Southern rock icon dies at his Brooksville home

By JUSTIN GEORGE, Times Staff Writer
Published September 11, 2007

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Outlaws, a Tampa band, toured with Janis Joplin and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Frontman Hughie Thomasson (center), 55, died late Sunday of an apparent heart attack at his Brooksville home. Offer your condolences and memories: Sign Hughie Thomasson's guest book
	[Times files]

But Kiss' Gene Simmons knew about promotion, and he was generous enough to coach Outlaws' lead guitarist and vocalist Hughie Thomasson.

"You're a great guitar player," Outlaw drummer Monte Yoho recalled Simmons saying. "But you're lacking something."

"What's that?" Mr. Thomasson asked.

"A stance," Simmons said.

And so Mr. Thomasson crouched and extended his left leg, an enduring pose as memorable as his high-pitched voice and high-speed fingers.

Mr. Thomasson, 55, died late Sunday of an apparent heart attack at his Brooksville home, band tour manager Chuck Smith said. Mr. Thomasson had fallen asleep in his favorite chair after dinner out, Smith said.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Outlaws, a Tampa band, toured with Janis Joplin and Creedence Clearwater Revival. The band's debut album, The Outlaws, spent 16 weeks on the charts in 1975 and led to 11 more releases on Arista Records.

Green Grass & High Tides, the band's hit 1975 song was named one of Country Music Television's top 20 greatest Southern rock songs.

Drummer David Dix's father first spotted young Hughie playing in a beach pavilion outside Egypt Lake. At the first practice, Dix's band launched into a rock standard, and Mr. Thomasson took off on the guitar.

"He commanded attention," Dix said.

The teen band's existing guitar player stormed out in frustration, Dix said.

Mr. Thomasson owned 14 guitars over the years, naming each, including Louise, a favorite. He switched guitars when he felt a different colored one might help him play better.

The Outlaws disbanded in the 1990s, when Mr. Thomasson was offered a spot in Lynyrd Skynyrd. He played for nine years until 2005, when he decided to reform the Outlaws.

Together, they toured the country, putting on their last show Saturday at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Nevada.

"A couple of good nights running around the casino, having fun, being friends," Yoho said.

Mr. Thomasson is survived by his wife, Mary, and a daughter, band members said.

He and the Outlaws also left behind a final album, Once an Outlaw, not yet released. Band members consider it some of Mr. Thomasson's best work.

Justin George can be reached at 813 226-3368 or jgeorge@sptimes.com.

[Last modified September 10, 2007, 23:30:58]