Ean Evans

Short Biography

Donald "Ean" Evans (died May 6, 2009) was the bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd from 2001 until his death. He joined the band following the death of Leon Wilkeson. Ean was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He moved to Columbus in eastern Mississippi after marrying his wife, Eva. He started in music at the age of five, playing trumpet and having an orchestral background until his teen years. Picking up the guitar at 15, soon he was playing the southeastern rock circuit with various cover groups. A few years later he switched to bass so as to bring fellow guitarist into the band. In the 1980s he played bass for a rock band called "...Five Miles High!" He studied the styles and techniques of John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Geddy Lee (Rush) and Leon Wilkeson (Lynyrd Skynyrd) giving him an aggressive approach to the bass guitar. In late 2008 Evans was diagnosed with cancer, of which he died on May 6, 2009 at his home in Mississippi. He is survived by his wife Eva and their two daughters, Sydney and Andrea. Lynyrd Skynyrd is continuing their 2009 tour with a replacement; Johnny Van Zant asked audiences to pray for Evans.