Billy F Gibbons: Rock + Roll Gearhead [Hardcover]

Billy F Gibbons (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2005

Imagine stepping out of an air-conditioned Kwik-E-Mart and into the hot summer sun, cold soda in hand, when a long-and-low baby blue ‘62 Chevy Impala slowly trolls into the parking lot. How about rolling to a stoplight in West Hollywood and spying a bearded motorist with an 8-ball logo on the louvered and striped hood of his BMW? There’s no mistaking the common thread in these remarkable scenarios—Billy F Gibbons, be-shaded axe-man extraordinaire from ZZ TOP and certified Texas Grade-A gearhead. As with many rockers, Gibbons’ jones for hot rods and customs is the stuff of legend. But beyond this bona fide bluesman’s mastery of the six-string and unrepentant love for internal combustion is a noted collector whose own designs have manifested themselves in his cars and in hundreds of mind-bending custom guitars. In Billy F Gibbons: Rock + Roll Gearhead, Gibbons riffs on his Texas youth, four-decade recording career, and life on the road, but also reveals the tales behind dozens of guitars, including the Famed Pearly Gates, the red Gretsch given to him by Bo Diddley, and the Muddywood guitar commissioned as a fundraiser for the Delta Blues Museum. Also profiled are 10 of Gibbons’ outstanding rods and customs, including Kopperhed, CadZZilla, and the Eliminator coupe. In addition to exclusive photography by Bay Area shooter David Perry, the book is illustrated with dozens of images from Gibbons’ personal archive.

Editorial Reviews

Review

New York Times (Automotive section), June 4, 2006

“This personal album of notes and images transcend the private, because Mr. Gibbons’ private obsessions are so widely shared. His patronage of custom car builders like Boyd Coddington and Pete Chapouris is a public service.

 

"The cars and music are part of the same enterprise: creating a shared landscape of mind, a fantasy land where Mr. Gibbons’ music provides a soundtrack for imagined journeys in fantasy cars. Many will be happy to ride along.”

Road and Track, May 2007 
“The book [Billy F. Gibbons] is a fascinating look at the history of a great band and Gibbons’ life-long twin passions. His design flair and ample funds have produced a long series of hot rods."

New York Times, Nov. 10, 2005

“In addition to the hundreds of guitars he has acquired, Mr. Gibbons has a celebrated stable of hot rods and custom cars … Both collections are chronicled in the just-published Rock & Roll Gearhead. It’s a combination memoir, band scrapbook and catalog of his favorite autos (including the ‘CadZZilla’ and the ‘Slampala’) and six-strings (like the cowhide-covered Fender and the Gibson in the shape of Texas) … ‘Rock ’n’ roll and automobiles have always had this synergistic connection,’ Mr. Gibbons said. He will be signing copies of the book on Monday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at the Barnes & Noble store at 555 Fifth Ave.”

From the Inside Flap

Now available in a compact, econo paperback! Rock legend Billy F Gibbons throws wide his studio and garage doors for a tasty sampling of his exquisite vintage and way-out custom guitars, as well as his most influential hot rods. On each lavishly layered page, the Good Reverend Willie G is revealed to be not just a bluesman extraordinaire but a top-notch design mind and a certifiable hepcat gearhead. Backing up these credentials is some of the baddest gear on Planet Earth. From the mythical '59 Les Paul 'Burst known as Pearly Gates and the Furry One, of MTV renown to such lowdown pavement shakers as the Eliminator Coupe, CadZZilla, andKopperhed, more than four dozen guitars and ten cars are expounded upon by da man hisself and depicted in specially commissioned color photography from Bay Area ace lensman David Perry. And while BFG's cars 'n' guitars are the stuff of legend, no less intriguing are the tales behind his incredible music career--from teenage Houston garage rock, to Texas psychedelia, to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the whole back story is laid down between these covers, told in BFG's own words and illustrated with images from his personal archive.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Motorbooks; 1st edition (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760322694
• ISBN-13: 978-0760322697
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 10.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #393,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Rev Speaks, October 15, 2005

By 

Clayton S. Gregory "Clay G." (CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Billy F Gibbons: Rock + Roll Gearhead (Hardcover)

Billy Gibbons, the spiritual leader of ZZ Top, is finally getting the recognition he deserves. He has always had the respect of the music community however the secretive nature of his long time manager, Bill Ham, has presented Billy from really streching outside ZZ until recently. In the past year Billy has guested on albums by Les Paul, BB King, Queens of the Stone Age, Nickelback and Vivian Campbell. He has also appeared in videos by Tim McGraw and the QOTSA. Now he is releasing an autobiography. Let me say that this book is outstanding. It's a handsome coffee table sized, hard cover. Each page is well thought out with terrific pictures in interesting locations. The book is split into 3 sections. The Life, The Cars and the Guitars. My only very slight disappointment is with the life section. Billy mostly recounts the stock tales he has been telling over the years. Not much new is revealed for the true fan. The sidebars with his favorite custom guitar and car builders is a nice touch. The real fans will however love the sections on his guitars and cars. The photgraphy and quick commentaries are are joy to behold. I'm sure I'll be pulling this one off the shelf for many years to come. My only question to Billy - whens volume II coming? Thanks Billy - awesome job.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for the Guitar Junkie, or Top fans alike, November 7, 2005

By 

D. A. Kuntze "[e-mail]" (Dallas,Tejas!) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Billy F Gibbons: Rock + Roll Gearhead (Hardcover)

I Just received this oversized hardbound treasure and four hours later, yeah, i'm still drooling over it... Folks, you wont be disappointed. I'll break it down for ya'll:

Rev Billy produced a gem of a book for ZZ Top fans, Hod Rod addicts, and vintage/custom guitar junkies. Broken down into these three sections respectively.

Expect to find an in-depth historical of the band, by the man himself, which covers the group's earliest gigs to the latest release, post superstardom. BFG's storytelling is genuine. Not to mention that its packed with documented proof, lots of vintage photos, and momentos alike.

Hot Rods and customs are offered up in oversized and vivid photography, in outstanding backdrops, and dished up with plenty of..um, eye candy.

The reverend has, undoubtedly, a collection of the rarest guitars in the world. Sixty plus pages of road worn vintage axes from Gibson, Fender, Gretsch and others. (Hey, where's the amps?) Hoards of wild custom axes too. VERY Nice.

Mandatory education for guitar gearheads, and some fine machinery to boot. Five stars!

[...]

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's Finger Pickin' Good, March 30, 2007

By 

Wes S. "Wes S." (Manhattan Beach, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Billy F Gibbons: Rock + Roll Gearhead (Hardcover)

I just saw Billy and the boys at the Bell County Expo Center in Texas last week, and they rocked the house like they were 20 year-olds. When I flew back home to California, I had this book that I'd ordered a week earlier on my doorstep. It has lots of great photos and is an easy read.

Billy starts out writin' like a good ol' boy but includes some of them ten dolla' words eventually. He reminds me of my cousins, who always try to fool the city slickers into thinkin' they's just some country hicks but end up with most o' the chips.

Billy's living an interesting life, and he knows how to tell about it quickly, without bogging it down. In short, it reads kind of like a ZZ Top song.