Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash (2020)

Director: Jared Cohn

Starring: Artimus Pyle, Taylor Clift, Ian Shultis

Drummer Artimus Pyle’s experience as a band member in Lynyrd Skynyrd and the tragically fateful day that the plane they rented crashed in the swamps of Gillsburg, MS on October 20th ,1977.

I can’t say I’m a Lynyrd Skynyrd fan, as I’m not familiar with their music, but I’ve long since known about the plane crash that abruptly ended the band’s career.

Having seen the film, I now somehow wish I haven’t watched it. The Lynyrd Skynyrd band members are depicted as drug snorting and boozing guys who are always surrounded by naked women, and who have very little respect for others. Drugs, sex and rock ‘n roll is very literal here. Were these guys ever sober? In the words of one of the members: “Water is for pussies!”

The film’s protagonist is drummer Artimus Pyle, which chronicles his life from the time he was invited to play with the band, until just after the plane crash. It’s interesting to see the real Artimus Pyle portraying himself. The film is also narrated by Artimus. This, I suppose, indicates the film should be very accurate, which again makes me think these guys were stoned most of the times, as depicted in the film. Had the film been fictional, I probably wouldn’t have rooted for these characters, but being based on fact and actual people, its an entirely different story.

What happened to them that fateful day is tragic, though, and a disaster that could (and should) have been avoided. For a plane to run out of fuel is pure negligence! ‘Street Survivors’ not only shows us the events leading up to the crash, but also the events thereafter, and off course the unfortunate demise of the band. ‘Street Survivors: The True Story of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Plane Crash’ wasn’t really a pleasant watch, and – as mentioned – I think I would have been better off not seeing it.

I liked the score, and the performances were pretty good. The film is named after Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 5th album, Street Survivors, which was released on 17 October 1977 – just 3 days before the plane crash.

Would I watch it again? No.