Hair to the Throne

Sorry James Harden, but you’ll never have the most famous beard in Houston. That honor belongs to the Santa Claus-like ginger waterfall on the chin of one Billy F. Gibbons, lead singer and guitarist of rock band ZZ Top. At 67, Gibbons is still a badass and, truth be told, he’ll probably die a badass … and a Houstonian.

A_Billy_Gibbons_in_Hawaii_Photo_by_Blain_Clausen

Sorry James Harden, but you’ll never have the most famous beard in Houston. That honor belongs to the Santa Claus-like ginger waterfall on the chin of one Billy F. Gibbons, lead singer and guitarist of rock band ZZ Top. At 67, Gibbons is still a badass and, truth be told, he’ll probably die a badass … and a Houstonian. Born and bred here, he’s perhaps the city’s most recognizable and long-lasting international star. Gibbons and ZZ Top still tour, and don’t spend a ton of time at home, but they will be playing the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo on March 22. Before you go, we’ll share a little trivia about the man behind the beard and shades. Can you spot which two of these three anecdotes about Gibbons are true and which is a lie?


1. He once had a brief stint as a rodeo cowboy, but quit after a run-in with a bull. He took his revenge by being a “happy carnivore” for most of his life, but recently went vegan for health reasons. “I also got over it all when I went ‘full Hemingway’ and ran with the bull in Pamplona.”

2. He got his first guitar, a Gibson Melody Maker, at age 14. Though his father was a pianist, Gibbons wanted to learn guitar because he “could just grab it and go.” He’s now so obsessed with guitars, he published a book, Rock + Roll Gearhead, about them.

3. He’s one of the top celeb classic car collectors in the U.S. and is famous for his several custom Cadillacs. One of them — a 1948 Cadillac Series 62, which he’s dubbed “The CadZZilla” — is a slick black shark of a car and is so iconic, it’s available as a toy model by Matel.

Uncategorized
Fall Philanthropy Report: Easter Seals of Greater Houston ‘Impacts Where People Need Us the Most’

What year was your organization launched? Founded in Houston in 1947, as the Cerebral Palsy Treatment Center, the organization provided services to individuals with disabilities living in Houston and Harris County. In 1989, the organization changed its name and greatly expanded its services to meet the needs of its clientele. Today as Easter Seals Greater Houston, the organization provides multiple outstanding service programs to children, adults, veterans, and service members with all types of disabilities and their families in Harris and sixteen surrounding counties.

Keep Reading Show less

You’ve eaten at Nancy’s Hustle, Tiny Champions, Better Luck Tomorrow, Milton’s and Lee’s Den. Now, you can explore the private warehouse of the design firm that created those spaces!

Keep Reading Show less

UPON ARRIVAL AT Maroma resort on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, a beautifully dressed attendant, briefcase and tablet in hand, ushers guests to their respective rooms. “Here’s your welcome amenity,” she says, gesturing to ceramic vessels on the coffee table with one hand as she completes the check-in process with the other. “It is tequila.”

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places