Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Ed King died Wednesday, at the age of 68. The cause of death wasn't specified, but he'd been battling lung cancer.

Ed was a founding member of the '60s psychedelic band The Strawberry Alarm Clock and co-wrote their hit song "Incense and Peppermints".

He joined Skynyrd in 1972, first as a bass player, then as their third guitarist. He played on the band's first three albums, and even wrote the riff for "Sweet Home Alabama". That's his voice you hear counting "1, 2, 3" at the beginning.

He left the band in 1975 because of the craziness, especially from singer Ronnie Van Zant, who was a violent drunk. That was two years before the deadly plane crash that put the band on ice.

Ed rejoined Skynyrd when they got back together in 1987, and left again in 1996 due to congestive heart failure. The last time he played with them was at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2006.

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