Artimus Pyle

Thomas Delmer "Artimus" Pyle (born July 15, 1948 in Louisville, Kentucky) [http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/lynyrd-skynyrd Lynyrd Skynyrd] Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Accessed September 24 2007.] is an American musician best known for playing drums with Lynyrd Skynyrd, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.Vrabel, Jeff. (November 29 2005. [http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/112905/lif_20423883.shtml Rock the Hall] "The Florida Times-Union". Accessed September 24 2007.] [Vrable, Jeff. (November 29 2005) [http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/112905/lif_20422475.shtml All who have played in the band won't be inducted] "The Florida Times-Union". Accessed September 24 2007.]

Career

Early career

Pyle joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1974. He survived the 1977 plane crash that killed Ronnie Van Zant, Cassie Gaines and Steve Gaines.Pettus, Gary. (October 20 2002). [http://orig.clarionledger.com/news/0210/20/o01.html The day 'Free Bird' fell from the sky] Clarion Ledger. Accessed September 24 2007.] Pyle emerged from the aircraft wreckage with several broken ribs and joined others traveling several hundred yards on foot to a farmhouse to try to get help. The appearance of Pyle and his companions alarmed the residents of the farmhouse, who greeted them with guns and demanded they leave the premises. Eventually the Gillsburg Volunteer Fire Department arrived and assured the occupants that the men were survivors of a plane-crash. Varying accounts have the farmer's son either firing a warning shot into the air or actually shooting Pyle in the shoulder with an air rifle. [Boston, John. {September 7 2006) [http://www.the-signal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=32642&format=print The heart and soul of redneck American] . "The Signal". Accessed September 24 2007.] Pyle claimed in a February 2007 appearance on Howard Stern's Sirius radio program that he had been shot; the farmer's son has always denied shooting the drummer.Fact|date=September 2007

After the crash

In 1982 Pyle began touring with the Artimus Pyle Band, A.P.B.,"Lynyrd Skynyrd" "The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll" (Simon & Schuster, 2001). Reprinted at [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/lynyrdskynyrd/biography rollingstone.com] . Accessed September 24 2007.] including Darryl Otis Smith, John Boerstler, and Steve Lockhart.allmusicguide |id=jpfpxq95ld6e~T1] A.P.B.'s albums include "A.P.B." (1981), "Nightcaller" (1983) and "Live From Planet Earth" (2000).

Pyle took part in the Skynyrd Tribute Tour and joined the reformed Lynyrd Skynyrd in recording "Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991" before departing the band. [allmusicguide |id=h9fexqq5ldhe~T2| label=Lynyrd Skynyrd 1991] Flans, Robyn. [http://www.moderndrummer.com/updatefull/200001599 Artimus Pyle: Still venomous after Lynyrd Skynard] Modern Drummer Online. Accessed September 24 2007.]

Pyle currently plays solo and with various musicians, including previous members of Lynryd Skynyrd and Lynyrd Skynryd tribute bands. In 2007, Pyle released a solo album, "Artimus Venomus", on Cleopatra Records.

Pyle, in 2007, was touring with the band Deep South.

Criminal conviction

In 1993, Pyle was arrested and charged in Jacksonville Beach, Florida with sexual battery against two girls, ages four and eight. ["National Briefs" "Fort Worth Star-Telegram", December 25 1993, Page 19.] Facing a potential life sentence, Pyle arranged a plea bargain with prosecutors to spare the children a trial. ["Nation in Brief". "The Atlanta Journal". December 25 1993. Page Number A/5.] He received eight years of probation, ["Artimus Pyle Plea-Bargains life term down to probation." "Buffalo News". December 26 1993.] and he was entered into the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's "Sexual Offender" database. [ [http://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/flyer.do?personId=4209 Artimus Thomas Pyle] . FDLE Offender Flyer. Accessed September 24 2007.]

On November 19, 2007, Pyle was arrested in St. Johns County, Florida for failure to register as a sex offender. [Lynyrd Skynyrd Drummer Arrested for Failing to Register as as Sex Offender [http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=96025] First Coast News, Jacksonville, FL] He was re-arrested on November 27, 2007 on the same charge.cite news|accessdate=2007-11-30
url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5grcCxDcJtc7VTeyvLS4ERKOCpYIAD8T7BFT00
title=Ex-Skynyrd Drummer Arrested for 2nd Time
author=Associated Press
date=2007-11-29]

References