After spending the last year writing songs with ex-Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5, ultimate rock and roll survivors Lynyrd Skynyrd are close to finishing a new studio album. Band member Rickey Medlocke said in a recent interview said that while he initially skeptical about the guitarist, who now plays with Rob Zombie, he quickly showed impressive chops;

"Everybody thought, 'My god, you are going to write with this guy? How is that ever going to work?' But this guy came in and is really multitalented in all genres. I was surprised that this guy could sit down and play Glen Campbell and Roy Clark better than they do, and it blew my mind. And then he loves Southern rock, the blues and country. It really blew us away."

Skynyrd, currently on the road with Kid Rock on the “Rock and Rebel” tour, has designs to hit the studio this fall and finish the album by the end of the year. The band is targeting an early 2009 release date on an label to be announced. [Reuters]