This signed sheet music is for That Smell by Lynyrd Skynyrd, autographed by drummer Artimus Pyle. Released in 1977 on the band’s fifth studio album Street Survivors, That Smell stands as one of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s darkest and most cautionary songs. Written by Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Allen Collins, the track directly addressed the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, with Van Zant’s lyrics warning of the “smell of death” that lingers around reckless living. Its swampy groove, layered guitars, and raw honesty gave it a unique place in the band’s catalog. Tragically, just three days after the album’s release, the infamous plane crash claimed the lives of Van Zant, Steve and Cassie Gaines, and others, forever marking Street Survivors—and That Smell in particular—with a sense of eerie prophecy. Artimus Pyle (born 1948), known as “The Wild Man of Drums,” joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1974 and quickly became a driving force behind their powerful Southern rock sound. His drumming style combined precision with unrelenting energy, helping to define classics such as Saturday Night Special, What’s Your Name, and That Smell. Pyle survived the 1977 plane crash and went on to honor the Skynyrd legacy through his own band, the Artimus Pyle Band, keeping the music and spirit of the original group alive for new generations. Owning this signed sheet music for That Smell is more than a collectible—it’s a piece of Southern rock history tied to one of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s most sobering and iconic songs. For fans of the band, admirers of Artimus Pyle’s drumming, and collectors of classic rock memorabilia, this artifact embodies the grit, truth, and lasting legacy of one of America’s greatest rock bands.

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