November 4, 2016 – The Viacom-owned CMT has approved and begun production on a new Lynyrd Skynyrd documentary. “If I Leave Here Tomorrow” a film about the legendary Southern rock band is expected to debut on CMT in 2017. It is led by director Stephen Kijak and produced by Passion Pictures, which was involved in the recent music documentary “Searching for Sugar Man.”
“I’m excited to work with Brian, CMT and Passion Pictures, to tell the no-hold- barred Skynyrd story, things that have never been told before and the days of when we started and all the hard work we put in to the music and the band,” said Rossington, in a statement. “Gary will finally get a chance to tell his side of the story, being there since the beginning,” said Johnny Van Zant, current Skynyrd vocalist and younger brother of Ronnie Van Zant. “Ronnie was a father figure to him, as much as a friend. I’m so happy that this is happening for him and the band.”
With the songs from the first six Lynyrd Skynyrd albums driving the narration, the film weaves a complex portrait of the band. Above all, it’s a story of frontman Ronnie Van Zant, his upbringing, his roots, his work ethic and his contradictory persona as both as a mythic Southern Rock poet and notorious boozed-up brawler. The documentary also explores the relationships between Rossington and founding member Allen Collins, as well as Ed King and Artimus Pyle.
