Images of ZZ Top founder Billy F. Gibbons often depict him with his classic 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar or having good fun in classic MTV videos such as “Sharp Dressed Man.”
Wipe away that image and replace it with one of Gibbons bowling at “Lucky Strikes” in Chicago. Gibbons, bandmates Dusty Hill and Frank Beard and others spent some time ? just before headlining the Jackfest tour ? rolling strikes.
“Well, I went to the ladies? rack and found a six-pound ball,” said Gibbons. “That really had me burning up the lanes.”
That?s a perfect example of Gibbons? attitude. Despite all of the accolades and awards, the man who founded ZZ Top in 1969 and went on to lead it to international success with the 1983 album “Eliminator” ? named after Gibbons customized 1933 Ford coupe ? doesn?t take himself too seriously.
He speaks with respect of The Stray Cats, The Pretenders, REO Speedwagon and others on the tour, making it a “shuffle” of a 1980s greatest-hits track list.
“It will be interesting,” said Gibbons of the eclectic mix of genres. “Our paths have crossed more than a few times over the days gone past. We have all been rather friendly and there?s a nice bit of excitement. ?”Indeed, the other musicians seem intrigued at the chance to work closely with those outside their immediate musical circle.
“They were always knocking about and you had to love them,” said Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders. “ZZ Top, hot rock, and beer ? those were golden times.”
Will there be a jam? What are the set lists? What special guests have been added? Whileothers might fret over these details, Gibbons is the calm in the storm.
Perhaps with good reason, as he?s fortunate to lead a lineup that has remained unchanged since its inception. The result is a deep, rich catalog.
Yet the music could have presumably even more reach if technology modernized the sound ? something akin to updating the classic cars Gibbons loves. Any plans to do that?
“That?s a powerful question,” he said. “There is a magical little piece to those early recordings, those primitive sounds. They are what they are. We?ll leave them alone.”
Click here for full details of Jackfest and ZZ Top’s performance.
