“It’s such an odd twist away from the rock and blues sound that everyone knows ZZ Top to be,” notes Billy Gibbons of his debut solo effort, Perfectamundo, which hits the streets November 6. In this exclusive interview, the guitarist/vocalist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee explains the inspirations behind the new set, which definitely takes a different slant from what fans may be expecting.
Gibbons is backed by a handpicked group of musicians dubbed the BFG’s on this outing, and as the title may suggest, the album takes on a bit of an Afro-Cuban flavor (as he notes, half the record is done in “Spanglish”).
However, given Gibbons’s history, the effort makes perfect sense: In his youth, Gibbons studied Latin percussion in Manhattan with none other than its preeminent virtuoso, “Mambo King” Tito Puente, a friend of his bandleader dad.
For more information on Perfectamundo and to keep up with Gibbons’s schedule, check here.
Full story via Yahoo! Music