Lynyrd Skynyrd Documentary Airing on Showtime

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Photo courtesy of Showtime

Showtime premiered the documentary Lynyrd Skynyrd: If I Leave Here Tomorrow on Aug. 18. Directed by Stephen Kijak and featuring interviews and never-before-seen footage, the film “takes viewers on a trip through the history, myth and legend of one of the most iconic American rock bands,” said Showtime in a press release. “Rising from the swamps of the Deep South, these good ol’ boys from Jacksonville, Florida came to define an era with their hard-rocking boogie-woogie sound, soulful lyrics, drunken and dangerous antics and their controversial use of the rebel flag.”

Click here for the schedule.

The film also serves as a portrait of band leader Ronnie Van Zant, who died in a 1977 plane crash when he was 29. Also killed in the crash were band members Steve and Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray Jr.

If I Leave Here Tomorrow is primarily narrated by Gary Rossington, a founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. The film includes commentary from drummer Artimus Pyle, songwriter Ed King, producer Al Kooper, the late drummer Bob Burns and backup singer JoJo Billingsley. Among the archival material in the film is recently discovered radio interviews with Van Zant, guitarist Allen Collins and bassist Leon Wilkeson.

The film premiered at the South by Southwest Festival in Austin in March.

The trailer for the film includes Rossington and Pyle sharing their memories of the crash, footage of Lynyrd Skynyrd performing “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Freebird,” Rossington discussing the group’s use of the Confederate flag, and a recording of Van Zant talking about the band’s success.

Related: 11 great Southern Rock albums

Watch the trailer for If I Leave Here Tomorrow

The current lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd is on their farewell tour. (Tickets for the remaining 2018 dates are available here and here)

Aug 24 – Syracuse, NY – Lakeview Amphitheatre (with Hank Williams, Jr., Marshall Tucker Band, .38 Special)
Aug 25 – Burgettstown, PA – KeyBank Pavilion (with Hank Williams, Jr., Marshall Tucker Band, .38 Special)
Aug 31 – Pelham, AL – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
Sep 01 – Atlanta, GA – Cellairis Amphitheatre (with Hank Williams Jr., Marshall Tucker Band, Blackberry Smoke)
Sep 02 – Jacksonville, FL – TIAA Bank Field (with Charlie Daniels Band, Marshall Tucker Band, Kid Rock, Blackberry Smoke)*
Sep 22 – Las Vegas, NV – IHeartRadio Music Festival*
Sep 28 – Rogers, AR – Walmart Amp (with Marshall Tucker Band)*
Sep 29 – Wichita, KS – Intrust Bank Arena (with Marshall Tucker Band)*
Oct 05 – Saint Paul, MN – XCEL Energy Center (with Jamey Johnson)*
Oct 06 – Lincoln, NE – Pinnacle Bank Arena (with Jamey Johnson)*
Oct 12 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford Premier Center (with Marshall Tucker Band)*
Oct 13 – Cedar Rapids, IA – US Cellular Center (with Marshall Tucker Band)*
Oct 19 – Green Bay, WI – Resch Center (with Marshall Tucker Band)*
Oct 20 – Toledo, OH – Huntington Center (with Marshall Tucker Band)*
Oct 26 – Nashville, TN – Bridgestone Arena (with Bad Company*
Oct 27 – Evansville, IN – Ford Center (with Marshall Tucker Band)*
Nov 02 – Kansas City, MO – Sprint Center (with Marshall Tucker Band, Jamey Johnson)*
Nov 03 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Civic Center (with Marshall Tucker Band)*
Nov 09 – Grand Rapids, MI – Van Andel Arena (with Jamey Johnson)*
Nov 10 – Louisville, KY – KFC YUM! Center (with Marshall Tucker Band, Jamey Johnson)*
Nov 16 – Baltimore, MD – Royal Farms Arena (with Marshall Tucker Band)*
Nov 17 – Huntington, WV – Big Sandy Superstore Arena (with Marshall Tucker Band)*
Nov 30 – Wilkes-Barre Township, PA – Mohegan Sun Arena (with Marshall Tucker Band)*
Dec 01 – Atlantic City, NJ – Boardwalk Hall (with Marshall Tucker Band)*
Dec 07 – Baton Rouge, LA – Raising Cane’s River Center*
Dec 08 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum*