3 Billy Gibbons Licks From 1980

[@bluesbubba7429]

I talked with Billy on the phone back in 1990, he was in Palm Springs at the local rock station. I happen to live the town over from that disgusting place. They took calls and I was the first one to call in. I talked to him about amps, pinched harmonics and Mexican Pesos if you get my drift. He was so cool and friendly, and he talked for a while. He has a place down here and you run into him from Guitar Center to the hardware store. Yes, he's quite approachable.

[@uncleremus5046]

I’ve never found anything better than Tres Hombres & a cooler of beer. Legendary riffs, phrasing, & music. Like always 🍺’ski, great lesson!

[@strat0871]

"Have you seen us, uncle Remus" ;)

[@uncleremus5046]

@ Biguitar, yes I have & u look pretty sharp in those clothes!👍

[@MrTortureneverstops1]

@@uncleremus5046 Unless we get sprayed with a hose

[@hortyist1]

I think I just figured something out here..... Biguitar, Uncle Remus, zapthefab...Tres Hombres, ZZ top lesson......hmmm

[@bklyncosanostra]

Les Paul players definitely drink way more beer than Strat players

[@jamesmorgan2064]

Great lesson. Teacher extraordinaire

[@HEADBANGRR]

I've seen ZZ Top live so many times, I lost count

[@if6turnedouttobe9]

Right on HEADBANGER...19 times here...I'm 55...

[@paulcowart3174]

I saw them in 73 I day saw cause you couldn't hear them First band up at a stadium w Deep Purple headlining w five other bands

[@danieldebiaze9379]

WHAT A GREAT TEACHER YOU ARE MY FRIEND§§§ THX 4 THOSE GREATS licks§§§ CHEERS§

[@63mckenzie]

Deguello is one of my favourite albums. Gibbons' guitar paying on it is sublime.

[@voronOsphere]

Frank Beard's whacky drum beat in "Manic Mechanic" is soooo cool!!!!

[@briankierans2926]

Totally agree. Its just incredible.

[@mikemaxwell1801]

I agree, I so remember when that record dropped, I couldn't get enough. And in fact fellas, I do like! Deguello = Do You Like

[@acsoul1]

Dude I swear to god if you had a hour long podcast where you just did player studies and talked about what makes guitar hero’s tick I would listen to every single episode regardless of if I’ve ever heard of the player. I love how you dive in.

[@kingbrutusxxvi]

This post reminds me of when I first heard "My Head's In Mississippi". I thought the riff was a little too simple and boring compared to "La Grange", "Tush", etc., etc.. As I've gotten older I realize how much nuance there is and the true genius of Billy's playing. Those tiny little half bends and using vibrato on just one string in a chord. Little things you don't even realize you're hearing unless you hear someone else try to play it with his tricks and technique. So underappreciated. Another great post, David. Stay safe everyone. Cheers.

[@dumitriudragos7170]

I keep in my car the orignal cd "One foot in the blues".My head's in Mississippi" is one of the most played.Love this music line...

[@dougfa3515]

@@dumitriudragos7170 Great CD... I have it as well.

[@jaorte10]

I've met Billy, Dusty and Frank several times. My friends from Tejas. Thx for the licks.

[@captainsouth4460]

Tejas is a KILLER Album. Spun the hell out of when it was released and learned most of the songs.

[@Gtownblues555]

Bought their albums from “First” to “Tres” without initially knowing their music when I bought 6-7 albums a paycheck. Loved the “other” Brown Sugar and Arrested For Driving While Blind, wore the grooves off them all! Texas Blues RULES!!! Love your channel.

[@jimmydunn3519]

My first concert was back in the 70's & it was the ZZ TOP Fandango tour at Market Square arena, which doesn't even exist anymore! I started playing guitar a few years before that, I couldn't believe my eyes and ears when they opened with, Get High Everybody Get High! I was absolutely hooked! I have been rock'n out ever since! Now at, and I can't believe I'm say'n this, 60 yrs old, I can tell you, we all are so lucky to have this kind of help w/learning more licks & playing better! I wanna thank you brother, for your time & sharing what you know! They were BADASS'S then and they still are!!!! Rest in peace Dusty & thank you for a lifetime of awesome music!!!! Cheers with beers!!!! ...JD🍻

[@beerbikesandblues]

I do nearly all my playing in the midnight hours. Subscribed.

[@jasonroberts3353]

i just cant stop watchin the 1980 live version of tube snake boogie !, it so rocks!, i'd love to be able to play that!.

[@tat2dlukydevl]

Another great video ! Thanks for sharing. peAce

[@ProbableCauseBluesBand]

You’re a fantastic teacher! 👍🏻

[@markbaird2657]

Deguello - changed my life. Thank you! Awesome lesson!!

[@williamsporing1500]

Saw that tour in Cincinnati. It was great! I was hesitant about going because I was at the concert before that, The Who where some folks died.

[@MT-or7lv]

More ZZ...yes! Thanks dude.

[@wulfenii64]

Well done. They were really at the top of their game in 1980.

[@mikemaxwell1801]

Yup, before Dusty bought that stupid synth.

[@wulfenii64]

@@mikemaxwell1801 a lot of bands did.....

[@rolfhauf4266]

Thank You, nicely done lesson with lots o‘ cool stuff to get under de Finger‘s🎸

[@jasonroberts3353]

oh wow, i absolutely love billy gibbons and zztop!, gutted about dusty, it's all iv'e ever wanted to play, since elimiator, i need you tonight, and you are awesome !

[@WesternFlyFisher]

Really love your playing and these excellent lessons!

[@RF944]

I seen the Top in 1980 the Deguello tour. I was in high school at the time, Great show from what I can remember!

[@PeterCardinal1]

Very cool licks, thanks for the breakdown.

[@markarita3]

Love me some Rev. Billy!

[@cupidstunt66]

Totally agree re. ZZ Top albums. Forget the 80s, it all happened in the 70s.

[@kiddcomet3563]

Always awesome 👍👍 thx

[@kimL93]

woah this is gold glad i found it

[@mikmadpro]

I see ‘Billy Gibbons Licks’, I watch, I absorb, I click ‘like’.

[@r.llynch4124]

Gibbons is my #2 just behind Mr Page. Great lesson and very cool licks, Thanks

[@michaelsingley5641]

My favorite 5 are...Jimmy Page, Mick Ralphs, Billy Gibbons, David Gilmour and the not mentioned enough Don Barnes, the other great guitar player from 38 Special besides Mr. Carlisi.

[@williamsporing1500]

Steve Howe, David Gilmour, gibbons, Hendrix, SRV….in no particular order lol

[@randyandamberthompson9972]

You make it look so easy.

[@crisprtalk6963]

When you're good you're good.

[@MichaelWilson-ri9pn]

Thanks for the lesson. Gibbons is a living legend. Im not sure you can find much live footage, but Jeff Carlisi from .38 Special would be a good one. His leads are tasteful, melodic, interesting and memorable. Thanks man

[@crashsvault]

wonderful video, thanks!

[@paulnoah5]

awesome lesson very informative Dave love Billy Gibbons first album got was Fandango

[@douglasadams6143]

Saw ZZ Top at the San Antonio Rodeo this year. What a show

[@gergemall]

Thank you so much

[@kennethbulmer8773]

Great lesson

[@ollid.5590]

Thank you for your lesson! I like how your connect topics like „the highway“ with previous lessons. 👍🏻

[@julianschulz1620]

Van Halen, Gibbons & Brewster: The holy trinity of twang

[@bertgetner9397]

Great lesson. Billy is awesome. He's got the ultimate rhythm section behind him. Hope you get to meet him someday.

[@alanstrickland1539]

Another ZZ top fan great video keep up the good work have learned a lot

[@ashthegreat1]

Conviction, authority and blues-energy... definitely the hallmarks of great guitar players.

[@mountain_girl]

I went off to college in VT in the midst of the grunge era, which was awesome and we loved a lot of that music. But we had this weird-for-the-time laser focus on all things that preceeded and influenced that awsome music. Our favorite sets included Just Got Paid and Chevrolet, Waiting for the Bus in to Jesus Just left Chicago....a bunch of Allman Bros, Albert Lee/Head Hands n Feet, old James Gang. I really think these lessons and the discussions that accomany them are both my favorite way to unwind with morning coffee ...but also important like....historical documents in a way? I dunno. I suck at choosing the right words in these contexts. I dig this channel. thank you.

[@joanaduarte5579]

thanks for your video!!!!

[@BB2446]

GREAT Lesson. Easy to follow...More fun to practice !!!!!

[@MrBluesgtr68]

Between this and Jeff McErlain's lesson on The Reverend Billy G, I'll be busy for awhile...thank you and keep up the great work you're doing.

[@9277707]

Subbed. Gotta say Thanks to you for bringing much needed attention & appreciation to Billy Gibbon's playing. I'm 67, and still use 'his style' & tone Alot! Even in church !

[@Dirtburglar254]

Wow! Thanks👍been doing Driving while blind lick wrong the whole time. Big Gibbons fan and have a ZZ tribute band as well.

[@duskokovacevic4497]

You're right, it is a magic!

[@luissaints7082]

Excelente obrigado !

[@gijslimonard6583]

Awesome vid, thanks 🙏🏻

[@Snostrebla1]

Billy was a HUGE influence on both Hendrix and EVH. Not a bad thing to have on your resume.

[@tomasvanecek8626]

He was NO influence on Hendrix. Rather, Jimi was more like his dad 😊 .. You know Billy plays Catfish at the beginning of Brown Sugar, dont you ? Few people do.. And exactly note for note the way Jimi did. Homage, you might say.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Yea, if you listen to interviews of Billy he does seem like a cool, sweet and lovely man. He's one of those people who demonstrates that compassion is strength. Even the lyrics he sings clearly show those traits.

[@mikemaxwell1801]

It's really quite sad now, thinking about the stories he and Dusty and Frank could tell, now missing a third of the amigos. The Rev Willy has now sold the Catalog, is on what I have to imagine is his farewell tour, thinking about Dusty every show. How do you call it quits after influencing a generation of blues guitar players?

[@brianruyack7632]

Could listen to that tone all day!

[@larryjohnson4503]

You nail the finger vibrato.👍🏻

[@AndalusianIrish]

Thanks so much for this Dave. I saw ZZ Top live in Dublin about two years ago and they were magic.

[@charlesolney2391]

I met Billy in Kansas City and yes, he really is super approachable! Really cool guy and was a main influence on me learning to play guitar!

[@joecole8658]

Great video!

[@richardsrensen4219]

i love ZZ top to this is så fresh still

[@GeoffSweet]

So awesome David, you've found my endless source of inspiration...so greasy and grimey...absolutely LOVE BFG!!! Pearly Gates is my #1 all-time favorite Les Paul! Cheers David, great stuff!

[@tilleydawg46]

ZZ Tops first album. One of my favs!

[@ivanscottw]

The first 6 where just magic !

[@richsadventures1889]

I yelled out (Mexican Black Bird) at a show when things were quiet for second. They played it.

[@voronOsphere]

This is totally gonna hit the spot! Thanks, David! I saw ZZ Top on the Afterburner Tour and they were fantastic LIVE performers!

[@PhotoTrekr]

You're right about how good their first albums were. But, what's really amazing is that they made it through the 'disco" era unscathed when a lot of bands didn't. And they are still going strong and sound as good as ever.

[@hansfreekit]

just re-discovering ZZ and Billy - overlooked it when I was younger - love his economy and whole sound - he's a born natural guitar player

[@barryhaynes103]

Great three for all ... I call what ZZ Top and AC/DC have ... synchronicity ... btw, you playing and commentary/story telling is exceptional

[@if6turnedouttobe9]

ZZ and AC/DC are two of my all-time favorites...

[@teddyoverbaugh1246]

Even your talking voice sounds like Billy. Love Rio grande mud myself. Great job

[@elunclesamprz5801]

Say man you really do a good job on explaining in detail what Billey Gibbons is doing,ive said this before and I'll say it again this guys are a 3 man band that sound like a 5 man band, Thier just that Little O'll Band from Houston Texas ZZ TOP ah haw haw haw haw,well said man the first 5 Albums where EPIC

[@neilsthepoet]

Thanks man

[@gergemall]

Love your videos man . 😊

[@edsmith238]

Thanks for the cool lesson. Brown Sugar is one of my favorites also.

[@John375PD]

Nice sounding Les Paul!

[@darinlapointe]

Deguello is my favorite. It was my first album. Got turned on to them by my Uncle… Loved the album cover.

[@stratman9449]

haha....WE'd all love to meet Billy Gibbons and have a "natter".....about rock and blues....and the "old" times....😅

[@robertgentry9436]

The first albums were killer. Was lucky enough to work at the studio where they recorded them at that time.

[@scoffmantx]

thanks for the lesson...could always use some more Billy Gibbons!

[@marcchabot3821]

Awesome look at Billy's playing. I remember seeing them on TV in France in 1980 and thinking "Whoa! That's so cool!!". On a side note, I had that same Star Wars wallpaper in my room when I was a kid! I even had my school textbooks covered in it!! :-)

[@azbluesdog]

Your "lot of respect" for Billy really comes through in this lesson. I was listening to ZZ Top's '70s stuff at parties back in the early '80s, around the time I picked up the guitar in high school. Eliminator came out shortly thereafter. Cover band material for years. Haha. Thanks for reminding me of my roots!

[@Craig_Fussell]

Love this lesson man! Billy Gibbons is one of my all time favorites! He is a groove master and his timing/phrasing is so cool. He knows right when to hit it hard and when to lay off...and his tone, well....😎🎸✌🏻

[@spwb2k]

Worthy!

[@kennyleejohnson5253]

Some great stuff !!

[@maglehammers6138]

Saw the 1980 Rockpalast concert on a small bw tv. Epiphany.

[@michaeltobin643]

Very cool, I wanna thank you...the Rockplast show these licks are extracted from was their first live appearance in Europe, period. It may seem strange in retrospect, but these were the days prior to their global success; they weren't really known outside the U.S., and really were only popular regionally here up until the Deguello album hit. Ride on, El Diablo!

[@johnhoward2687]

I actually just got the set of their 10 studio albums. Those first ones are very good. Been wearing them out. Lol. Billy’s great. Always trying to learn a ZZ Top song. Don’t know enough yet.

[@joelwallace7604]

ZZ Top is the ESSENCE of Cool! They are numero uno in my top ten.

[@DanFreeman723]

I claim Billy as one of my favorites. "Sharp Dressed Man".

[@darthdurkelthewise320]

Subscribed man! I’ve been going through a big Billy F. Gibbons phase as of late so I been learning and playing a lot of his stuff over the past several weeks. I found this by chance and incorporated your lesson too. To me, Billy is one of those players that doesn’t do something on guitar unless he has something to say. He is extremely economical as a player. And you’re absolutely right man, those 70’s records are stunners as far as guitar tone, his playing, etc. the band is great but he’s really on fire. He is a living legend and still not in enough “guitar” conversations IMO. There’s not a blues rock player worth their sweat alive today who isn’t influenced by Billy F. Gibbons. 🤘🏻

[@tomeast1578]

Loving your lessons dude. Your structure of talking the history, influences and approach of each player, mixed with the quality and concise explanation of each lick, is really comprehensive and enjoyable and I always learn something new. It would be great to see you do a “3 for all” on some of the underrated greats that I noticed you haven’t done yet, who don’t always seem to get as much props as they may deserve, like Joe Perry and Brad Whitford, Dave Navarro, Peter Green, Richie Sambora, John McLaughlin... Steve Hillage (of Gong) perhaps 😂 he might be a bit niche but that guy is a prog rock space god! Please keep up the truly awesome work and I hope you achieve great success with this channel and your playing! Rock on dude! 🤘

[@chriswritt729]

Billy is a solid dude and an epic player!!!

[@NicholasGnames]

lol bro you are an awesome teacher and seem like youd be a cool dude to hang out with. Ill be enjoying these videos. thanks!

[@keithraaum9559]

Another great lesson! Billy is definitely in my top 5 favorite players. I don't think he uses them anymore but back in the day he got that massive pick attack using a Mexican Peso coin kind of like how Brian May uses an old sixpence coin.

[@steveinmidtown]

"Arrested While Driving Blind" is a great steady rock groove.

[@mikmadpro]

The third segment with the G-minor box works with lead from Pincushion (first track) off the 1994 album titled Antenna. Get down, dirty, and bluesy, y’all!

[@aronkoppold3981]

I have the green album tres hombres love that album

[@TheBrightSounds]

absolutely agree.

[@jonaslundh8496]

Billy is legend but Your tone ain’t half bad aswell friendo! 🎸🎸🤟🏻

[@rudiger1337]

and he is playing on a behringer lol.. that tells me tone is in the fingers

[@paulcowart3174]

Indeed Goes to show Hone them chops to your faves

[@h.i.5333]

Great job as usual, and I especially love your vibrato! ✌️

[@mr.mckinnon5680]

I think some of the magic, that you were talking about on those first records. If I recall, Billy says all about the guitar that he was playing. Les Paul called Pearly Gates. I don't remember the year. But, he said that's the guitar that started off his affair with collecting. And it's mostly just used for recording now. Because he's also known for, all those different looking guitars that he plays. Mr. Gibbons has a real love affair with a rare and Custom guitars. Apparently, his guitar tech has the same love affair with guitars. And I believe, that was Dimebag Darrell's dad. But don't quote me on that. It's been many moons since I read that article. Great lesson. Love ZZ Top. Love them Texas Blues. Edit: the very next video that popped up after watching this one, you talked about Billy's equipment.