrd, a decision was made to bring in a female lead singer, Dale Krantz. Krantz had been a back-up singer for 38 Special and often opened for Skynyrd. The band debuted in 1980, and this show was recorded for the King Biscuit Flower Hour early in their existence.
Another tragedy, however, befell the members shortly after this recording was made when guitarist Allen Collins' wife, Kathy, died of a hemorrhage following a miscarriage. The death of his wife (coupled with ongoing arguments he had with Rossington and Krantz) caused Collins to be repeatedly unreliable with the band as their career went on.
During this show, they were in pretty good form. They were riding high from a well-received album Anytime, Anyplace, Anywhere, and a huge FM hit, "Don't Misunderstand Me." The material is very upbeat and was a more modern approach to what had become the traditional Southern Rock sound. This is best reflected in songs such as "Opportunity," "Misery Loves Company" and "One Good Man," which is launched after Krantz lays a Bible story about Sodom and Gomorra on the audience. They do a killer version of "Don't Misunderstand Me," and close with a tribute to the dead members of Lynyrd Skynyrd in a 15-minute instrumental version of "Freebird."
By 1982, however, things had gotten so bad with Collins (he was walking off gigs, not showing up at all, and constantly fighting with Krantz and Rossington, who by this time, were married), the band could no longer carry on. Collins took most of the players (sans Krantz and Rossington) and operated the Allen Collins Band briefly during 1983, but that too fell apart. Most of the band, however, would reunite with the younger brother of Ronnie VanZandt, Johnny, and resume their lives as Lynyrd Skynyrd. Since then, Collins, Leon Wilkeson, and Billy Powell have passed away.