Every rock fan has their ‘Guitar god.’ For many, it’s the person their parents spun daily on the record player, for others, it’s their most played artist on Guitar Hero, and for Jimi Hendrix, it was Billy F. Gibbons.
Gibbons, founding member, lead vocalist, and guitarist of ZZ Top, opened for Hendrix in 1968 with The Moving Sidewalks – Gibbons’ late-60s outfit. Their sound leaned on The Zombies, but Gibbons’ finger-pickin’ grooves resembled B.B. King, introducing his knack for blending psychedelic and blues rock. The Sidewalks’ chops led them to tour with The Doors and The 13th Floor Elevators before Gibbons and drummer Dan Mitchell formed ZZ in 1969.
Starting this new project only helped Gibbon’s legend; by 1973, the group was opening for The Rolling Stones. Much of the band’s attention came from Gibbons and guitarist Dusty Hill’s complementary guitar sound, and their third album, Tres Hombres. Billboard charting “La Grange” became a staple of their discography and the ultimate song for cruising in Gibbons’ home state, Texas.
In the ‘70s, Texas and ‘the West’ were the principal parts of ZZ’s identity. In 1974, ZZ headlined their “Rompin’ Stompin’ Barndance” to a crowd of 80,000 UT Austin fans, with help from Santana, Joe Cocker, and a newly discovered Bad Company. A few years later, ZZ’s live act was their main draw; one particularly raucous tour included a literal live zoo.
By the ‘80s, ZZ Top were mainstream stars with “Sharp Dressed Man” off their entrance into new wave rock, “Eliminator.” Eliminator opened an unanticipated path for ZZ, but today, Gibbons confirms their “friends, fans, and followers are plenty rowdy.”
Before heading to the Jersey Shore for the Sea.Hear.Now Festival, I spoke with Billy about his solo work, touring, ZZ Top’s longevity, and their infamous 1975 Worldwide Texas Tour.
You’ve performed several solo shows in recent years while touring with ZZ Top. How do those performances compare?
The ZZ Top roadshow and “Billy F Gibbons and The BFG Band” co-exist as differing entities yet possess common moving parts. The song’s focus ranges extensively when I’m out with The BFG Band. It moves right along that well-known ‘bluesy avenue’ with a few choice ZZ Top “musts” in most sets.
Working with a solid lineup of stalwart players outside ZZ keeps the experience of both acts all the more fresh during each outing. Both appearances revitalize the other in a musically modified way. We’re actually stretched out to deliver a wealth of the unexpected. On any number of off-the-wall ZZ nights out, we’ll break into “These Boots Are Made For Walkin.’” For “The BFG Band”, we’ll offer raunchy, reverb-drenched versions of “Wipe Out.” Surf’s up!
ZZ Top plays Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury Park, NJ, which will be the band’s first show in the City that Bruce built since 1980 … What can attendees expect?
Of course, “La Grange” is demanded to be included. We’ll deliver it, as it’s typically called “our thing.” Everybody is seemingly a fan of “our thing.” ZZ’s focus during the live shows is the bluesy inspired “thing’ with standards like Freddie King’s “I Loved A Woman”, all of Lightnin Hopkins specialties, and our often-visited Elvis things… “Jailhouse Rock,” “Viva Las Vegas,” “Suspicious Minds.” Glory days, indeed! Come and see us if ya’ please… our friends, fans, and followers are plenty rowdy.
You’ve been touring since you were a teen. Today, what brings you the most joy when playing live sets?
The sonics of loudness. A sage, named B.B. King once offered some valued guidance along the lines of “Play what you want to hear,” and that’s what we do. Of course, we’re delighted to get a good audience response, and when it moves us, we know we got something special.
Next year marks 50 years of the ‘Worldwide Texas Tour,’ one of ZZ Top’s most infamous tours. 50 years later, what do you remember about the tour?
It was a blur, of course. Playing in stadiums with all manner of wildlife proved to be a wild experience. We learned a lesson in how to deal with a mass of “after-hours” challenges, loads of animals’ traveling frolics that seemed to blend into a combination of abject mayhem.
Jimi Hendrix once called you his favorite guitarist. Can you tell me about some of your favorite guitarists you played alongside?
Jimi, himself, certainly tops the list. We got to play and tour with Jeff Beck, too… a fantastic experience. And the lines of Jimmie Vaughan, Eric Johnson, Christopher Cross, Dwight Yoakam, Guthrie Trapp, Marquise Knox, and even keeping the way-back originators, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker, Eddie Taylor, Bo Diddley, and into the impact of Peter Green, Keith Richards, Señor Clapton, and Mick Taylor.
You know who’s a great unsung blues guitarist? Dion. Dion DiMucci, of “Runaround Sue” fame. Dion’s a real player, and I was knocked out with some killer-diller collaborations on his recent album releases.
What guitarists, playing today, are you currently into?
These days, we’re diggin’ on the delivery from so many… Gary Clark Jr. and Larkin Poe, who could actually get away with calling themselves “The Blues Sisters.”
Earlier this year, you released “Livin’ It Up Down In Texas.” Can you tell me how that came about and what inspired the tune?
I wrote it for the season finale of the Paramount series Landman, which Taylor Sheridan created. Taylor’s inspiration was the show itself, as the title alone indicates what it’s all about. Credit where it’s due: this was a co-write with series star and longtime friend, Billy Bob Thornton, and actor/songwriter Mark Colli, who plays Sheriff Walk Joeberg in the show.
Do you think we could hear more original tunes from ZZ Top or your outfit, “The BFG Band,” in the near future?
It’s happening now as we’re working serious studio time between the roadshows with a taste of something new, something borrowed, and a wave of something blue!
