Lynyrd Skynyrd unveiled the final rendition of "Gimme Three Steps" featuring Gary Rossington before his death on March 5. Rossington, the last original member of the band who was 71 at the time, played his final gig on November 22, 2022, at Ryman Auditorium, Nashville. Coincidentally, this performance was captured on film with a multicamera setup; it's set to be featured in a select few theaters under the title The 50th Anniversary of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
In a past interview with Guitar World in 2009, Rossington shared the real-life incident that inspired "Gimme Three Steps." He reminisced about how "Ronnie [Van Zant] had entered a bar in search of someone. As Allen [Collins] and I were underage, we had to wait outside... Then Ronnie dashed out with a large guy hot on his heels, shouting.
"Ronnie had begun dancing with a girl when this guy walked in… and Ronnie pleaded, 'Just allow me three steps and I’ll be out of your hair,'" Rossington further elaborated. "The guy was wielding a gun, was a redneck, drunk, and aggressive - a volatile mix. Ronnie said, 'If you’re going to shoot, aim for my butt or elbow.' And he escaped at lightning speed. … The lyrics of the song began forming right then. We drove to Allen’s place, grabbed his guitar, and completed it.
Below is the video of Gary's swan song with Lynyrd Skynyrd.
