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SOUTHERN ROCK KING Lynyrd Skynyrd keeps soaring as far as the free bird flies. The current Rowdy Frynds tour, which lands May 2 at Gwinnett Arena, finds the band sharing the stage with Hank Williams Jr.

The band has come a long way through decades of monumental success, tragedy and reunion triumph. Skynyrd boasts a whopping total of 22 alumni. Guitarist Gary Rossington remains one of two original members (keyboardist Billy Powell is the other).

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Gary Rossington (seated at left) and his Lynyrd Skynyrd bandmates share the billing May 2 at Gwinnett Arena with rowdy friend Hank Williams Jr.
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Despite the tour moniker, Rossington says things are far less rowdy on the road these days. He shares his treks with wife Dale Krantz-Rossington, one of two Skynyrd backup vocalists. And when the band's off the road, he's all about sweet home Atlanta.

When you come home, what's the first Atlanta restaurant on your list?

When I get home, I like to stay in, eat and just enjoy the home life. I like good old Southern cooking: macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and the whole fixings. We love barbecue, too.

What do you do for fun on tour?

We get to see things like the big bike rally in Sturgis, S.D. It's like a sea of customized Harleys. It blows your mind how many bikes there are and how many people are into that. And we met Peter Fonda, and he had his bike from "Easy Rider." You get to meet a lot of interesting people in different towns. We've met a lot of baseball players who like Skynyrd. And, of course, we admire them, because we're always watching sports. We met Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks. We see all kinds of stuff out on the road.

How rowdy is the Rowdy Frynds Tour compared to the old days?

Our friends are all rowdy these days, but we've matured, aged and kind of calmed down. But we're still rowdy, Hank's rowdy and all the people who come. We share the same type of audience; folks who enjoy good old rock 'n' roll and Southern music. And Hank Williams and Hank Williams Jr. are part of America like apple pie. So it's just fun to be a part of it all. ... We sit in together here and there. And there's some picking and grinning behind the scenes.

Have you ever yelled "Freebird" at another band?

Yeah, as a joke or something. It's still just an honor when people do that for one of the songs you've been a part of. I love it.

• THE 411: Rowdy Frynds tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams Jr. $40.50-$70.50. 7 p.m. May 2. Gwinnett Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 404-249-6400, www.ticketmaster.com.