I think when I saw this video today in my YT feed of Lynyrd Skynyrd performing Freebird I knew I was in trouble nostalgically from the get-go.
My understanding is this concert was performed just 40 days or so days before their ill-fated flight which killed members of the band. But what really made an impression upon me was just seeing how healthy and animated appeared the crowd – living in the moment. These were times before processed food, tattoos-makeup and portable technology became the vogue. And also before HIV and now the pandemic COVID-19 windswept the populations.
I like to remember this performance as how life used to be. Look at the radiance exuded from these fresh faces. It’s hard to equate that vitality and innocence to anything seen in recent times.
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I was 10 when this happened. Thanks Matt I needed a reminder why I like “the old days” as much as I do.
I would love to take my 18 year old self and jump through this film and join those front row fans.
The people in the worse shape are the musicians on the stage! My first thought when I saw the crowd was…where are your masks? That thought was really sad.
They do look so healthy…of course they are 16-24 years old…but yea for what their generation is known for…drugs…they do look very healthy compared to today…today is McDonalds and other fast food…and hours and hours of video game playing.
Great post Matt!
I couldn’t help but laugh about the worst shape individuals, that being the band. I agree totally. Yeh we aren’t getting enough sun and activity.
And now we have a metrosexual society of men and women becoming more the same. Forget videos like this reappearing. haha
Bailey saw it and was drooling over the girls…he did say they were so tan and naturally good looking.
They did all look good and happy…
Also….at the risk of sounding corny….music meant something back then…it wasn’t a disoposable product like now.
The girls looked amazing. Bailey has good taste! That’s it. How did they all look so bright-eyed and vivacious? Really ?
Well, yeh, the music was from another stratosphere than today’s music. Someone wrote in the comments things went south when rap, hiphop was introduced in 85. I think hip-hop to a large degree was the end of good music
The girls were so natural looking. Some where there to see Peter Frampton…I believe he opened but I could be wrong.
The music had feel to it. It wasn’t perfect…it had soul…that is something you can’t teach.
Yea I agree with that statement…and corporate rock also. The music companies won’t take chances with organic rock bands..so they “make” them as boy bands they can control.
Yeh, commercial music took over. I agree..
The Press are a lot to blame like they are now. In fact the Press are absolutely useless as they have demonstrated to the world.
The press is a sore spot with me. You know they are there to give us facts to decide on a subject…not decide for us.
All they do is give what demographic they serve what they want to hear. All I want Matt is a man or woman reading the facts off of a piece of paper.
Sorry man…I’ve been arguing with a friend of mine who believes anything he is told by his news.
Exactly I couldn’t agree more, the press has an agenda of fear and to to lead u somewhere. To be honest I just want one statistic – ‘excess deaths’ thats it
I just want to know for this month about ‘excess deaths…’ in other words compared to other years on average the excess deaths for this month. Ie above normal fatality of previous years taking into account population growth etc. That to me is most important figure
Matt….you win post of the day from me…this was fun, interesting, and true.
thanks buddy, I’m honored’
The Max award…has a ring to it.