Back Stage Pass

MARCH 2009

Harder Beat Magazine Online

Tesla, Billy Powell, Lynyrd Skynyrd

Story and photo by Andy Laudano

The late, great Billy Powell

Before and after Tesla’s sold-out show at Dallas’ House of Blues, Jeff Keith (vocals), Frank Hannon (guitar), Brian Wheat (bass), Troy Luccketta (drums) and newest member Dave Rude (guitar) hung out with fans waiting by the tour bus. Everyone took time to sign autographs and pose for photos. Even Jeff Keith was very gracious with his time, considering he had family visiting. Tesla is actually one of the nicest bands you can meet in the music industry. Even at the height of their popularity, the members of Tesla have always been very down-to- Earth. They’re just a bunch of genuinely nice guys, who just happen to have a really cool job.
“If I leave here tomorrow,
Would you still remember me?
For I must be traveling on now,
Cuz there’s too many places I’ve got to see”
Just as we were going to press last issue, I was sad to learn of the death of Lynyrd Skynyrd pianist, Billy Powell. In the beginning, he was just a roadie for the band; until one day, the late Ronnie Van Zant overheard him playing the piano. Ronnie asked him what he was playing and Billy replied that it was a new intro to “Freebird.” Van Zant liked it so much he asked Powell to join the band and made him play it every night. In fact, the live version of “Freebird,” featuring Powell’s intro, went on to become even more popular and better known than the original version. I was lucky enough to meet Billy — along with the rest of Lynyrd Skynyrd — a couple of times over the years. Like the rest of the band, he was always good to the fans. He’ll definitely be missed.
“Fly on Freebird”