During the 1970s, Van Zant performed with his first band, the Austin Nickels Band. They later changed their name to
The Johnny Van Zant Band releasing their debut solo album,
No More Dirty Deals, in 1980. Early members of the Johnny Van Zant Band consisted of Van Zant on lead vocals, Robbie Gay on guitar, Danny Clausman, on bass, Erik Lundgren on lead guitar, Robbie Morris, drums and
Joan Hecht (previously Joan Cusimano) and Nancy Henderson on background vocals. Van Zant released three more solo albums between 1981 and 1985, before taking a break from the music business. Van Zant became lead vocalist and chief songwriter 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 U.S.
Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for three weeks. He also records and performs with his brother, Donnie, as
Van Zant since 1998. 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 U.S. shows. Van Zant is a fan of the
Jacksonville Jaguars. He recorded a video, along with remaining members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, that is played at every Jaguars home game on the
EverBank Stadium video board. Van Zant and Lynyrd Skynyrd performed in Arizona on April 9, 2022, during Arizona Bike Week at WestWorld of Scottsdale. He stated that original member
Gary Rossington was recovering and still needed prayers. == Personal life ==