So what is the earliest concert you can remember going to

Skynyrds my all time favorite.
I just saw the newest documentary on Netflix, very good!
Free Bird and Saturday Night Special, 1 and 1A.
Fair enough, although relatively speaking the crash happened only roughly ten years into the bands career and it the only key musician was of course Ronnie. Dean was an important dude but he wasn’t a musician. Crazy thing I learned the other day is that Aerosmith almost booked that exact same plane but decided against it because something felt off.

^^^
Steve Gaines was really giving them new energy.
So I would say he was a key although not original.

Oh yea, don't get me wrong, Still love their music.