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
Thrive & Inspire: Creating ’Something Bigger Than Ourselves’ Drives Gooch and Pappas of RYDE

Ashley Gooch and Andrew Pappas, Co-Founders

WHAT INSPIRES YOU as you grow RYDE? The RYDE community and our team inspire us every day. The goal from the start was to create something that is bigger than ourselves — our community is just that. We want to push the limits of what a fitness experience can be. Our new Heights studio is a testament to that commitment, offering a high-energy indoor cycling experience in a stunning space. RYDE Heights opens in April, exactly eight years after our first location opened on West Gray in River Oaks.

Keep Reading Show less

The Rusty Parrot's courtyard

THE CLUES ARE there from the start: The Jackson Hole airport entrance is marked with an iconic arch made of elk antlers. The airport-transfer driver has binoculars perched on his dash. And the famously jagged Tetons immediately beckon on the picturesque drive to the lodge.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places

The lobby of The Thompson in Austin

AUSTIN’S HIP, TWO-YEAR-OLD Thompson hotel is offering a festive and oh-so-cool way to celebrate the holidays with their 12 Days of Thompson. Held at the design-y hotel, each weekend features jolly events to countdown to New Years.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places