Editing Allen Collins (section)

=== Career with Lynyrd Skynyrd ===
Collins joined Skynyrd in Jacksonville, Florida, just two weeks after its formation by [[Ronnie Van Zant]] and [[Gary Rossington]], along with [[Bob Burns (drummer)|Bob Burns]] and [[Larry Junstrom]]. Knowing that Collins played guitar and owned his own equipment, the band decided to approach him about joining them. Van Zant and Burns both had a reputation for trouble, and Collins fled on his bicycle and hid up a tree when he saw them pull up in his driveway. They soon convinced him that they were not there to beat him up and he agreed to join the band, then known as "The One Percent".<ref>''If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd'', Passion Pictures, Directed by Stephen Kijak, 2018</ref>

Collins and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant co-wrote many of the biggest Skynyrd hits, including "Free Bird", "[[Gimme Three Steps]]", and "[[That Smell]]". The band received national success beginning in 1973 while opening for [[the Who]] on their ''[[Quadrophenia]]'' tour.

[[File:Lynyrd Skynyrd (1977).jpg|thumb|left|Collins with Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1977 (from left to right): [[Leon Wilkeson]], Allen Collins, [[Ronnie Van Zant]], [[Gary Rossington]], [[Steve Gaines]], [[Artimus Pyle]] and [[Billy Powell]]]]

On October 20, 1977, an airplane carrying the band [[Lynyrd Skynyrd plane crash|crashed into a forest in Mississippi]], killing three band members, including Van Zant. Collins was seriously injured in the crash, suffering two broken vertebrae in his neck and severe damage to his left arm. Amputation was recommended but Collins' father refused, and he eventually recovered.