Career
Van Zant performed during the 1970s with his first band, The Austin Nickels Band. They later changed their name to The Johnny Van Zant Band releasing their debut solo album, Number More Dirty Deals, in 1980. Van Zant released three more solo albums between 1981 and 1985, before taking a break from the music business.
He became lead vocalist for the reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987, and continues to record and perform with them today.
He released another solo album, Brickyard Road, in 1990, which featured the popular title track, which was a #1 hit on the United States. Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for three weeks. In May 2006, less than one day before he was to perform at KSAN-FM 107.7 The Bone"s Bone Bash 7, Van Zant underwent emergency surgery to have his appendix removed.
Treated at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, California, after reporting pain to a doctor earlier in the day. The incident forced the band to cancel three United States. shows.
Van Zant is an avid fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
According to Skynyrd"s website, Van Zant was again hospitalized on August 6, 2011 at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota due to complications from a previous surgery. According to the website, Van Zant had a "surgical site" infected with cellulitus which required both hospitalization and IV/Antibiotic Treatment. He began displaying signs of a staph infection and other symptoms related to the infection.
His subsequent illness resulted in a number of scheduled performances being cancelled.