Gibbons strums one for Hendrix pre-strip
BILLY F. GIBBONS didn’t play the famed Isle of Wight Festival in 1970. Jimi Hendrix did. But Gibbons played Hendrix’s guitar from the festival, last week on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
The Nov. 17 appearance was ahead of ZZ Top’s return to The Venetian Theatre from Dec. 3-10. The band is back with its current lineup of Gibbons; co-founder Frank Beard on drums; and Elwood Francis, the veteran guitar tech who has replaced original bassist, Dusty Hill.
Gibbons rocked Kimmel’s show with Hendrix’s Flying V guitar from the Isle of Wight performance just three weeks before Hendrix’s death. Gibbons joined Kimmel’s house band Cleto and the Cletones.
Near the top of the show, Kimmel asked Gibbons, “Is it true Jimi Hendrix gave you a guitar lesson?” Gibbons said, “Yes, he did,” and played the opening riff of “Foxy Lady.”
Kimmel then said, “Did your mom have to pay him?” Gibbons grinned and said, “Yes!”
The guitar was provided by Hard Rock International, flown in from the U.K. specifically for the occasion. As Kimmel mentioned, Hendrix’s 80th birthday is Nov. 27. He died at age 27 on Sept. 18, 1970.
Gibbons’ participation throughout the broadcast was also to mark the release of
“The Jimi Hendrix Experience — Los Angeles Forum, April 26, 1969.”
Gibbons attended that show, and wrote the liner notes for the album, remixed by Hendrix’s longtime engineer, Eddie Kramer. In his pre-zz Top days (there was such a time), Gibbons opened for Hendrix on several dates as a member of the band Moving Sidewalks.
Gibbons says the iconic Gibson Flying V sounded just right for Hendrix but was played upside-down by the left-handed legend. Hendrix also favored an upside-down Fender Stratocaster, which he also played at the Isle of Wight.
“Jimi played a right-handed guitar, strung up for right-handed playing,” Gibbons said in a phone interview last week. “He simply flipped it upside-down. So he was playing left handed on a right-handed guitar. There is speculation that, of course, that technique led to some of the unorthodox playing style that Jimi became so adept at playing, but is difficult to reproduce.”
There are no plans to tour this guitar. The 72-year-old rock legend has not yet said if he’ll break out the Flying V at the band’s next dates on the Strip. But “The Flying Venetian” would be a very cool experience.
Oscar dishes
The next Oscar’s Dinner Series, hosted as always by Oscar Goodman, is also the last of 2022. Wednesday night’s theme is ‘Odds & Ends. Short Stories with Oscar.” The former mayor of Las Vegas is touching on such topics as, “My Mother and the Mob,” “Frolicking in the Bathroom at Leavenworth Penitentiary,” and “The Real Relationship Between Sandy and Teddy.” The latter is a reference to Sandy Murphy and Ted Binion, and the famous Binion murder case.
Goodman encourages guests to ask questions. He’s into being cross-examined these days. Table reservations and related information are at plazahotelcasino.com.
Double helping at IAC
Vegas icons abound — abound, I tell you! — at Italian American Club this weekend.
Frank Marino’s “Divas Holiday Spectacular” is 6:30 p.m. (dinner), 8 p.m. (show) Friday at Italian American Club Showroom. This is Marino’s first performance since leaving “Legendary Divas” at the Tropicana on Halloween.
Sunday, it’s “Zowie Bowie’s” Christmas & Cocktails at 6 p.m. (dinner), 8 p.m. (show). Jaime Lynch is back, as are the ZB Showgirls and a 12-piece band. Go to Iacvegas.com for info.
‘Mavericks’ on pause
The inspired variety show “Mavericks” at Cheapshots Showroom & Discotheque on Fremont East is about to go dark for the rest of 2022 and into next spring. Saturday is the final performance of the year.
What will happen next? Creator Amy Saunders, stage name Miss Behave, says, “I don’t know!” But she promises surprises as the show is re-established in ’23.
The club will continue normal operations, it’s just the show that’s on pause. Similar to when Miss Behave plunges a sword down her throat, long pauses with no specific return dates make us nervous. But she knows what she’s doing. We have the faith.
Great Moments in Social Media
Find the D Las Vegas and Circa co-owner Derek Stevens grooving it up with Flo Rida, and several revelers in onesies, Wednesday night on the Fremont Street Experience’s annual “Drinksgiving” celebration. This is on Derek’s wife Nicole Stevens’ Instagram feed @dereksnicole, among other places. You could build a show around those moves.
A white wedding
The Clairvoyants, co-stars in the original cast of “America’s Got Talent: Live!” at Luxor, have announced they are more than stage partners. They are now married, having performed the ceremony at A Little White Wedding Chapel on Oct. 30. The entertainment pair of Thommy Ten and Amélie van Tass were runner-ups on on season 11 of “AGT.”
The event was a shock to the couple’s former cast mates at Luxor. Slam poet and season 15 champ Brandon Leake posted, “What?” on the couple’s announcement on Instagram. The whole thing was a secret, up until the couple honeymooned to Austria, to visit friends and family.
The couple has performed
500 shows with “AGT” in Las Vegas.
Cool Hang Alert
The raging, ’90s-era cover band Empire Records is at Chrome Showroom at 9 p.m. Saturday. Slamming set, great venue, no cover.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section.
His “Podkats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @Johnnykats1 on Instagram.