The Man Behind Lynyrd Skynyrd - Leonard Skinner Dies
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Written by Jon Stickler
Leonard Skinner (pictured below), the no-nonsense, flat-topped, high-school gym teacher who inspired the name of iconic group Lynyrd Skynyrd, has died.
Mr Skinner never wanted to be part of rock 'n' roll history. He didnt even like the music. However the basketball teacher became the most famous teacher in rock 'n' roll history following his strict rules on some students having long hair.
Suspending some students because their hair was too long, in 1960 Leonard Skinner sent home guitarist Gary Rossington who later returned to school with his father explaining that his son needed to have long hair so he could support the family by playing in a band. Unmoved by the protests Skinner suggested that the young man get a crew-cut and a wig. Little did he know then that he would be the inspiration behind the unusual name given to one of the biggest bands on the planet, Lynyrd Skynyrd.
During an interview last year, Skinner claimed that he was fine with his name being incorporated into the band. Remembering little about the guys, his rules against long hair were remembered by the band long after their school days. "It was against the rules," Skinner said . "I don't particularly like long hair on men, but again, it wasn't my rule."
Despite being asked countless times to show his ID to prove his name, Skinner also revealed during the interview that he never really enjoyed the band's music. When asked about liking their songs, he abruptly replied, "No, I don't like rock 'n' roll music," although following the death of three members of the band in 1977, Skinner commented on his former pupils describing them as “good, talented, hard-working boys. They worked hard, lived hard and boozed hard."
Dying in his sleep on Monday September 20th, the 77-year-old was found dead in his nursing home at around 2.30am. He had apparently been suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
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Suspending some students because their hair was too long, in 1960 Leonard Skinner sent home guitarist Gary Rossington who later returned to school with his father explaining that his son needed to have long hair so he could support the family by playing in a band. Unmoved by the protests Skinner suggested that the young man get a crew-cut and a wig. Little did he know then that he would be the inspiration behind the unusual name given to one of the biggest bands on the planet, Lynyrd Skynyrd.
