Rolling Stone: John Fogerty, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons Talk Upcoming Co-Headlining Tour

By Andy Greene

Just a couple of weeks ago, ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons visited John Fogerty at his Los Angeles home studio to discuss their upcoming co-headlining tour and jam a little. They started out by rocking out on familiar songs like “Fortunate Son,” “Tush” and “Bad Moon Rising,” but before the meeting wrapped up Fogerty played a brand-new riff and asked Gibbons to join in. “We went straight to work,” says Gibbons. “It was an exercise in just absolute joy.”

The untitled composition may be introduced into one of their sets on the Blues & Bayous Tour, which kicks off May 25th in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and wraps up June 29th in Welch, Minnesota. We spoke to Gibbons and Fogerty (separately) about their shared history, mutual admiration and what fans can expect from the tour. Hint: It includes a lot of guitar battles.

John, tell me your first memory of ever hearing ZZ Top.
Fogerty:
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen them live. I’ve seen them on TV a lot. I think [1973’s] “La Grange” is the song that first caught my attention. I remember that back then nobody had a beard beside Frank Beard. There was such a groove to that song, such a feel. A couple of years later, “Tush” came out. I remember seeing the ad for it in Billboard before I actually heard it, so that means they were already having some sort of success. A little later, there was a big tour where they had all sorts of barn animals onstage. Nowadays, you couldn’t get away with that. There would be an sort of animal-rights groups or something to stop you.

Billy, what struck you about Creedence Clearwater Revival when you first heard them?
Gibbons:
It was a fascinating juxtaposition of a band from northern California that played blues from the bayou and struck a chord that resonated throughout the rest of the country. I think it would be fair to say that the recordings that popped up in that auspicious time continue to resonate. There is something magical about what that sound contained and, of course, it would be fair to say that John Fogerty’s singing style is a gift from the heavens.

It always amazes me that their entire run was, basically, three years from 1968 to 1970.
Gibbons:
Isn’t that amazing? I can only compare it, perhaps, with the short run of Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, 18 months. There are very few examples of such timeless expressions that can lay claim to so-called “short-lived,” but can claim a lifelong run.

John, when did you first meet Billy?
Fogerty:
I ran into Billy down at the New Orleans Jazz Fest when they still had the boat. Somebody tapped me on the shoulder and I turned around, but I wasn’t quite sure. He said, “Billy Gibbons.” I went, “Oh! Where’s your beard?” He had a beard, but not the beard. He had tucked it into his shirt so it wasn’t a dead giveaway.

How did this tour come together?
Fogerty:
I’ve been wanting to kind of hook up with Billy or ZZ for a long time. I think we’ve traded emails. I ran into him down somewhere and I was playing and Billy was playing the next night. I had him come into my show and we did “Sharp Dressed Man.” It was a lot of fun. He sent me a couple of emails. I think he even gave me a CD or two that he labelled “Big Ol’ Blues.” There was a whole bunch of great old songs on there. We’ve been trying for a while and it finally has fallen into place, which I’m delighted about.

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https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/john-fogerty-zz-tops-billy-gibbons-talk-upcoming-tour-w517539

1 thought on “Rolling Stone: John Fogerty, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons Talk Upcoming Co-Headlining Tour”

  1. darlene howerton

    gosh visit Coeur d alene Idaho please ask john forgerty to join you he and I are born on same day he was at el patio state line Idaho ik was a cocktail waitress-dancer

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