Longtime .38 Special and founding Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Larry Junstrom has passed away at the age of 70. His cause of death has not been revealed. However, .38 Special confirmed the news via Facebook, stating:

“The Big Man on the Big Bass has left us.

He rocked arenas all over the world and succeeded in living his dream.

He was truly one of a kind, a congenial traveling companion and a great friend to all with a humorous slant on life that always kept our spirits high – a kind man with a big heart for everyone who crossed his path. There will never be another like him.

We are sending our devoted love, strength and comfort to his wife Thania and Larry’s family. We will miss our friend and partner.

Larry “L.J.” Junstrom

1949 – 2019”

Lynyrd Skynyrd shared the following message via Facebook:

Rest Easy, LJ, you will always be remembered as the big man, on the big bass with the even bigger heart! Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Junstrom formed Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1964 with his high school classmates Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, and Bob Burns. His time with the group ended in 1971, just before the band’s debut album 1973’s Pronounced Leh-nerd Skin-nerd. Six years later, Junstrom joined Ronnie Van Zant’s younger brother Donnie Van Zant’s band .38 Special and worked on their first self-titled studio album in 1977. Junstrom ended up recording twelve studio albums with the group before he was forced to retire in 2014. 

Our thoughts go out to Junstrom’s friends and family during this difficult time.