Mississippi was not only so innovative and ahead of it’s time – and BFG’s tone yet again so huge – but it really helped everyone after just experiencing the loss of SRV in our community."It was as bare-bones as when we first started touring in a behemoth Chrysler station wagon, driving vast stretches between those early far-flung shows under blackened Texas skies and first hearing our records on the radio. It was so powerful, and My Head’s In Mississippi was being played regularly on Dallas’ Q102 rock radio station by legendary DJ Redbeard. This concert really helped to bring everyone out of mourning the loss of SRV. It was such a powerful concert and so inspiring to me, I had just turned 13 and it was the first concert I saw as a young teenager. ZZ Top, Steve Miller and Santana performed at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas. Everyone in Texas was still mourning the loss of Stevie Ray Vaughan. The first time I ever saw ZZ Top perform live in concert was in October of 1990. My Head’s In Mississippi (Recycler, 1990) BFG’s guitar solos are a pure lesson in Texas groove on this track, and if you can’t get through this track without dancing, something’s wrong! I think that’s what I love most about it. ZZ had moved into a new sound and a new direction, however, Flag Her Down masterfully blends the “modern era” ZZ with the vintage East Texas shuffle sound. We heard it everywhere we went, people had huge dance parties at their houses and would dance to the entire album. Billy, Dusty and Frank were like comic book super heroes to me back then when Eliminator came out because of MTV.Įveryone we knew in East Texas and North Louisiana had a copy. It was such an amazing time to see ZZ Top on MTV and the beginning of music television. I feel like If I Could Flag Her Down doesn’t get much attention because Sharp Dressed Man, Legs and Gimme All Your Lovin’ kinda ruled the roost on MTV back in the early 1980’s! Eliminator was one of the first cassettes I ever bought as a child in the early 80s, and I bought it the day it came out. If I Could Flag Her Down (Eliminator, 1983) I just love the way it slows down and ends as if just to say, “OK, that’s enough grooving for now.” It’s one of the most imaginative and creative arrangements in the ZZ catalog, the break downs with the “woo woos.” Frank’s tom rolls coming out of them alone prove that! The way the guitar solo sections modulate from C to B flat is something I’ve used a lot in my own writing, and again BFG’s guitar tone on the solos is as meaty and juicy as a Central Texas Beef Rib! The funkiness of the interplay in the outro section is what makes ZZ one of the greatest power trios in rock’n’roll. Lance Lopez reflects on the dangers of booze on Down To One BarĮvery time I hear the opening riffs of Cheap Sunglasses I have to immediately find my Ray Bans and put them on! It’s one of the most funky ZZ tracks ever! The groove is unstoppable, and it makes you want to ride around slow all night downtown and listen to it over and over.Inside the mind of the guitarist: ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons.Lance Lopez mixes Hendrix and Skynyrd on The Real Deal.
Neighbor, Neighbor (ZZ Top’s First Album, 1971)
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Full dates below.īelow, Lance chooses his Top 10 ZZ Top songs. Lopez will be special guest on this year’s Rockin’ The Blues tour, which also features Eric Gales, Gary Hoey and Quinn Sullivan, and climaxes in London on March 17. Lance Lopez’s new album Tell The Truth is out today (opens in new tab). It makes me really understand why Jimi Hendrix loved Billy so much.īilly has truly inspired me, whether he was imparting knowledge to me or was giving me a look over his shoulder while we were jamming and just saying, “hey now, LL.” Every time I always knew I was receiving a blessing from the Reverend Willy G himself… and what a mighty blessing that is Amigo…Mercy! His creativity and genius is unparalleled.
#Billy gibbons zz top how to
From the beginning of our friendship he really made me understand the importance of tone and how to get it in your hands first.
I am so very grateful for all of the knowledge that he has imparted on me.
He has taught me so much about the Blues and especially how to be a true Texas gentleman. Billy has always been a great mentor to me.
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