In the summer of 1977, members of the rock band Aerosmith
inspected an airplane they were considering chartering for
their upcoming tour—a Convair 240 (above) operated out of
Addison, Texas. Concerns over the flight crew led Aerosmith
to look elsewhere. a decision that saved one band but doomed
another. The aircraft in question was instead chartered by the
band Lynyrd Skynyrd, who were just setting out that autumn
on a national tour that promised to be their biggest to date.

On October 20, 1977, however, during a flight from Greenville,
South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s
tour plane crashed in a heavily wooded area of southwestern 
Mississippi during a failed emergency landing attempt, killing
band-members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie
Gaines as well as the band’s assistant road manager and the
plane’s pilot and co-pilot. Twenty others survived the crash.

John Lennon  (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980)

John Lennon (right) was an English singer, songwriter,
musician and peace activist gained worldwide fame as
the founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and rhythm
guitarist of the Beatles.

   
Jack Sonni (December 9, 1954 – August 30, 2023)

Legendary Dire Straits guitarist Jack Sonni reportedly died,
August 30. The cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Sonni, who was widely known as the band’s “other guitarist”
during the groups Brothers in Arms era, had been suffering  
unspecified health issues earlier this week.       

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The wait is over: The Rolling Stones
will soon release new music.

On Monday, the band announced they are preparing to release
their first album of original material in 18 years — since 2005’s
"A Bigger Bang."

Titled "Hackney Diamonds," the band will share details of the
release at an event in East London’s Hackney district on
Wednesday.

Jack Sonni (December 9, 1954 – August 30, 2023)

Known as “the other guitarist” during the iconic group’s Brothers
in Arms era, his passing was announced by the band. No cause
of death was given.