R.I.P.: Larry Junstrom, Bassist for .38 Special

Larry Junstrom 1949-2019

Longtime 38 Special and founding Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Larry Junstrom has died at the age of 70. .38 Special confirmed the news on Facebook reports ultimateclassicrock.com.

"The Big Man on the Big Bass has left us," his former bandmates wrote.

Junstrom formed Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1964 alongside his high school classmates Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins and Bob Burns. He departed the group in 1971, prior to the recording of their debut album, Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd.

Six years later, he joined Van Zant's younger brother Donnie's band, 38 Special. "My first show with 38 Special was the [1977] Super Bowl of Rock," Junstrom told Swampland in 2004. "To this day [it is] one of the biggest shows we have ever done. It was at Soldier Field in Chicago and there were about 100,000 people there. I will never forget it -- the acts on the bill were Journey, Skynyrd, Ted Nugent and several other bands. I was so nervous before that show that I could not sleep for three nights before, but once I hit the stage it was natural and everyone said I did great."

Junstrom appeared on all 12 of 38 Special's studio albums, from their self-titled 1977 debut until 2004's Drivetrain, before a hand injury forced him to retire from the group in 2014.