Billy Gibbons' 'Pearly Gates': A Short History

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I love a good guitar story, and this is one of the best!
Enjoy!
Keith

[michaelr.]

It seems as though Billy Gibbons has done a good job at remaining 'normal', despite how much success he has achieved. That is rare.

[chriss]

Someone I know got their hands on Pearly Gates recently. He is good friends with Billy G who showed up at his house one day with a battered old Gibson guitar case in hand. My friend invited him in and asked what was in the case. Oh "just some old Gibson" was the answer. One of the 38 or so old LPs that Bily owns thought my friend. Guitar comes out and my friend gets to plug in and play. After a few minutes he asks Billy what the story is with this one. "That's Pearly Gates" comes the answer. My buddy then realizes he's holding a guitar that is insured for $5 million and is a little speechless!

[paulcoleman]

"It's not perfect science, but it's guitar-player science so it works." My quote of the week! Great stuff as usual.

[angusorvid]

The Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates is one of the finest buckers ever created. It was designed to capture to tone of the PAFs on Pearly, and it sounds amazing. George Lynch used to use one in his tiger stripe ESP/Charvel/"endorsement" strat. It's a very bright, sweet, hot pickup with a lot of sustain and harmonics all over and an alnico 2 mag. I highly recommend it. Billy has also played Gretsch lately along with Magnatone amps. The man doesn't sit still. A lot of guitars, a lot of amps. But Billy knows what he likes and he always sounds like Billy.

[rumpelstilzchen]

Never say never, because on the internet you just never know who is watching and digging your stuff. Great video, Rev Billy we all dig your stuff. Thank you for all the great memories.

[crowhaven]

Great video. I got to see ZZ top in 1971 at the UNM student union ballroom. A tiny venue, and no one had heard of them yet. No hat, no beard, just Billy with Pearly Gates. The tiny venue (we sat on the floor with maybe 100 -125 people) made it personal. . They blew us away. Astonishing showmanship even back then.

[HickStomp]

"Heard It On The X" is a little rock and roll history lesson about the way outlaw rock was broadcast back in the day..."Fool For Your Stockings" is one of the best slow blues jams the fellas have laid down. I was 14 when Fandango was released...no doubt about it, I swallowed the hook. Great job as always, Keith!! Thank You!!

[whaguitars]

Billy's guitar solo on Rough Boy is one of my all time favorites. Those pinch harmonics! And guitar outro. Awesome!

[MLBuffalo]

That BFG is now in your contacts is simply bad-ass!
Good for you! It's a testament to the fact that the content you create is valuable, relevant and freaking awesome😎

[matthewmacdonald]

Always enjoy your videos but this one had me at hello... been listening to Billy and ZZ since I was a kid in the 70s, and I once delivered a pizza to Dusty back in the Eliminator days, may he rest in peace. Both of them are the real deal and fine examples of what it means to be a human being as well. Thanks, Keith!

[JoeSlay]

The Reverend is one of my very favorite guitar players, and quite the personality. While I have never met him, and old band-mate of mine did. He gifted me an Eliminator key ring that Billy Gibbons gave him. Even one degree removed from the man, I treasure it.

[CanadianExplorer]

One of the best channels out here, nothing like a little puff puff before watching or listening to a smooth voice on a Afternoon on a rainy day

[vsavage_old_rockerz]

till the end, we will chase that sound we seek!!!! love your videos. peace

[keithirtenkauf]

Keith, if anyone deserves to have Billy Gibbons on speed dial, it’s you! You and your friends are the real deal when it comes to electric history!

[foreigncorrespondent]

My dads old red pick-up truck was in one of their video's. It was in Waxahatchie Texas. In Gimmie all yer lovin. A lot of the crew used to hang out in that Petrol station.

[soapboxearth]

That guitar tech explaining how they eq the gear to sound like pearly, is now the bass player

[truthserum]

Yep, I’ve chased the dragon like Billy calls it for years, different amps, different guitars, a variety of pickups, strings, speakers, cabs, even cables, you name it, I ended up with a reissue 50 watt handwired plexi Marshall that’s been Jose moded and a Marshall slant top cab with Celestion Gold speakers, the guitar is a custom PRS single cut with a 58 neck and 59 bridge pickups, the tone is to die for……….

[timchalmers]

Thanks Jeff for the glorious tones and guitar work! And oh yeah, thanks Keith!

[pablowentscobar]

Awesome, my dad loved ZZ Top. One of the only bands that stuck with me through my brutal metal years. They would get jammed in between Slayer And Megadeth Cavity and Sleep Fistula and Grief Kyuss and QOTSA. From LPs to tapes to CDs to MP3s and back to LPs ZZ Top has been along for the ride.

[danstringer]

Thanks Keith for the great video. The music of ZZ Top is something i will always enjoy.