genre vicious cycle 
" Sweet Home Alabama " is a ___MASK70___ by ___MASK38___ band Lynyrd Skynyrd that first appeared in 1974 on their second album , " Second Helping ". ___MASK38___ is a subgenre of rock music and a genre of Americana . It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll , country music , and blues , and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals . Although the origin of the term ___MASK38___ is unknown , " many people feel that these important contributors to the development of rock and roll have been minimized in rock ' s history ." Vicious Cycle is the twelfth studio ___MASK22___ by Lynyrd Skynyrd , released in 2003 . It was the first ___MASK22___ by the band following the death of original bassist Leon Wilkeson , the ___MASK70___ Mad Hatter being a tribute in memory to him . He died during recording , but does appear on two songs , `` The Way '' and `` Lucky Man '' . This ___MASK22___ is the first to feature Wilkeson ' s replacement , Ean Evans , the first with Michael Cartellone on drums , and the last ___MASK22___ that guitarist Hughie Thomasson played on before he died . It included the single `` Red , White & Blue '' which peaked at number 27 on the US Mainstream Rock charts . The CD booklet contains a recount by year of events in the band ' s ___MASK88___ since 1964 . In the ___MASK22___ , Kid Rock features in the bonus track , a remake of `` Gim me Back My Bullets '' . " Free Bird ", or " Freebird ", is a power ___MASK27___ performed by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd . The ___MASK70___ was first featured on the band ' s debut album in 1973 and has been included on subsequent albums released by the band , including the previously unreleased , unfaded - ending version of the original recording ( featured on " Skynyrd ' s Innyrds "). Amazon . com ___MASK51___ reviewer Lorry Fleming calls it " the most - requested ___MASK70___ in the history of rock ___MASK51___ ." Donald " Ean " Wayne Evans ( September 16 , 1960  May 6 , 2009 ) was the bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd from 2001 until his death . He joined the band following the death of Leon Wilkeson . Leon Russell Wilkeson ( April 2 , 1952  July 27 , 2001 ) was the bassist of ___MASK38___ Band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2001 . Lynyrd Skynyrd ( pronounced ) is an American ___MASK94___ band best known for popularizing the ___MASK38___ genre during the 1970s . Originally formed in 1964 as " My Backyard " in Jacksonville , Florida , the band was also known by names such as " The Noble Five " and " One Percent ", before finally deciding on " Lynyrd Skynyrd " in 1969 . The band gained worldwide recognition for its live performances and signature songs " Sweet Home Alabama " and " Free Bird ". At the peak of their success , three members died in an airplane crash in 1977 , putting an abrupt end to the band ' s most popular incarnation . The band has sold 28 million albums in the United States . A guitarist ( or a guitar player ) is a person who plays the guitar . Guitarists may ___MASK18___ a ___MASK84___ of guitar family instruments such as classical guitars , acoustic guitars , electric guitars , and bass guitars . Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar by singing or playing the harmonica . Hugh Edward " Hughie " Thomasson Jr . ( August 13 , 1952  September 9 , 2007 ) was an American guitarist and singer , best known as a founding member of Outlaws and as a guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd . Michael Cartellone ( born June 7 , 1962 ) is an American musician and the current drummer of Lynyrd Skynyrd .