The band’s last original member, Gary Rossington, told CNN it was ditching Old Dixie because “It became such an issue about race,” adding that the flag had been hijacked by the KKK and other race groups. The flag would no long be used at upcoming concerts promoting new album Last of a Dyin’ Breed.

“Through the years, people like the KKK and skinheads kinda kidnapped the Dixie or Southern flag from its tradition and the heritage of the soldiers, that’s what it was about,” Rossington said. “We didn’t want that to go to our fans or show the image like we agreed with any of the race stuff or any of the bad things.”

Skynyrd fans weighed the careful considerations Rossington made in coming to the decision, and showed their support.

“Good luck with your next release ‘Sweet Home Massachusetts,’” one wrote. “I am sure it will climb the charts with a bullet in Yankee-land.”

“This isn’t the real Lynyrd Skynyrd anyway,” another comment read. “They should have taken a name like ‘Obama’s Politically Correct Sell Your Soul Make Believe Imposters’ or something.”

Rossington eventually “clarified” that the stars & bars would not leave here tomorrow.

“I wanted to clarify the discussion of the confederate Flag in our recent CNN interview,” Rossington wrote on the band’s official site. “Myself, the past and present members (that are from the South), are all extremely proud of our heritage and being from the South. We know what the Dixie flag represents and its heritage; the Civil War was fought over States rights.”

He added, “We still utilize the Confederate (Rebel) flag on stage every night in our shows, we are and always will be a southern American Rock band, first and foremost.”