Guitarist Gary Rossington Says Lynyrd Skynyrd's Republican Convention Show Is "for the Soldiers"

Photo: Clay Patrick McBrideLynyrd Skynyrd will help celebrate the beginning of the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida, when they perform at special concert this Sunday in the city's Liberty Plaza.  The show, dubbed Southern Tribute IV Honoring America's Heroes, is being presented by the Citizens Helping Heroes organization, which raises money to support wounded U.S. military members and their families.

According to GACTV.com, Skynyrd also will perform in Tampa the following day, the convention's official kickoff date, reportedly when presidential candidate Mitt Romney's wife, Ann, is being introduced.

While it's seems clear where the band's political leanings lay, Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington insists that his group is more interested in helping U.S. military personnel in need than in endorsing a particular candidate.

"We don't know much about politics," Rossington tells ABC News Radio.  "I know [it] seems that when you see the news, most politicians lie and they haven't been real good the last few years, I guess. [But] we're actually playing for the wounded warriors…and we do anything we can for military.  [It] just happens to be at that convention."

As for how he feels about the upcoming presidential election, the guitarist says, "I don't think the country's going in the right direction right now, and I don't know what to do about it myself," adding, with a laugh, "'cause I'm not that bright."

He continues, "I'm more of a musician.  You know, we just play music.  But, I think that anything we can do to help the military, that's what we're doing it and that's why we're into it."

Further explaining his support for the troops, Rossington declares, "The most important thing now with America is defending ourselves and being strong militarily.  So, we try to help all ways we can."

He notes that Skynyrd's members "were all from Vietnam [era]…And we luckily didn't get called for that, so we try to do what we can now."

Lynyrd Skynyrd previously performed at a Republican National Convention in 2000.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio