ST. PETERSBURG – Southern Rock’s Finest are coming to the State Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 11. Doors open at 6 p.m. The all-ages show begins at 7 p.m. Cover is $15.

Southern Rocks Finest features former members of the Allman Brothers, Molly Hatchet, Marshall Tucker, The Outlaws and Pure Prairie League.

Special guests includes Rebel Pride, Sobriety X, Un4Givin, Down Jr., Brian Chris and Lavafish.

Author Gene Odom, former head of security for Lynyrd Skynyrd, body guard of Ronnie Van Zant, and Skynyrd plane crash survivor will be on hand signing his highly acclaimed book “Remembering the Freebirds of Southern Rock.” Odom also will be selling Skynyrd photos and more from his personal collection.

Southern Rocks Finest include Dan Toler, lead guitar, former member of the Allman Brothers Band. He also led the Dan Toler Band, TGZ, and the Toler Brothers with Frankie Toler. Toler has also performed or recorded with Hughie Thomasson, Steve Gorman, Charlie Daniels, Chuck Leavell, Jimmy Hall and more.

Drummer Gary Guzzardo is a former member of the Marshall Tucker Band and Chris Anderson Band. He also has performed with Rick Derringer, Joe Walsh, Stephen Stills, Charlie Daniels, Tom Peterson and John Zahner. He is currently a producer and a world class session drummer.

Phil Stokes provides guitar, bass and vocals with Southern Rocks Finest. He is a former member of Pure Prairie League and has performed or recorded with Charlie Daniels, Classic Southern Rockers with Bob Burns and Randall Hall, George McCorkle, Tim Heding, Banner Thomas,Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, James Burton and more.

Vocalist Steve Grisham has been sucessful as singer, songwriter, producer and engineer. Before building the success of his own ‘Mira Vista Studios,’ he toured with the southern rock group The Outlaws throughout the ’80s. He’s also credited with writing a number of successful songs, including “Fallen Hero,” for the Disney/Touchstone movie “Can’t Buy Me Love;” “Keepin’ Our Love Alive”, a top 40 hit for the Henry Paul Band; “The Outlaw” and “Lady Luck” for The Outlaws. He also was a staff writer for Ronnie Milsap Music Publishing. Grisham has been back up guitarist for Razzy Bailey, Tom Wopat, Bobby Bare, Montey Holmes, Jeannie C. Riely, Robert Nix and more.

Buzzy Meekins also provides bass, guitar and vocals. He is a former member of Molly Hatchet, the Artemis Pyle Band, the Outlaws, the Dicky Betts Band and the Danny Joe Brown Band. He also was a member of the Derek Trucks Band, the Vassar Clements Group with Marty Stuart, Southern Rock Rebellion with Charlie Hargrett, Bobby Caldwell, Steve Wheeler, Leslie Hawkins, and Jo Jo Billingsley. Buzzy has also performed with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Bros.,Robert Nix, Jimmy Hall and more.

Dave Valliere provides guitar, keyboard and vocals. He played with Bob Burns and has gigged with Pontus J .Back, Patrick Johannson, Joakim Svalberg, Bjorn Englen, Peter Jezewski and more. He has also performed or recorded with Molly Hatchet, Johnny Neel,Taz DeGregerio, Doug Grey, Randall Hall, Leif Sundin, Charlie Daniels, and Chris Hicks. He is a former member of the Ghostriders and toured worldwide with the Platters. He is currently the leader of The Dave Valliere Group.