Artimus Pyle - Accept No Substitutes!
"When I came along, Ronnie asked me if I could light a fire under his band.
That was my job as a live drummer. So, that is what I did."
| Fast Facts: Name: Thomas
Delmar Pyle |
AllMusic Biography by Charlotte Dillon
Many called him the "Wild Man" of the rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd, but Artimus Pyle started out more as a "Country Man." Thomas Delmar Pyle was born on (July 15, 1948) in Louisville, KY. He spent many of his childhood hours either on the back of a horse or behind the controls of a bulldozer.
When Pyle was nine years old, his mother bought his first musical instruments, some bongos. Three years later his father got him a used set of drums. It wasn't long before young Pyle had put together his first band, the Thom Thumbs.
In the late '60s, fresh out of high school, Pyle joined the Marine Corps. He was in training to be sent overseas when the Vietnam War ended. As soon as his enlistment was up, Pyle returned his attention to music and education, taking up the drums again and enrolling in the Tennessee Technical College. This was the place where he went from being Thomas Pyle, to Artimus Pyle, teasingly giving the nickname after the virgin Artimus.
In the early '70s, Pyle landed gigs in bands like Charlie Daniels and Marshall Tucker. With a little help from Daniels, Pyle got to show off his talents to Ronnie VanZant, performing with the Lynyrd Skynyrd band in Jacksonville at the Sergeant Pepper's Club. At the end of 1974, when founding member Bob Burns parted from Skynyrd, it was Pyle who was called in to fill his shoes. He toured with the band, recording a number of albums, up till 1977, when a plane crash instantly snuffed out the lives of three members, Ronnie VanZant, Steve Gaines, and his sister Cassie. Road manager Dean Kilpatrick was also killed.
Pyle, and other members, survived the terrible crash, but the band didn't. Pyle, never one to call it quits, went on with his music the best he could. In 1981 he put together the A.P.B. with members like Darryl Otis Smith, John Boerstler, and Steve Lockhart. A.P.B. is sometimes called the Artimus Pyle Band, sometimes All Points Bulletin. A year later, the group released a debut album, A.P.B., under the MCA Records label. Some of the tracks fans will find on this offering are "It Ain't the Whiskey," "Rock and Roll Each Other," and "She's My Baby." In 1983, the band released a second album, Nightcaller. Four years later, Pyle joined the Skynyrd Tribute Tour, and even recorded another Skynyrd album in 1991 before leaving the group.
There is a second generation of Pyles making progress in the world of music. Artimus Pyle's two oldest sons: drummer, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Marshall Daniel Pyle and older brother Christopher Chapel Pyle, who can play the trumpet, flute, guitar, and of course the drums.
~ APB ~ aka ~ The Artimus Pyle Band ~ aka ~ All Points Bulletin ~
APB Background
Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer, Artimus Pyle, started APB in 1981 after recovering from the plane crash and signed the band with MCA. After twenty years and several versions of APB, Pyle has focused his energy on music that feels right and makes him proud. Music that is soul soothing, foot stomping, & home spun.
What more could be said about Artimus that isn't already known? He is the one and only Artimus Pyle, the driving force of APB. His heart and his history are poured out on stage for every performance. He sincerely carries the torch in loving memory of his dear friends, Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines, & Leon Wilkeson to help their spirits and songs they performed together, live on forever. Once you've heard APB, you'll feel better & want more.
APB Bio
The impact of Lynyrd Skynyrd on American rock and roll began with the harmonious blend of guitar driven rock with southern blues roots and can be heard today in the new rock music of the 21st Century. Artimus Pyle's powerful and distinctive double bass drumming helped define the legendary Skynyrd sound. Artimus' live debut with the band took place in Jacksonville's Sgt Pepper's Club in October 1974. The years Artimus played with Skynyrd were the years that solidified the legend behind the band with classic rock songs such as “Saturday Night Special”; “Gimme Back My Bullets”; “That Smell”; “I Know A Little” and “Freebird”. The band quickly developed into one of the nation's top touring draws with a grueling schedule of 300 shows a year.
During the next few years Lynyrd Skynyrd's songs became radio staples. Their album, ‘Street Survivors', had just been released to critical and popular acclaim. The ambitious new tour, just days underway, saw sellout crowds. On October 20, 1977, as the sun was setting in Mississippi, the chartered plane ran out of fuel and fell from the sky. The plane crash took the lives of band leader and vocalist, Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, road manager Dean Kilpatrick as well as both pilots, and seriously injured the surviving band members and crew. Artimus, who had a broken sternum from the impact, used his Marine Corp training and survival instincts to find and bring help to his critically injured friends in densely wooded thicket.
Artimus started APB in 1981 after recovering from the plane crash and initially signed the band with MCA. The Band was known at the time as APB or ‘All Points Bulletin' and released two albums in the early 80's. When Lynyrd Skynyrd members joined together for the Tribute Tour in 1987, APB took a hiatus, and Artimus reunited with Skynyrd. Two of the early APB songs are featured on the Lynyrd Skynyrd CD entitled "Solo Flytes", that was recently released by MCA. Many unbelievably talented musicians have participated in the APB project since it's conception over twenty years ago. For a complete listing of participating musicians or discographies please visit the website at www.apbband.com.
After more than twenty years and several versions of APB, Pyle has focused his energy on music that feels right and makes him proud. Southern Rockin' Blues that is soul soothing, foot stomping, home spun and performed with a top notch band. The Artimus Pyle Band released “APB : Live From Planet Earth” in 1999 and toured internationally to support the CD. Artimus pours his heart and history out on stage for every performance. He sincerely carries the torch in loving memory of his dear friends, Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines & Leon Wilkeson, to help their spirits and songs they performed together, live on forever.
Branching out into other forms of experimental music, Pyle conceived and created a band with his sons, called The Fenwicks. From which, two incredible Afro-Celtic-Yiddish-Ska CD's have emerged (www.thefenwicks.com). Pyle has performed at numerous functions, with Charlie Daniels, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Black Crowes, Maria Muldar, Carlos Santana, Do Diddley, Dickie Betts, Phil Lesh & Friends, and the list literally goes on and on… Artimus is currently working on his autobiography, and new original APB material in the studio.
SkynyrdDrummer.com - Because You Can't Change History
