Talk:Billy Gibbons

This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Billy Gibbons article.
This is not a forum for general discussion of the article's subject.

Put new text under old text. Click here to start a new topic.
New to Wikipedia? Welcome! Learn to edit; get help.

Article policies

Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL

This article must adhere to the biographies of living persons (BLP) policy, even if it is not a biography, because it contains material about living persons. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libellous. If such material is repeatedly inserted, or if you have other concerns, please report the issue to this noticeboard.

If you are a subject of this article, or acting on behalf of one, and you need help, please see this help page.

Biography: Musicians

	Biography portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject Biography, a collaborative effort to create, develop and organize Wikipedia's articles about people. All interested editors are invited to join the project and contribute to the discussion. For instructions on how to use this banner, please refer to the documentation.BiographyWikipedia:WikiProject BiographyTemplate:WikiProject Biographybiography articles
	This article is supported by WikiProject Musicians (assessed as Mid-importance).

Guitarists

This article is within the scope of WikiProject Guitarists, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Guitarists on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.GuitaristsWikipedia:WikiProject GuitaristsTemplate:WikiProject Guitaristsguitarist articles

United States: Texas Low‑importance

	United States portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject United States, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of topics relating to the United States of America on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the ongoing discussions. Template Usage Articles Requested! Become a Member Project Talk Alerts United StatesWikipedia:WikiProject United StatesTemplate:WikiProject United StatesUnited States articles
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.
	Texas portal This article is supported by WikiProject Texas (assessed as Low-importance).

Houston (inactive)

This article is within the scope of WikiProject Houston, a project which is currently considered to be inactive.HoustonWikipedia:WikiProject HoustonTemplate:WikiProject HoustonHouston articles

Pictures

Why no pictures of him? -John
--63.226.131.73 at 16:05/06, 15 February 2007

Appearances in other Media

Missing The Back to the Future 3 Cameo --83.104.138.141 03:32, 19 May 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It was Dusty Hill on the Drew Carey Show, NOT Billy Gibbons. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM33id-8e08 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.164.248.74 (talk) 21:01, 26 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Billy Gibbons and other ZZTop members were guest voices on King of the Hill- Hank Gets Dusted. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0995437/fullcredits#writers 99.70.120.93 (talk) 02:59, 16 November 2010 (UTC)maxfan[reply]

Soundcheck Legend

For years, it was rumored that ZZ Top used the Hirsch Memorial Colisium in Shreveport, LA to baseline their sound system before going on tour. As the story goes, Hirsch Colisium had the worst acoustics the band had ever experienced and believed if they could get the sound right in Hirsch it would be great everywhere else. Is there any truth to the legend?
--71.252.232.37 at 06:02, 19 May 2007

Technique

The article states that: "He is known to play his guitar using a quarter or a peso as a pick, lending a distinctive sound to his playing." Whilst this is true, shouldn't it be mentioned that a far bigger contribution to his sound, is his heavy use and mastery of pinch harmonics? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.228.208.191 (talk) 15:41, 24 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Equipment

billy gibbons did not run 4 nanoheads together They were 4 bixonic expandoras he called it the 'lap dog of distortion' —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.0.25.230 (talk) 06:05, 14 December 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Guacamole Recipe

I've tried searching for his "Renegade Guacamole" recipe. Does anyone have an online link to it? I tried finding the cooking TV show with Farrah Fawcett and him referenced in the Wikipedia page, but I can't find it either. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Blackjackdavid (talk • contribs) 08:31, 28 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Billy gave the recipe and demonstrated making it during his episode of Live at Daryl's House.

I found the episode on YouTube (with a Palladia channel watermark) at the following: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQmuibsXoDM. The recipe is displayed onscreen at 50:13 in the show.

BILLY'S RENEGADE GUACAMOLE

Avocados (1 per person)

Limes (1 for every 2 avocados)

Onions, chopped

Tomatoes, chopped

Red or Green Bell Peppers, chopped

Cliantro

Smoked Paprika

Cumin

Coarse ground salt and pepper

Homemade ketchup

Queso

Hot Sauce

Nymatis (talk) 04:01, 13 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Private Life

There is absolutely no mentioning of his civilian life... family, friends, hobbies etc.? I saw him and ZZ Top in Finland (Järvenpää Blues) in 2010 and he was absolutely masterful in his trade. A real entetainer.Would like to know more about him as a human being. Any links? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.112.95.240 (talk) 07:24, 11 July 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Tall Tales vs Authoritative Sources

Mexican peso as a pick? In an interwiev in Guitar Player mag mid-80:s Gibbons stated that he used a peso for a pick. In the same interview he also claimed that he made his own strings, out of melted Cadillac bumpers. Typical Willy G. humour. I don't think Gibbons really uses a peso for a pick. The strings wouldn't last a concert if you played with a coin. Or is there a source...?
Holder of 9 US Patents? I searched the US patent database and found nothing on Gibbons. Source? If this is true it would be most interesting.
84.216.56.70 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 19:24, 11 July 2010 (UTC).[reply]

I spent a lot of time working with Gibbons in the early 80s and I never saw him use a peso, it's a joke. Please understand that Gibbons loves to make up stories, and does it on the fly. It doesn't matter who I am, just read Dave Blayney's book "Sharp Dressed Men" about Gibbons and ZZ Top. David Blayney was with the band for 15 years, was their very first roadie, was their stage manager in the early 80s. Blayney confirms constantly in his book that Billy tells tall tales and makes stuff up. I knew Blayney, and I'm in the book too, but don't worry about who I am. This note I'm writing is to give all of you some solid and upstanding sources of information which are so desperately needed the hodge-podge of wikipedia. David Blayney died a few years ago, but his book is very informative and reveals that so much about what is written about Gibbons is BS. People just love to make crap up about whatever, Billy does too. Yes, far too many wiki writers just generate piles of useless BS for plain ole folks to read, not needed, life is too short. Anyway, David Blayney knew better than anyone, so did I. Read Blayney's book for info and reference. Don't go writing stuff if it's just hearsay. What good is that? Also, you should read Deborah Frosts book "ZZ Top - Bad And Worldwide", Deborah Frost was a writer for Rolling Stone magazine and she did exhaustive interviews with ZZ and friends for her book. I knew Deborah Frost and I'll never forget how pissed she was at a point in time when she found out that Billy had told her some tall tales during an interview. While you're at it why not read the book TRES HOMBRES - THE STORY OF ZZ TOP By DAVID SINCLAIR a writer for the Times Of London. He interviewed many folks too, a real writer. Everyone just cherish the truth once in a while, seek the truth, you'll be better for it. I'd love to see Wikipedia eventually become somewhat accurate. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Texasman444 (talk • contribs) 20:09, 19-24 February 2019 (UTC)

Suggested Improvements

Things that would make the article better: Present family (if any) I've heard he is educated priest and have the right to marry people in a number of states (if this could be verified.) Reverend Willy G. //Erik 84.216.56.70 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 19:24, 11 July 2010 (UTC).[reply]

Gun accident?

Didn't He accidently shoot himself in the foot? Late 80s early 90s? Anyone know?76.246.235.134 (talk) 00:51, 13 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

No, that was Dusty Hill, who was shot in the abdomen when a derringer pistol kept in his boot accidentally discharged. 16th December 1984, I think. 178.102.7.93 (talk) 02:40, 22 January 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Thank You. You are correct...my fault76.246.235.134 (talk) 00:49, 29 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Early Life

Billiy grew up in Tanglewilde, not Tanglewood. Just a minor correction. MH441967 (talk) 23:18, 6 September 2011 (UTC)MH441967MH441967 (talk) 23:18, 6 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Singing

The citation used to support Gibbons having a Four Octave Range was probably never up to Wikipedia standards, being an item in a foum post. With that having been said, the link for the citation does not retrieve supporting information and may be obsolete at this point. A better citation is needed. Frank Lynch (talk) 17:22, 30 June 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Genres

Should we add "heavy metal" to his genres? ZZ Top do have some heavy metal songs like "Beer Drinkers". Also psychadelic rock with the Moving Sidewalks. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.81.33.59 (talk) 04:37, 20 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]

External links modified

Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified one external link on Billy Gibbons. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:

Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20110820095601/http://m.misprintmagazine.com/post/3504680745/5th-annual-misprint-beard-and-moustache-contest-results to http://m.misprintmagazine.com/post/3504680745/5th-annual-misprint-beard-and-moustache-contest-results

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

This message was posted before February 2018. After February 2018, "External links modified" talk page sections are no longer generated or monitored by InternetArchiveBot. No special action is required regarding these talk page notices, other than regular verification using the archive tool instructions below. Editors have permission to delete these "External links modified" talk page sections if they want to de-clutter talk pages, but see the RfC before doing mass systematic removals. This message is updated dynamically through the template {{source check}} (last update: 5 June 2024).

If you have discovered URLs which were erroneously considered dead by the bot, you can report them with this tool.
If you found an error with any archives or the URLs themselves, you can fix them with this tool.

Cheers.—InternetArchiveBot (Report bug) 02:47, 26 May 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Press Release?

The comment allegedly said to Billboard magazine "It's not an overstatement to say that writing a song with John Fogerty is a genuine bonus. It's fair to say that John and I are both pumped about our collaboration and we think this new one called 'Holy Grail' holds true with some great storytelling and some solid guitarist movin' the number right along. It begs a shout of, 'Turn it up!'" appears on the websites of dozens of magazines. It's clearly not in Billy's 'voice' and has every appearance of being written for a press release by a second-rate copywriter. I mean, do we need this sort of junk on Wikipedia? Stub Mandrel (talk) 20:26, 24 December 2018 (UTC)[reply]

"He is also known as The Reverend Billy F. Gibbons"

Why?? In the Church of ZZ-Top, or what? Please add some back-story for this to the article.
Additionally: For nit-pickings's sake: On his signature guitar strings and picks, which are branded "Rev. Willy's Mexican Lottery" by Dunlop, he is obviously referred to as "Rev. Willy".
--BjKa (talk) 15:15, 17 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

One year later, but maybe it's because he's an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church Ministries? [1] Snograt ^{talk here} 16:17, 17 June 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Story behind his Bamileke hat from Cameroon

Posting this story because it disagrees with the statement in the Personal life section: During a visit to Vienna, he met the chief of the Bamileke people from Cameroon, with whom he traded the hat for the cap.[⁴¹]. Since Billy Gibbons has a history of telling tall tales I didn't know if this new source should override the current statement.

The following was posted at https://www.iheart.com/content/2021-05-24-billy-gibbons-tells-the-story-behind-that-strange-hat-he-always-wears/

During a recent conversation with Q104.3 New York's Jim Kerr and Shelli Sonstein, Billy was asked about the unusual grey woven hat that's capped off his iconic look for the past two decades at least.

"These are examples of works of fine textile expertise, woven by members of the famous tribe from Cameroon in Africa, the Bamileke," Billy explained. "Before you can wear the hat, you've got to learn how to make it. And before you can wear it, you've got to be considered a prestigious member of the community.

"I got lucky and upon visiting Cameroon, I got escorted over to see the Bamileke and I was wearing a Texas cowboy hat. And before the chief came around, I got the elbow and they said, 'Hey that's the chief. Give him your hat.' I said, 'No, wait a minute. Chief, I'm from Texas. We do a little horse trading on these matters...' (Laughs) So he got a nice 10-gallon Texas hat and I walked off with the famous Bamileke hat." Nymatis (talk) 04:12, 13 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]