ZZ Top buzzing into Santa Rosa

ZZ Top, the Texas trio known for weird beards and its own brand of buzz-saw rock and blues guitar, comes to play Wells Fargo Center for the Arts on Wednesday.

That means fans will get to see the band’s fast and furious guitarist, long-bearded Billy Gibbons, in action. As ever, he’ll be backed by bassist and singer Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard.

Gibbons, 65, the driving force behind “Sharp-Dressed Man,” “Legs” and other ZZ Top hits, took time recently for a quick email interview with The Press Democrat about his music, great guitarists and touring.

Q: What is your take on what makes ZZ Top unique?

A: ZZ Top is simply “us.” And, as far as we know, we’ve remained the singular “us” out there. This band is the combination that just worked from the very first day when we just put our heads together to keep on keepin’ on. It’s elemental in a sense and, then again, it’s all about them blues.

Q: How did your guitar style evolve?

A: There’s great guitar playing to be heard on so many of the astounding array of early blues records. They go straight to the marrow. The giant catalog assembled by Chris Strachwitz, with his Arhoolie Records, remains a gold mine of go-to, how-to stuff. Killer diller.

Q: Who are your guitar heroes?

A: Have to start with Jimi Hendrix, who did more with an electric guitar than anybody knew was possible. He was a guy with a very special gift and his legacy endures. Eric Clapton is another who truly impresses. His stinging leads and his tone are great. And, of course, our buddy Jeff Beck is someone we eternally look up to. He’s a scientist with a fretboard. B.B. King, so much economy. Freddy King, can’t forget “the Texas Cannonball.” These guys all paved the way for us mortals.

Q: Is there still anyone in music you’d still like to work with but never had the chance?

A: That’s an intriguing proposition, so we’d have to develop a “wish list.” Let’s see, we’d put Gary Clark, Jr. on it and The Black Keys and, maybe, Loretta Lynn. The possibilities are beyond tantalizing.

Q: What recording projects do you have in the works?

A: We’ve got an upcoming release of Cuban-influenced music, and us ZZ guys have something in mind that we’ll put down in the studio during the breaks. We did a fresh track for our buddy Mike Flanagan’s disc. He’s an Austin-based Hammond B3 organ guy who has definitely got his groove on.

Q: Are there different styles of music you want to add to your mix?

A: Whaddya got? Dub? Country? Hillbilly? House? We’re there!

Q: Can you name a song you would never, ever perform?

A. Glen Miller’s “Pennsylvania 6-5000.” It leaves one nervous that the number may have changed.

Q: How do you approach live shows compared to studio work?

A: Both stage and studio have levels of spontaneity. However, it’s live shows that are “in the moment.” So there aren’t second (and third, and 10th) takes, while studio sessions lean toward the result of some pre-planning. Our “Fandango!” album was studio tracks on one side and live stuff on the flip side, which led us to work both sides of the street.

Q: How many days a year are you on the road?

A: Maybe 2/3 of the year, something like 225 out of 365.

Q: What’s the one question you’ve always wished someone would ask you, but no one ever did?

A: “Hey Billy, would you like to be Keith Richards’ guitar for a week?”

You can reach staff writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com. Read his Arts blog at arts.blogs.pressdemocrat.com.