Billy Gibbons tells Les Paul the story of how he loaned out a Packard and got a Les Paul guitar!

First post of December, shows that some really odd old photos find their way to the internet

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=162733161351454&set=gm.1607142032765740&type=3&permPage=1&ifg=1

if you haven't seen the tv series Bones, you're probably not aware that Billy Gibbons is a recurring guest star. Season 5 episode 22, he helps steal the iconic red and white '32 So-Cal Speed Shop Special

The relevant part of the episode synopsis:

Angela's dad is back, and he needs help from Hodgins. (and that is all three of them above)

Billy Gibons (the father-in-law) lost a car in a high-stakes poker game and requested that his new son-in-law steal it back from the bikers who won it.

Hodgins tries to get to the car, but he finds Billy there instead. The whole thing was a test to see if Hodgins was worthy of being his daughter's husband. He and Hodgins steal the car

Billy offers Hodgins the car as a gift for passing the test.

http://bones.wikia.com/wiki/The_Beginning_in_the_End

What Cadzilla looked like before becoming a legendary custom

I've only come across Cadzilla in person once, at the NHRA museum

http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/01/cadzilla.html

ZZ Top album cover art by Barry E. Jackson

after doing some album art for Dio, Neil Young, and others, he was one of 3 artists chosen to spec work for Afterburner, and the band liked his work the most, so he got the job.

What was the inspiration for the image on the cover? Was the album title set in stone from the beginning of your time on the project?

The manager of the band, Bill Ham, told the record company he wanted their red hot rod, which had been featured on Eliminator, orbiting the globe. He wanted to convey the idea that ZZ Top was now an internationally known rock band. I think the drummer of the band, Frank Beard, came up with the name Afterburner, which is the hottest part of the exhaust flame on a rocket. I talked Bill into letting me do a larger and more elaborate version of the album cover than I had done for my first interpretation, and he agreed. I did an illustration nearly six feet long and three feet high for them.

Because I chose to do Afterburner three feet by six feet, it took two weeks. The manager was so happy with it he flew me to Houston to present it to the band personally. It went over great. I was a hero. They continued to use me for the next five years. I had a lot of contact with the band. Billy Gibbons even came over for dinner once.

He followed up with Recycler

http://popdose.com/uncovered-zz-top-afterburner/

when they were young

https://www.facebook.com/bigislandchopper?fref=nf

Just learned that the Discovery channel has a new show "Rockin Roadsters" with Billy Gibbons and Jimmy Shine

Teamed with professional hot rod builder Jimmy Shine, Gibbons is ready to “hit the open road in an impromptu search of the perfect fixer-upper.” You can watch a trailer for the show above.

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/billy-gibbons-starring-in-new-discovery-channel-series-rockin-roadsters/

The car wash in outer space, taking care of ZZ Top's Eliminator in the video "Rough Boy"

From the 1986 album Afterburner

the 1st album from ZZ Top to hit #1   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterburner_(album)

Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Vaughn.

Found on https://www.facebook.com/kuro.baztard

the latest Hot Rod of Billy Gibbons

Billy Gibbons latest hot rod at SEMA

ZZ Top and Impala

Found on http://selvedgeyard.com/2014/02/18/zz-top-the-moving-sidewalks-the-13th-floor-elevators-texas-music-legends/

the Rev Billy Gibbons

I've never seen this photo before, it might be an album cover

Found on http://shttyadvce.tumblr.com/

ZZ Top, Eliminator, Afterburner, Recycler.... damn, what a good run of album art and great rock and roll

a bit about the band and the car http://auto.howstuffworks.com/zz-top-eliminator-hot-rod.htm

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, not only changed to a recognizable hat from the African ashente, but has a new video "I Gotsta Get Paid" with 4 hot rods... one is a So Cal Speedshop hot rod that I found at SEMA

from the gallery I just posted a couple days ago: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2012/11/nice-hot-rod-i-didnt-see-anything-on-it.html

the above is the "Whiskey Runner" that Billy had the So Cal Speedshop make

 images from the So Cal Speedshop via http://www.rodauthority.com/news/so-cal-speed-shop-building-zz-tops-billy-gibbons-wiskeyrunner/

This video got me wondering about what is new in the BFG car collection, and I came across an online magazine I've never heard of http://www.powerblocktv.com/mag/index.php where you can read a long interview with videos where they talk hot rods with the force behind the cars you already know, (Eliminator coupe, Cadzilla) and some you haven't learned of yet

http://www.powerblocktv.com/magazine/index.php?pub=81067

here is a look at the other incredible coverage that Power Block magazine has had http://www.powerblocktv.com/mag/index.php

This post wouldn't have happened without George's point out that the car I posted a couple days ago was in the music video... thanks to George of dWrenched.com! 

A quick look at the Wally Parks motorsports museum

I've got no idea what a mini dualie tractor is doing here.

the famous TV Tommy Ivo t bucket with the one of a kind Von Dutch signature, I don't believe he signed anything else this way with the feet

Billy Gibbons Mexican Blackbird , last year in the GNRS http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/01/mexican-blackbird-t-bird-that-finally.html