Music

The Legend: Billy Gibbons

By  | 

 Rebecca Berman Chats With Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top:

 

I can still remember dancing in my room to the songs Legs and Give Me All Your Loving by ZZ Top. Since 1984 I have been in love with the band. I remember in 2004 when ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I was not surprised when Gibbons was ranked number 32 on Rolling Stone’s list of top 100 guitarists of all time either.  And who can forget his recurring role in the hit series Bones. He made me love television all over again.

 

In current news, Gibson is releasing a new solo album in the spring. It is a Cuban influenced album with a Latin twist. And last, but not least, The Billy Gibbons ‘Pearly Gates’ Les Paul Standard guitar is now available at an authorized Gibson Custom dealer. If you’ve loved his music over the years, you will want to purchase one today!

 

When I was offered the opportunity to ask Billy Gibbons a few questions, I jumped on the opportunity.

 

Here is a sneak peek:

 

 

Rebecca: How did the band originally get together?

 

The Moving Sidewalks were up and running while Dusty and Frank were playing in a band together called American Blues. The Sidewalks detoured in 1969 thanks to the keyboardist and bassist taking on military service leaving the band looking for solid a rhythm section.  Frank and I found each other and things took off like a rocket when he suggested we enlist his former band mate, Dusty Hill, to play bass.  We got together to see what might shake and immediately knew it was the right combination — we just locked in and took it from there. The first real gig: the Knights of Columbus Hall in Beaumont, Texas, marking February 10, 1970 as that initial moment.  The rest, as they say, is history or, shall we say, hysterical.

 

Rebecca: How old were you when you first grew your signature beard?

 

We were never averse to some chin fuzz but the lengthy whiskers kind of found their way around 1972 or ’73.  They’ve been good to us so we do our utmost to take care of them.

 

Rebecca: Tell us about being inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.

 

What a great night that was! Keith Richards, our Rolling Stones buddy, inducted us and that’s as good as it gets.  We got to play along with Keith and the entire Paul Schaffer crew and it couldn’t have been more memorable.  If they ever invent a time machine, we’d set it for March 15, 2004 and aim it straight for the Waldorf Astoria in NY to do it all over again.

 

Rebecca: How has your music changed over the years?

 

That’s hard to say because we’re still the same three guys playing the same three chords but technology changes and, of course, we’re constantly chasing new ideas to set down in the “whatever” One might say we’re still funky after all these years but, of course, we’re probably better at it now ‘cause we’ve had some practice.

 

Rebecca: If 3 other artists could join your band for a gig, who would you pick and why? 

 

Keith Richards ‘cause, you know, he’s Keith.  His spirit and good nature are infectious and the man can play.  Jeff Beck because we’ve toured with him; he’s just an unparalleled musician… innovative and loose as he wants to be.  He makes it radically “beyond”.  You didn’t say living or otherwise so here’s where we’ll give a nod to Jimi Hendrix with whom we toured back in our Moving Sidewalks days.  He was a really warm guy, a bit on the shy side yet far ahead of anyone who ever came before or since.  We owe him so much; we’d love to a get a chance to pay him back in some way. Rock on…!

 

avatar

Rebecca Berman is an on-camera lifestyle reporter, video producer and blogger based in the NYC metropolitan area. Her improvisational skills shine through via her many talents. After graduating from American University with a BA in Communications, Rebecca worked as a production assistant with numerous celebrities and movie producers on such projects as Cocktail, Arthur on the Rocks and Masquerade, to name just a few. Berman spent most of this period working at broadcast giants MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon, where she produced elaborate events such as the VMAs, movie awards parties, VH1 Awards post-parties. She also worked behind the scenes planning launch parties for both MTV Asia and the first EMA show held in Berlin, Germany. After seven years in the entertainment business, Rebecca decided to take a pause and raise her family. She began a second career as a Real Estate agent, enabling her to stay at home and nurture her three children while working. Her temporary hiatus did not last long. As her kids grew older, she realized she wanted to follow her true passion; promoting things in life she loves. Utilizing her creative personality and production skills, Rebecca landed a job as a lifestyle reporter on the local weekly news show “The Local Live.” Her reporting covers a wide range of diverse topics, from local restaurants and bars to waste management and Veterans Affairs (in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity of Westchester). Rebecca is happily married, living with her husband and three children in Westchester, NY. Her ambition has driven her to construct some incredible projects that will surely continue to motivate and entertain many people of all ages.

1 Comment

  1. Pingback: Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top | Rebecca Berman TV

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply