Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
from Rock & Roll High School With Pete Ganbarg
Since 1969, Billy Gibbons has been the lead singer, guitar slinger and principal songwriter of the legendary Texas blues-rock band ZZ Top. With his signature smoky growl, 1959 Gibson Les Paul and instantly recognizable chest-length beard, Billy's music has become one of the soundtracks to the history of rock and roll for over six decades. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, ZZ Top have sold over 50 million records and performed close to 2000 live shows. In this episode, Billy tells us all about his storied career, from growing up in Texas with his bandleader father to meeting his future ZZ Top bandmates on a night that began with Dusty Hill passing out drunk, to bringing the Worldwide Texas tour to life in the late 1970's - a tour that included live buffaloes and rattlesnakes on stage with the band every night. We talk about Billy's friendship with Jimi Hendrix, the night ZZ Top inducted their hero Jimmy Reed into the Rock Hall, and a fateful early gig where the band played an entire show (with encore!) to an audience of only one fan. Billy is a born raconteur and his colorful stories are sure to make you want to re-listen to all of the indelible music he's been sharing with us for over 50 years.
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