Monday June 30th, 2003

ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons revs up with Gibson Les Paul 50th Anniversary Corvette guitar

Legendary blues guitarist Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top showed off his musical prowess with a specially-designed Gibson Les Paul 50th Anniversary Corvette guitar Saturday, June 28 at The Coliseum in Nashville during the Chevrolet-sponsored Corvette 50th Anniversary Celebration concert. The guitar, crafted by Gibson's Custom, Art and Historic division, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the classic automobile.

Gibbons played the ramped up Corvette guitar during a raucous rendition of "Just Got Paid" from their 1976 album Takin' Texas to the People. At one point he stopped the band, saying "Let's take this baby out and open her up a little," and proceeded to play the dickens out of it, to the uproarious appreciation of the crowd.

The Gibson Les Paul 50th Anniversary Corvette incorporates key design features of the 2003 model, which the automotive press has called "The most magnetic Corvette ever." The top is custom-carved to re-create the Corvette's familiar side body vent. The top itself is rounded to match the automobile's shape. Additional features include the Corvette emblem inlaid in the fingerboard, the official 50th Anniversary badge from the car's fender and VIN-style serial numbers. The guitar finish matches the automobile's metallic 50th Anniversary Red finish and its vinyl case matches the 50th Anniversary Shale interior color.

Gibson guitars and Corvettes first came together on a Custom Shop model on the Les Paul '60 Corvette, which was introduced in 1995 and featured authentic colors from 1960 Corvettes. Later that year Gibson Custom commemorated the '63 Corvette Sting Ray on an SG-style guitar, with the top of the guitar fashioned like the split rear window design of the car.

ZZ Top is currently doggin' the road on their "Beer Drinkers & Hellraisers" tour in support of their forthcoming album Mescalero on RCA.