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Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitar Tech Dave Pops Clements 1993-1999
Lynyrd Skynyrd Guitar Tech Dave Pops Clements 1993-1999
We started working with Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1993, and continued touring with them until 1999. During this time we became quite close to the members of the band, and were actually considered "Family". Many many stories can be told relating to this time frame. Technical, personal, funny, serious, and some downright unbelievable!
As Craig Reed put it to one of the NKOTB Band, "I'll bet Pops has had to tone the stories down a bit, just so you would believe him!".
Man is he right!
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The 1993 Lynyrd Skynyrd Band Lineup when we first started working with them.
Gary Rossington,Billy Powell,Leon Wilkerson,Ed King,Johnny Van Zant,Owen Hale,Mike Estes.
**Not Shown in the photo:Dale Krantz-Rossington,and Debbie Davis.**
Dave Pops Clements was the one and only Guitar Tech and Amplifier Tech. Looking after: Gary,Ed,Leon,and Mike. We certainly had our hands full.
Daily activities included: Stringing and general maintenance of 20 guitars and 1 mandolin. Re-tubing and general amp maintenance on a daily basis.
Over the next 6 years, many Band and Crew Member changes would occur.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd Band and Crew 1993 ( I think). Could have been 1994.
I'll name as many as I can remember:
Gary Rossington, Dale Krantz-Rossington, The Rossington Children, Leon Wilkerson, Billy Powell, Johnny Van Zant, Ed King, Owen Hale, Mike Estes, Debby Davis,Craig Reed, Brian Evors, Paul Abraham, Big Lou, Dave Pops Clements, John Philbrick, Bob Looney, Bob Bickelman, Dave Brantly, Jay Friefeld, and the entire Japanese Crew.
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Here is the story behind this photo.
John Philbrick, Brian Evors, Dop, Jack,and Dave Pops Clements, the immediate Lynyrd Skynyrd crew at the time, were sent down to the original Sony Studios in Tokyo, Japan to prep for a recording session.
As the story goes,we sat down to do a line check, and ended up recording 2 original crew songs.
The Japanese Sony employees thought we were Lynyrd Skynyrd.
I can't remember if the band ever put down any tracks that evening!
Lynyrd Skynyrd recording session.
Johnny Van Zant, Billy Powell, Leon Wilkerson, Dop, Dave Pops Clements, Brian Evors, and John Philbrick.
Sony Studios Tokyo Japan.
Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gary Rossington, Dave Pops Clements,
Dale Rossington, and John Philbrik.
Japan 1994.
Dave Pops Clements Guitar tech.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Endagered Species Tour 1994.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Ed King Note To Dave Pops Clements.
Ed King Lynyrd Skynyrd Note To Dave Pops Clements Guitar Tech
Lynyrd Skynyrd Set List
1994 Endagered Species Tour
Lynyrd Skynyrd Gary Rossington Corriciadan Bottle Slide Package.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Gary Rossington Corriciadan Glass Slide Bottle.
The bottle on the left is the one Gary would use when I was the guitar tech. I am not sure what he uses currently.
The bottle on the right is an original 1950's Corriciadan bottle, just recently given to me by my very good friend Michael Podhurcak, former monitor engineer for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Crystal Gayle, Southern Pacific, and many many more.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Freebird The Movie Invitation.
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In 1996, Ed King was unable to return to Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Gary had set out to build "The Guitar Army" as he told Brian and I at the closed rehearsals in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Rickey Medlocke and Hughie Thomasson started rehearsing with Gary,Leon,Billy and Owen Hale in Jackson Hole.
The 1996-97 Lineup.
Carol Chase replaced Debbie Davis has BV.
Dale Krantz-Rossington remained as BV.
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After returning from a MeatLoaf world tour, we rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd once again in the fall of 1996. We were put in the corner of Medlocke and Thomasson.
The 3 of us worked on tones throughout the next 4 years together. Live sound, television specials, and recording projects. We continued to service all amps on stage, as well as help with all tones. We tried to stay loyal to Peavey when Rickey and Hughie came along, however with manufacturer indifferences, we decided to bring out the REAL gear.
Several amps came and went in our corner, but the Marshall and Fender combinations pre-vailed.
Gary continued to use the original Peavey Mace Head, although modified, and the half open backed 4 x 12 cabinet with JBL's.
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Dressing room antics.
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Big Lou and Rod Gibson in charge!
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Lynyrd Skynyrd Gary Johnny Leon 1996.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd Hughie Johnny Gary 1996.
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Le Le onstage with Brian Evors manning the ship from side of stage. Someone had to! 1996 I belive that is Gary Smalley peaking out from behind the side fill.
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1997 rolled around and so did the 20th anniversary of the plane crash. A new record and a tour soon followed. Many crew personnel changed for this tour.
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Brian Hendry Lynyrd Skynyrd 1997 Twenty Tour.
Robert McTigue Lynyrd Skynyrd Twenty Tour 1997.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Brian Evors and Craig Reed 1997 Jackson Hole Wyoming.
Brian Hendry, Brian Evors, and Dave Pops Clements.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Twenty Tour 1997.
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Steve Boxcar Traum 1998.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Band And Crew.
1998 Jacksonville Florida Theater.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Sold these shows out faster than Elvis Presley!
The shows were in dedicated to long time Florida Guitar Technician:
Gary Smalley
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Lynyrd Skynyrd Twenty Tour 1997 Traveling Man With Ronnie Van Zant.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd Rickey Medlocke.
1997 Twenty Tour.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Leon Wilkerson.
Twenty Tour 1997.
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James Scalia and Dave Pops Clements doing the "I Know Little Dance". Every night on the Twenty tour, Ellen Powell would come out of the dressing room to dance with us while the band played "I Know Little".
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Ellen Powell, Dave Pops Clements, Jeff Whitehorn, Paul Rodgers gang.
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Dave Pops Clements Twenty Tour 1997.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd Royal Albert Hall Twenty Tour.
1997
This was the first Lynyrd Skynyrd UK performance since the infamous Stones-Skynyrd 1976 Knebworth Show.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd 1997 The Guitar Army.
Hughie Thomasson, Rickey Medlocke, Gary Rossington.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd Hughie Thomasson and Gary Rossington 1997.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd Hughie Tomasson Note To Dave Pops Clements.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Rickey Medlocke 1997 I Know Little.
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As 1997 rolled on, the band became better and better. We had a great crew. This was turning out to be one of the best tours I've ever been involved with.
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1998 brought more touring, bigger and louder guitar rigs (Just ask Johnny) .
A live record.
We got to work with Ben Fowler by way of Pat Thrall.
Lyve From Steel Town.
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We have many, many, many, fond memories of our fallen brothers!
We will never forget you!
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Lynyrd Skynyrd Fishing Lure.
Well I guess it would be a crime not to mention fishing on this web page.
Fishing was a major part of working with Lynyrd Skynyd. Gary and I would set the rehersal
times in Fort Myers depending on the fishing schedule.
Brian evors and I enjoyed the pleasure of fishing together at the mouth of Julington Creek and the St. Johns river in Jacksonville Florida,
a favorite spot Ronnie Van Zant.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Album To Dave Pops Clements.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Gary Rossington end of tour Thank You letter.
Japan Rebel Laminate.
Endagered Species Laminate.
At the very top of the photo you will notice a piece of wire.
This is the thnn # 14 wire used to lift the strings up on the 1962 Les Paul Freebird guitar to play the beginning of Freebird.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Itinerary 1997 Twenty Tour
Dave Pops Clements
Lynyrd Skynyrd Itinerary Tour Personnel 1997 Twenty Tour.
Lynyrd Skynyrd Itinerary Notes To Crew 1997 Twenty Tour.
The Skynyrd way of keeping order on tour.
If you got out of line, you did not get a memo that you had been fired.
You got takin out back and beat up, then put back in the game!
Sex Drugs And Rock N Roll Magazine.
Lynyrd Skynyrd.
One night on my birthday, Leon and I were sitting in the bar at the Ritz Carlton, Peachtree Street, Atlanta. Leon had just received the brand new copy of : "Sex Drugs And Rock N Roll Magazine", in which he had been featured in the above photo. Leon ripped the page out of the magazine, and signed it. Then gave it to me for my birthday!
Dave Pops Clements And Toolbox.
Lynyrd Skynyrd 1996 Jackson Hole Wyoming.
Dave Pops Clements And Robert Mctigue.
Lynyrd Skynyrd 1997 Twenty Tour Jones Beach.
Craig Reed and Dave Pops Clements 2009.
We have had the ultimate pleasure of working with Craig Reed during our 6 years of touring with Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Craig Reed:
Lynyrd Skynyrd Survivor Looks Back
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