Billy Gibbons can remember exactly when his life in music truly began: Christmas Day 1962. He was 13 and "the first guitar landed in my lap," Gibbons says, a fond smile breaking through his trademark beard. "It was a Gibson Melody Maker, single pickup. I took off to the bedroom and figured out the intro to 'What'd I Say,' by Ray Charles. Then I stumbled into a Jimmy Reed thing." He hums one of the legendary bluesman's signature licks. "He was the good-luck charm. I'd play Jimmy Reed going to sleep at night — and in the morning."
Billy Gibbons on "Red House" by Jimi Hendrix: A buddy said, "There's a song that you oughta hear." He was talking about "Red House," by Jimi Hendrix, and that completely turned us upside down. It was blues taken beyond. Then the Sidewalks got hired to join the Experience tour in 1968. We didn't have enough material for 45 minutes, so we started doing "Purple Haze." I looked over and Hendrix was in the wings, wide-eyed, grinning. We had seen his showman antics from older blues guitarists. But he had a vision and aura. I remember him tiptoeing across the hall at the hotel: "Come in here. Do you know how this is done?" He was learning chops off Jeff Beck's first record, Truth.
Source: Billy Gibbons: My Life in 15 Songs / Rolling Stone - David Fricke
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