Billy Gibbons in a GTV

A thin-legged and aged figure stands in solemn light on the stage. His long white beard tucks into his cheap sun glasses as he hangs his head down. In his grasp is a Gibson Les Paul quivering with excitement. The drum beat kicks in, the lights go up, the base line follows in tandem and this guy, this frikken legend, looks up at us all and starts raping it. It’s Billy Gibbons and he is playing Foxy lady by Hendrx.

I grew up with Rock and Roll. From as far back as I can remember (perhaps this is why my memory stops here) my Dad lifting me up and saddling me to use as a guitar. His air guitar is epic. He would lift me up, go mental with the guitar solo and start head backing when the drum beat rolls in. “I’ve been driving all night my hand’s wet on the wheel” and I would run the background for him. “There’s a voice in my head that drives my he-eel” We would spin and give centre-stage to my sisters – “It’s my Baby callin’ says I need you he-eer”, go me again with the backtrack, and Kelly: “And it’s a half past four and I’m shifting gear”  go for shaken baby syndrome!

This was the scene at many a family get together. My Pops has speakers in every conceivable location so that no matter where you went you always had rock to listen to. Ok – well – my mother got her Abba and Blondie someone-or-other thrown in there as well as a peace offering. But, after the fourth beer, there was no stopping him. He would take his handkerchief out, tie knots in the corners and place it on the top of his head. This, if you ask anyone who knows my Pops, means it is on like a scone. Get in or get out. Fast.

It all makes me wonder if the calibre of music that we have today will stand the test of time? I mean will our children – or their children in actual fact – give a rat’s backside about Eminem? Ok – so perhaps Rap isn’t the most immortal of examples. Muse? Beyoncé? I just don’t think so. I mean look at it: We hardly even stick with them. After 10 too many beers we all revert back to older music,  the music of our parents. Ok, ok bar the mental raving music – that does tend to erase the requirements.

So, I remember sitting in the back of the Skyline listening to Van Halen, Loverboy and Tramp on the long road to Cape Town. Tucked in under the zebra stripe blanket heading through the Karroo at -3:00am. I remember the GTV was always the more fun rock like ZZ Top, Led Zep and ACDC as we headed our way to the Lowveld with the windows down. All of these memories came flooding back to me last Saturday as I stood at the Sun City dome watching the Kings of Chaos. It is sad they are limited to the songs that they are able to play, due to licensing and royalties I assume, but they guys really did squeeze in a few of the greats.

Axl Rose, Steven Tyler and Billy effing Gibbons all on the same stage playing Come Together by the Beatles. Just Epic.

 “We believed that anything that was worth doing was worth overdoing.”
Steven Tyler – 1990

“I’m not God but if I were God, ¾ of you would be girls, and the rest would be pizza and beer.”
Axl Rose of Guns n Roses – 1989

It's important to collect unusual characters. It keeps you sharp

Billy Gibbons - 1983

None of the artwork is mine, all from Mr Google. Also my grammar is terrible - please don't show my old english teacher.