This previous weekend gave us a collaboration that introduced a basic tune full circle. Brent Smith, who scored an enormous hit with Shinedown protecting Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Easy Man,” had an opportunity to workforce up with the tune’s originators onstage in Nashville.
The collaboration happened Sunday (Nov. 13) throughout Lynyrd Skynyrd’s efficiency on the Ryman Auditorium, and singer Johnny Van Van had some form phrases to say in introducing Smith. “This subsequent visitor, these guys, his band, they’re from Jacksonville, Florida, by the best way — the place Lynyrd Skynyrd’s from. They usually did this tune so nice. After we have been desirous about doing this present, I stated, ‘Man, we would like to have him.’ Y’all give it up for our good buddy… Y’all give it up for Mr. Smith from Shinedown.”
“Easy Man,” in fact, has a protracted historical past with Shinedown since being included with the group’s debut album, Depart a Whisper. The duvet hit No. 5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart and has been licensed as a platinum single for the band.
Regardless of it being a fan favourite, there was a interval early on in Shinedown’s profession the place they’d taken it out of their units, till, as Smith advised us in 2018, Godsmack vocalist Sully Erna had pulled him apart after catching a present and convincing him to reinstate it within the set. “Pay attention, far be it from me to let you know what to do together with your profession. However let me provide you with a little bit bit of recommendation, it isn’t your tune to carry onto,” Smith says Erna advised him.
“He wasn’t speaking about the truth that I did not write the tune or something. He was making some extent in regards to the viewers loving the model that we do. You need to sing these [popular] songs and you need to sing that tune. He was making the purpose about it isn’t in regards to the painter it is in regards to the portray and that caught with me for a very long time. The next evening we put the tune again within the set,” Smith recalled.
“Easy Man” additionally has an equally storied historical past with Lynyrd Skynyrd, additionally showing on their debut album, (Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Pores and skin-‘nérd). Although not initially launched as a single off their debut album, it is remained a staple of the band’s dwell exhibits and is at the moment their third best-selling digital tune.
After having the second to share the stage with the originators of certainly one of Shinedown’s most beloved tracks, Smith acknowledged by way of social media, “Nonetheless making an attempt to course of this second… Thanks @skynyrd and @johnnyroyvanzant for permitting me to be part of this extraordinary occasion!!!”
Watch fan-shot footage of the efficiency beneath.