Told through the lens of surviving drummer Artimus Pyle, Street Survivors is a non-documentary movie/cd about the ill-fated plane crash on October 20, 1977 in Mississippi that claimed the lives of band members Ronnie van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines along with the band’s assistant road manager, the plane’s pilot and co-pilot.
The film begins with Pyle’s first gig and initiation with the band, experiencing the standard hedonistic rock and roll lifestyle. The scenes on the plane during the tragedy, as well as Pyle’s helping take the survivors out of the wreckage and finding shelter and help is quite riveting,showing the desire to survive in vivid detail. The desire to carry on the musical legacy of Lynyrd Skynrd, reflected in the songs on the motion picture soundtrack, displays the reason why the band is still arguably (although Allman Brothers fans may disagree) the best southern rock band of all time.