BILLY GIBBONS

You're really never know... This one was just found on my hard drive... Sometimes the most obvious things are the easiest to forget... Anyways, here's a cool brief interview with the Texas Tone King, Mr. Billy Gibbons! I guess I conduct this conversation some six years ago... What an honor... Billy is still the tastiest player on the planet...

ZZ Top celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2009, so this tour may be very special for you guys as well as for the audience. What could we expect from the upcoming european gigs? Any surprise in the setlist or new elements in the show?

We like to change things up in terms of repertoire so there are always surprises, especially for us!  We do all the ZZ songs you probably know but we like to throw in some other stuff.  We’ve performed Willie Brown’s „Future Blues” from the early 1930’s and Jim Hendrix’ „Foxey Lady” on occasion and sometimes we do „Viva Las Vegas” from the Elvis songbook.  You just never know.  We’ve got a great backdrop that a show in itself and we’ve got some fine looking technical support staff who are a pleasing distraction from the three of us when they come up on stage.  Like we said, always a surprise.

It's so weird that this li'l ol' band from Texas is still kickin' ass, as we witnessed on last year's incredibly spectacular Live From Texas DVD. How the hell you guys are so energetic after 4 decades in the showbiz?

You might find this hard to believe but we actually like playing our music for the people who come to see up.  We’ve been practicing really hard for 40 years and are bound to get better if we keep at for a a while longer.

You formed ZZ Top in 1969 along with Dusty Hill & Frank Beard. This line up has never changed over the years and the band never broke up. I can't imagine what's the secret behind this story of success - friendship, patience, or what?

We like to say it’s the three „it's”: tone, taste and tenacity.  All we do is try to have some fun and it seems to be working out.

During the seventies ZZ Top enjoyed major success in America - thanks to the band's bona fide classics like Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, Precious And Grace, Waiting For The Bus, and hits like La Grange and Tush, but you guys had to wait for the international breakthrough until 1983, when the multi-million selling Eliminator was released. Until that point ZZ Top was all about tube amps and fat Les Pauls, but with Eliminator the band added a brand new element to its trademark sound - the synthesizer. Could you remember who's got the idea to take this risky step forward? Didn't you afraid of losing fans because of that?

We’ve always loved to experiment and we bumped into some early synth machines down in Memphis and thought  we’d give it a try.  To our way of thinking, those contemporary noise making contraptions are just modernized Mississippi blues harps.

Soon after Eliminator the band became fashionable, Sharp Dressed Man, Gimmie All Your Lovin' and Legs were played heavy rotation by MTV. How do you remember that period of time, the "rock star" days of ZZ Top?

We still think of the stars of those videos to be the pretty girls and the cool Eliminator Coupe hot rod car.  We the ’innocent bystanders.’ And just as amazed as the viewers...!

Rumors can be heard that you guys are in the middle of the working process of the band's fifteenth studio record. Could you please tell me a thing or two about the new songs?

Working on a bunch of new songs during the current touring schedule has been fairly intense so we’ve spent mucho time to work them out for the studio.  Let’s put it this way, if you liked „Tres Hombres,” you’ll dig the next one.  More to come.

Production-wise most ZZ Top studio albums were done by yourself and/or Bill Ham, but right now the band is working with none other than legendary music producer Rick Rubin. Why did you guys decide to change the process this time and how did you hook up with Rick Rubin?

Rick has been a friend for a long time so our joining forces with him is a just a natural progression.  He certainly looks the part, we think...!

As a member of Moving Sidewalks, you have toured with Jimi Hendrix in the late sixties. Have you ever got a chance to jam with him?

Yes, we were privileged to exchange licks with him back then.  Wonderful guy who turned the world upside down with his sense of innovation and experimentation.  He was quite in conversation but more than made up for it on stage. In a word: fearless.

A few days ago I've seen when you guys jammed La Grange with Slash and John Mayer at the House Of Blues in North Hollywood. How often do you share the stage with somebody else?

It happens from time to time but not with a whole lot of advance planning.  We were a quintet that night which is a huge departure for a trio like us.  We had a great time with those two – rock’s ’odd couple,’ so to speak.

You got a huge collection of weird guitars. Which is your favorite and is there any totally useless amongst them?

We’ve got some in boxes that were shipped to us in the 1980’s that we’ve never unpacked so those would be in the “mystery” category – for now.  Always a chance we’ll dig in and see what Santa brought for Christmas 1988.  We’ve got a few shaped like racing cars and, of course, the furry ones look like a 60’s mod hairdo... Our all-time favorite is, of course, the renowned Pearly Gates, a ’59 Les Paul that sounds like no other. We have yet to find an instrument to equal its raw power.

Your Pearly Gates guitar is one of the most iconic axes in the history of rock. Could you please tell me the story how did you find "her"?

Years ago, we had a very vintage Packard car which we gave to a girlfriend who drove it to California to try out for a role in a movie. She got the part and we named that car „Pearly Gates” because we thought it had divine connection.  She sold the car and sent the proceeds from the sale back to us. The day the money showed up, a guy called to see if we were interested in purchasing a ’59 Les Paul.  Since the money that bought the guitar came form the sale of the „Pearly Gates” car, we named it after the source of the funds with which it was purchased.  It made divine music so the same totally fit. Try as we may, we haven't been able to find another guitar that sounds as heavenly."

ZZ Top has already played once in Hungary in 2003. Do you remember this gig?

Yes, of course. Great audience and we found out our tour busses were made in Hungary and we pretty much live in those when we're on tour.  It made our performance back then something of a homecoming for us.

MARCO IACOBINI (2014)

Please let me introduce a wonderful player from Italy. Marco Iacobini is currently one of the most exciting players out there in Europe. He's got monster chops, great sense of melody and strong songwriting ability. What else do we wish for?

1. Your new album is a great mixture of hard rock, funk and jazz fusion. What was your main goal, your initial vision when you started working on this record?

My first target, when I work on the new stuff, is always to write only good music. I spend a lot of time to write and arrange all parts of every songs. I'm not interested to follow an only one musical direction. I try to make all my best. I have a very personal approach to my music.

When I work on the first step of a new work, on the composition, I don't know if my album will go in the fusion style direction, or rock direction or jazz. I think that my musical vision is the crossing of all these musical styles.

2. Only a handful of players could successfully melt the above mentioned styles. Is it difficult for you or does it come from you naturally?

For me to try to melt all these styles is natural. It's my musical vision. I was raised with a lot of different musical influences: Classical music, Jazz, Fusion, Rock. So,  for me, is enough natural to write music full of elements coming from different musical styles.

3. As I listen to the record, mostly American players come to mind such as Andy Timmons and Neil Zaza. The calm and peaceful vibe of the guitar is similar to them. Do you feel the musical relationship with them?

I love both, Andy and Neil. Their music is one of my greatest musical influence. I appreciate the music of Neil from 20 years, he's a good player and fantastic composer. I'm very happy that him is endorser Carvin and I think that he deserve all his success. I have a great estimate for Andy, one of my favorite guitarists ever. His music is fantastic and he's a very versatile musician. I've seen him live in a lot of different situation, with his band, with Protocol, the project of Simon Phillips. He's always a super musician and a cool guy. I think that the most important thing that we have in common is surely the melodic phrasing. 

4. How could you describe your own playing style?

I don't know. I was raised listening a lot of different fantastic guitarists like: Steve Lukather, Eddie Van Halen, Greg Howe, Richie Kotzen, Yngwie Malmsteen, Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and many more. Surely my style has been influenced by their music. I think that a lot of elements coming from the music of each these players has influenced, in the prominent way, my guitar style. My favorite guitar player is Steve Lukather. I love his sound, his phrasing. But I have a different style from him, I have my personal style. But Luke is the King. ;-) 

5. How did you work out the solos for the songs? I feel serious theory behind them...

Yes, for me, the solo is one of the most important part of the composition. I write instrumental music, so, the solo is the apex, the highest point of the song and at the emotional level must communicate these kind of impact. In every song, fast, fusion or ballad.

6. You gathered an incredible guest line up for that particular record, Thomas Lang, Dave Weckl, 

Tony Levin, Mike Terrana, Carl Verheyen, Stu Hamm, Billy Sheehan and so many others were on board. Please tell us the stories behind their guest appearances!

About Tony Levin. The first time that I met Tony Levin was in 2006. I had the great pleasure to play as opening act at the first gig of the European tour for his Band. Was a great gig !!!! After, I asked for him to play on my album and Tony has been willing to play. He has recorded two songs here in Italy, one with bass and one with stick. He's a fantastic player and very kind man.

About Stu Hamm, I contacted Stu by email and he was immediately interested to play on my new album. He was here in Roma and he has recorded his bass on a lot of songs. The second time that he was here, he introduced me to Joel Taylor, Incredible drummer. One of my favorite drummer ever.

Mike Terrana is a great friend. I met Mike here in Roma during his clinic and I asked for him to play some tracks. He was immediately willing to play and after few weeks, he was in studio for the recording sessions. Fantastic drummer. We have played live together in december here in Italy.

Incredible sound. I'm sure that we will play again togheter live very soon.

Carl Verheyen is one of my mentors. I love his guitar style, his phrasing, his sound. I met Carl, few years ago in Rome, during his gig and after at NAMM show. He's a very kind person and incredible musician. We will work togheter again in the future.

About Billy Sheehan, I know him by his wife Elizabeth. She introduced me to Billy and he was interested to record one track on my new album.I would like to thank both Billy and Elizabeth for this great chance.

Dave Weckl is a good friend of my executive producer Francesco Desmaele. Dave has recorded on two tracks. Amazing drumming, great sound and fantastic playing. Dave is a great artist.

The first time I met Thomas Lang was when my friend Francesco Desmaele, a great photographer, told me that he was going to the U.S. to take some photo shots for Thomas. Muso is the label record owned by Thomas. At the beginning, I didn’t have an idea if Thomas was interested but after, he gave me a chance to sign a contract with his company. During the NAMM show of 2013, I met Thomas with his wife Elizabeth and I can say only that they are great persons and I would like to thank them for the incredible promotion of my new album. To work with them is fantastic.

7. Which songs like the most on the record?

I don't have favorite songs on my album. It’s very hard to say what song is my favorite. I love all songs in the same way. But the first song "The Great Rush" was great fun to record and maybe the song closer to my heart is the second song "Where The Angels Come Down " because this song is dedicated to my Grandmother, who passed away 5 years ago.

8. All the songs were written by yourself except 18F, which is Stu Hamm's composition. How did it end up on the album?

Stu has written this song and at the beginning, he was interested to propose this track to some his musicians friends in L.A. When he was in Rome, for the recording session of my new album, he asked me if I could be interested to play this song togheter in the studio. After the recording, during the listening, he asked me if i could be interested to put the song in my new album and I told him, yes, surely. 18F is the seat number that Stu reserves always on intercontinental flights.

9. You are endorsed by Carvin guitars. Please introduce your main instruments to us!

About my Carvin guitar, in May 2008, Carvin gave me the chance to build my custom electric guitar on my specs. My signature model. It was a great honor and pleasure for me to be an endorser of a great company like Carvin. With great support of Joel Kiesel and Alan Colquitt, I received the first prototype the first week of May 2008, after three months of hard work about designing and building. The guitar is a bolt-on plus, custom model, to my specs. The body is consists of two parts of wonderful swamp ash from Southern California with a quilted maple top, attached to a Hard Rock quarter sawn maple neck and bird’s eye maple fretboard. The electronics have been designed by Carvin, pick-up configuration H, S, H. Floyd Rose, with locking nut and sperzel tuners. Headstock reverse. Black hardware.
I was very happy and proud to play my custom guitar on my new album. The sound is cool, amazing, great feel, incredible playability and the look is wonderful. Thanks Carvin for having built, for me the best guitar in the world.

10. As I see the photos were made during the sessions, Marshall JCM 2000 DSL amps were used while recording. Are they your favorites?

Yes, I love the sound of Marshall DSL JCM 2000 1OOW.

But only the amps made from 1998 to 2000. The recent versions have a different sound. I don't like the new models. But I use a lot of different amps during the recording sessions. I was raised with Marshall amps. When I play Marshall, I'm at home.

11. What kind of amp settings did you prefer in the studio?

The set up of my gear for the recording sessions is not easy to explain. I use always my rack with CAE preamp and amp selector by Bob Bradshaw. With this unit I can engage and select my amps by foot controller via midi. Often, I use 4 different Marshall amps:

Marshall Plexi 1959 of 1971

Marshall Plexi 1959 of 1973 modded,

Marshall JCM 800 of 1982 modded,

Marshall JCM 2000 DSL 100 of 1998,

These amps are for crunch and lead sound. Fender Princeton Reverb for clean sound. Bogner Ecstasy 101B also for crunch and lead sound. CAE 3+ preamp modded SE by Bob Bradshaw for other sounds.

I use also Carvin V3 amp and VT50 amp. Like pedals, I often use the Visual Sound pedals.
Visual Sound is a great company made by great people. I love the Visual Sound pedals. I would like to thank my great friends Steven Bliss and Bob Weil for their incredible support and friendship. Thank you guys, you're very special people, always in my heart. I love the technology, but today, I'm not sure that all this new guitar technology is good for the creativity. I remember when with two pedals and one amp head, you could play a lot of great things. Now, If there are no good musical ideas, all this new guitar technology is nothing.

12. How about your pedal board?

I love the Visual Sound pedals. My favorite pedals like overdrive are Jekyll/Hyde and VSXO. I use also an Ibanez Tube Screamer TS9 of 1981 and Tim Pierce overdrive by J Rockett pedals. My favorite delay is the Visual Sound Dual Tap delay. Like chorus Arion Stereo Chorus vintage. Benrod Wave Box., T.C. Electronics Ditto looper. Garage Tone Oil can Phaser by Visual Sound. Jim Dunlop Cry Baby custom mod. Visual Volume by Visual Sound. Only George L's cable. Visual Sound or MXR/CAE power supply. Pedaltrain like pedalboard.

Check out Marco at: www.marcoiacobini.com