James Hetfield Says Goodbye To One Of His Biggest Inspirations Gary Rossington

James Hetfield recently bid farewell to guitarist and Lynyrd Skynyrd‘s last surviving founding member, Gary Rossington, on Instagram. Metallica icon also shared a picture of him and Rossington playing together on stage and thanked the late rocker for the legacy he’d established over his lengthy career.

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s official Facebook page recently announced Gary’s passing at age 71, informing his fans and friends. The officials cited no cause of death, although it was no secret that the guitarist had been struggling with health problems. He was the last surviving founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd, so one cannot help but feel that his death marked the end of an era.

Numerous veteran rockers have since paid their tributes, and Hetfield was among those who celebrated the late rocker’s career by sharing a farewell note. The frontman addressed Gary by calling him ‘brother,’ thanking him for his era-defining work with Lynyrd Skynyrd and showing respect for his inspiring guitar riffs and songwriting.

Metallica rocker’s note followed:

“RIP, Brother Gary. Thank you for bringing me so much joy with your guitar playing and songwriting in one of my all-time favorite bands, Lynyrd Skynyrd.”

Besides Hetfield, Megadeth’s David Ellefson also paid homage to Gary, honoring his memory with a note on Facebook. It’s evident that Rossington meant a lot to the veteran figures of the rock scene, as many flooded social platforms with their farewells. So, if you also want to pay homage to the guitarist by discovering more about him, you might want to check out this article, citing five lesser-known facts about the rocker.

Photo Credit: Metallica – Instagram