News

The History of Why that Guy at the Concert Yelled "Freebird!"

6:01 p.m. · July 6, 2009 · by Michael Hoven

I once offered a performer a dollar not to play "Freebird," but someone outbid me by offering $20. That's American dollars, too. The Chicago Tribune didn't know that particular bit of "Freebird" history, but they've detailed most of the rest, including Kevin Matthews, who actually wants to take credit for the ironic "Freebird" cheer. Matthews claims he did it while he was a radio DJ and told a caller it would be a good heckle for a Florence Henderson concert with his parents. Hecklers, be warned: if you try this with Flight of the Conchords or Built to Spill, they will actually play the song.

For many there's not much irony in the song "Freebird." Artimus Pyle, former drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, said of the heckle, "Someone yells it as a joke, I'm in that room, I'll punch them in the mouth." Others remember it as an anthem to individuality, or a hymn to Southern defiance. It's almost enough to make me appreciate the song, though I still don't want to listen to it again.

Either way, the ironic cheer seems to be dying a natural death as a younger generation has been spared those fourteen minutes of music. As the band plays on with the one remaining member from the original group, other bands are spared the demand to play Skynyrd's song. According to Tim Rutilli of Califone, what used to happen every night now only occurs "maybe once every few years."

[Chicago Tribune via The Daily Swarm]