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Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer defiantly pays tribute to Ronnie Van Zant

By Randi Martin

WASHINGTON — In 1977, a plane crash in the swamps of Mississippi put an end to the meteoric rise of southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The crash killed three people, including the bands founder and creative force Ronnie Van Zant.

“I ran for help even though I had been injured,” says Artimus Pyle, the band’s drummer and one of the crash survivors.

“My friends were bleeding and every second counted.”

They were just five days into a 95-city world tour when the plane ran out of gas midair.

Surviving members retreated to various parts of the world to heal from their injuries and try to piece together their lives.

Pyle put a band together with friends and neighbors because he wanted to keep playing music. After 10 years, he got a call from fellow Lynyrd Skynyrd band mate and crash survivor Gary Rossington, who said it was time to put the band together again.

A tribute tour was planned, but Pyle soon soured on the idea and left.

“I was a part of the real Lynyrd Skynyrd. I certainly didn’t want to be part of something less. And it was getting less and less everyday,” he says.

Pyle blames drugs, alcohol and egos on the split from that reunion.

But soon after, The Artimus Pyle band started touring and playing tribute songs to the man Pyle admired and to the music that was such a part of his life.

“Ronnie could sing, Ronnie could write and Ronnie had stage presence,” he says.

But Pyle was not the only one touring. Johnny Van Zant, Ronnie’s brother, was leading a band under the name Lynyrd Skynyrd. Pyle was not impressed.

“I’m gonna tell you all right now — if Ronnie Van Zant is not your lead singer, it is not Lynyrd Skynyrd. Period,” he says.

Fans are being cheated by the new incarnation of the band, Pyle says. He considers them nothing more than a “clown act,” and “circus act.”

“They are like a Las Vegas Karaoke team,” he says.

Lawyers for the new Lynyrd Skynyrd have challenged Pyle on his band’s tribute to Van Zant.

“My band plays the music without the clown act. We respect and love the music,” he says, adding that he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the drummer.

Pyle says he would never use the Skynyrd name, but calls his band the ultimate tribute to Van Zant.

“I would like to see them get a bunch of bloodsucking, weasel attorneys and I would like to see them try to stop me from going out and making a living by being who I am,” he says defiantly.

Watch a video of the band below:

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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