Billy Gibbons
Billy Gibbons was born on 16/12/1949 in Houston, Texas. His full birth name was William Frederick Gibbons. His father, Frederick Royal Gibbons was an entertainer, orchestra conductor, and concert pianist. Freddie worked with his second cousin, art director Cedric Gibbons for Samuel Goldwyn at MGM Studios. Billy, was a percussionist when he was young and his father sent him to New York to study with Tito Puente.In 1963, Gibbons got his first electric guitar, a sunburst Gibson Melody Maker and a Large Cat amplifier. He was influenced by guitarist like Jimmy Reed.
Gibbons went to Warner Brother's art school in Hollywood. There he would come into bands such as The Saints, Billy G & the Blueflames, and The Coachmen. By the age of 18, Gibbons formed his own band called the Moving Sidewalks. The band recorded several singles and one album called "Flash". They opened for The Jimi Hendrix Experience during their first tour. Hendrix was highly impressed by Gibbons and would comment in some interviews that Gibbons would be the next hottest guitarist. The Moving Sidewalk's most notable song was "99th Floor". The song was inspired by another Texas band called The 13th Floor Elevators.
In 1969, Gibbons formed ZZ Top with bassist/vocalist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank "Rube" Beard. Hill and Beard were both members of the band American Blues.
In 1971, ZZ Top released their first album called "ZZ Top's First Album" with London Records. The band would intensively tour and record until 1977 when they went on hiatus.
In 1979, ZZ Top signed with Warner Bros. Records. The new contract would allow the band to keep control of their previous recordings. In the interim Gibbons and Hill had grown chest-length beards that would become part of their trademark look.
In 1983, ZZ Top achieved international success when they released the album "Eliminator". The album was named after Gibbon's customised 1933 Ford Coupe. The car would appear in three of the band's music videos and is on exhibition at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. The album featured the hits "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Sharp Dressed Man", and "Legs".
In 1994, ZZ Top signed a multimillion deal, five-album deal with RCA Records.
In 2001, Gibbons appeared on the John Mayall & Friend's track "Put It Right Back" on the album "Along for the Ride".
In 2002, Gibbons appeared on Hank Williams III's song "Trashville" on the album "Lovesick, Broke and Driftin'".
In 2004, ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2005, Vivian Campbell released the album "Two Sides Of If" which featured Gibbons on the song "Willin' For Satisfaction". In the same year, he appeared on Queens of the Stone Age's song "Burn the Witch" on the album "Lullabies to Paralyse". Gibbons would also appear on BB King's album "B.B. King & Friends album", on the song "Tired Of Your Jive". On Les Paul's "Les Paul & Friends American Made" album, Gibbons featured on the track "Bad Case of Loving You". Nickelback's album "All the Right Reasons" would also feature Gibbons that year.
In 2006, Revolting Cock's released the album "Cocked and Loaded" which featured Gibbons playing lead slide on the song "Dead End Streets". At that year's MTV Video Music Awards, Gibbons appeared with The Raconteurs.
In 2008, Gibbons appeared on the Everlast album "Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford".
In 2009, Gibbons appeared on the TV show "Bones". In the same year, he appeared on Gov't Mule's album "By a Thread" on the song "Broke Down On the Brazos".
In 2015, Gibbon's solo project Billy Gibbons and the BFG's released their debut album "Perfectamundo".