I got to spend a couple of days with Charlie and his bandmates last week in Maryville, Tennessee. They're all wonderful, down to earth people and I really enjoyed being around them. It was great to see my old friends from The Shed in Maryville and thank you to the owner, Scott for letting us film this at his house. You should get to knowt Blackberry Smoke and tell 'em Otis sent ya! www.blackberrysmoke.com/
I was in line for a ZZ Top show back in the 90s {conveyor belt days} and I watched Billy come out of a thrift shop across the street all by himself. He walked right past us and into an unmarked side door to the venue. Nobody noticed him except for me. I told my buddies that that was Billy Gibbons and he just came out of Value Village and they didn't believe me. I bet the folks working at Value Village didn't recognize him the way he was dressed. But on stage that night, he opened his jacket and showed off a sparkly vest, and pronounced he had just picked it up from Value Village! Anyway, fun concert. They played with Skynyrd that tour. Definitely glad to have seen two bucket list bands in pretty good form.
Wasn't Terre Haute, Indiana was it? Saw them with Skynyrd there in '99ish and he had a vest he had gotten there. One of the best concerts I have been to. Also, had Laidlaw opening with the awesome Buzzy James on guitar.
@@iamtheoceanr I live near Spokane & saw them many times-Was wondering @ across the street V.V. North side of Boone street. The coliseum was referred to @ "The Boone Street Barn". Back then, before it was replaced!
Billy is a fan of dollar stores, vintage shops, etc. He also has an appreciation for well established, small, local bars with tasty selections on the jukebox.
Dusty lived in San Leon near Galveston. He was my boss's neighbor and he was very nice man. I told him I'd seen him a couple times in concert and I was all enthusiastic meet him and he was very cool with that he was like oh very nice to meet you sir and made me feel really welcomed. When he passed away I cried that morning. Good guy
I can’t remember the year (before 2010 for sure!), Smoke opened for ZZ in a little hall in Grand Forks ND….and knocked it out of the park! What really struck me were two things. At intermission, they were out front signing CDs…and at the end of ZZ’s show, they were all at the front doors, shaking everyone’s hands and thanking us for coming to the show! Real people, real class act! 👍
Wow! That was good story telling. I met Billy & Dusty in '77 after a show in the hotel. They were so kind and gracious. You never forget the good guys.
Man, there is something to be said about people that can tell stories. How you position the camera it’s like I’m in the room listening to two other people talk. Well done!
Well, as a 72 year old local country rocker with thousands of gigs under the old belt, we love Charlie too!! With all their success they still remain humble, respectful and approachable. The same things we love about Billy and Frank, and of course Dusty. This was one of the best interviews I've seen in a long while. Otis put him at ease with his gentle voice and calm way enabling him to tell some great stories, about BBS, and the legendary ZZT with Billy himself. Thanks much, really enjoyed that!! 8) --gary
@gtr1952......Just a few moons shy of your number since the Cabbage Patch morning. Your thoughts on the band read as if I had written them myself. Good post. 👍👍 🇺🇲
I never saw Led Zeppelin or Lynyrd Skynyrd back in the day... but... I have seen these boys well over a dozen times🔥The boys took my wife and I back stage and showed us all of their guitars and told us loads of stories. Dream come true! Legends! If you haven't seen them its a must❤❤❤Thank you Otis and Thank Boys!!
These ‘road warrior’ stories of working musicians off and near the major concert circuit deserve to be told and heard. The ‘Armstrong’ guitar story is a treasure. ☘
An original indeed. Met him on a couple of occasions at Fitzgeralds in Houston. He would just hang at the bar checking out some local grimy punk rock bands. Genuinely humble and one of the coolest cats to do it.
Love Charlie! I was blessed to meet them in 06 in merriville Indiana opening for ZZ and many more times over the years awesome to see them gain success they all so much deserve coming around!
Yep ! One of the ONLY tru-originals left , been there and back , still doin it HIS WAY !! LUV THAT GUY Great stories Charlie , man you ought write memoirs, we all love to hear insiders experiences !!
I saw BBS 5-6 years ago at an open field concert not far from Wake Forest NC and they were awesome. Very tight and Charlie's playing and singing was just spot on. It was a great show.
I met Charlie in '06, when they were travelling in that white Econoline van. He wanted to know what I thought about their name. It was in spring, so before they got the ZZ Top gig. They played to a small crowd at the Town Pump Tavern in Black Mountain. NC. I told Charlie. " rest easy, dude, don't worry, guys you are bound for the big stage!", and I wasn't wrong. I don't think I'm as much psychic as a good judge of talent.
Charlie is following in Billy Gibbons footsteps as far as understanding his own presence in music. I could listen to him chat about anything all day. I reckon all the band mates feed off of each other’s good vibes. Great interview/chat.
Great story. My heart leapt when he mentioned Brian Henneman of the Bottle Rockets. I heard them sound checking in 2008 and thought they were doing a ZZ Top song. Nope, it was a new one of theirs: “Hard Times.” Play it LOUD.
Charlie is a great story teller and could likely write and amazing book of road stories. An under appreciated musician and band just now getting the dues they deserve.
@@plottwist8338 1985 to 90 Great place to play Train roll through beer was half price. The beer league Pitcher had to take a beer to the mound. Set it on the rubber If the beer gets knocked over it's a home run Hard to keep pitchers. Kept getting hit
@@keithsullivan-lt4nk Stevens and Pruett were broadcasting out there one morning and me and buddy went to watch. 8am and they were serving beer as long as you bought a bag of chips to go with it. Could not have us drinking on an empty stomach.
This was such a great video! Love the stories! I am a friend of Billy and everything said here is just spot on and so well said! Thank you for sharing this Charlie!
Blackberry smoke is an awesome band. They held their ground had faith and worked very hard from the bottom up. Of you haven't done that, you have no idea what they have been through to be an opening act. Charlie is a fantastic guitar player.
2007! I played that NAMM show in LA he’s talkin bout. I was playin with Marc Ford,& Deacon Jones,the B3 player who sat in with them was a very good friend of mine
As kids back in the 80’s, we used to see Billy a few times at Rockets games at the Summit club level, he gave us gold keychains, next time it was an embroidered ZZ Top hat, the famous pink ones. After 40 years all I have left is a silver keychain. I flashed it at Frank while we were waiting at a light. Franks house is about 400 yards from mine, his cows graze the pasture behind my house.
Man. What a story. I love Charlie and Billy so much. Relatable cool guys that absolutely rip on guitar. Thanks Otis for this one. It made me feel good about the world. I’m seeing BBsmoke next month in Denver
I met Billy Gibbons once in Memphis. Back in the eighties and early nineties they spent a lot of time in Memphis recording at ardent studios. I worked at business that framed pictures and made what they used too call shadow boxes. Billy Gibbons came in one day,he had found way down in the corner a clump of three or four spiders all dead and entangled together as if they fought to the death.Well he thought this was the coolest thing he ever saw. So we built a small box and and attached the spiders too the back of the Matt. He was very cool.
Some years ago I went to see Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown open for some band named Blackberry Smoke. Awesome set bye the way, Stuck around for the main act. Holleeeeee Shiittttttttt amazing. Love this guy 🔥 🎸
The way Charlie talks and feels about Billy is the same way I feel about Charlie…. a fabulous musician I greatly admire and would just love to sit on the porch and chew the fat with for a little while.
What a cool guy Charlie Starr is. Very talented guy, but you'd never know it to hear him talk. He's always talking up someone else. I've watched quite a few of his interviews and he always comes off as a regular guy doing what he loves to do. He'd be a fun guy to hang with.
The "rev" himself : the last of a dying breed no doubt. I go back to the dust bowl with him & the Top.....down Mexico way. He was the man then , and forever will be...the pro. RIP Dusto , r
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I've had the pleasure of meeting Charlie and the band recently and I got to visit with Billy after a concert in the late 70s what great people All of them
I was 13 the First time I saw Billie Gibbons on a stage he was playing the Teen Fair in the Astro Hall at the Astro Domein the Moving sidewalks on the Fender Stage my band was on the Vox stage. I then saw him with The Moving Sidewalks open for the Doors in the Coliseum in Houston. Then with Dusty at Love Street Light Circus and Feel Good Machine at Allens Landing at ZZ tops first gig and Frank Beard wasn't there they had no Originals. Then the Catacombs in Houston for the debut gig for the first Album.
![ZZ Top - Thunderbird [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1VmVK2s3aTc/mqdefault.jpg)
I got to spend a couple of days with Charlie and his bandmates last week in Maryville, Tennessee. They're all wonderful, down to earth people and I really enjoyed being around them. It was great to see my old friends from The Shed in Maryville and thank you to the owner, Scott for letting us film this at his house.
You should get to knowt Blackberry Smoke and tell 'em Otis sent ya!
www.blackberrysmoke.com/
i bought my softail harley in maryville tennessee! such cool info! thanks.
Charlie is the last of a dying breed. Just humbly the best.
I was in line for a ZZ Top show back in the 90s {conveyor belt days} and I watched Billy come out of a thrift shop across the street all by himself. He walked right past us and into an unmarked side door to the venue. Nobody noticed him except for me. I told my buddies that that was Billy Gibbons and he just came out of Value Village and they didn't believe me. I bet the folks working at Value Village didn't recognize him the way he was dressed. But on stage that night, he opened his jacket and showed off a sparkly vest, and pronounced he had just picked it up from Value Village! Anyway, fun concert. They played with Skynyrd that tour. Definitely glad to have seen two bucket list bands in pretty good form.
Wasn't Terre Haute, Indiana was it? Saw them with Skynyrd there in '99ish and he had a vest he had gotten there. One of the best concerts I have been to. Also, had Laidlaw opening with the awesome Buzzy James on guitar.
@@duanechapman-ft6ty Nope, it was Spokane, WA.
@@iamtheoceanr I live near Spokane & saw them many times-Was wondering @ across the street V.V. North side of Boone street. The coliseum was referred to @ "The Boone Street Barn". Back then, before it was replaced!
Billy is a fan of dollar stores, vintage shops, etc. He also has an appreciation for well established, small, local bars with tasty selections on the jukebox.
Dusty lived in San Leon near Galveston. He was my boss's neighbor and he was very nice man. I told him I'd seen him a couple times in concert and I was all enthusiastic meet him and he was very cool with that he was like oh very nice to meet you sir and made me feel really welcomed. When he passed away I cried that morning. Good guy
Charlie is as genuine as they come ! He draws people to him , and is unselfish. And a great guitar player and singer
"The fork of approval" - Gold! 🔥🔥🔥
I’ve always loved Billy Gibbons. He’s one cool cat. Charlie’s stories are great. Thanks.
I can’t remember the year (before 2010 for sure!), Smoke opened for ZZ in a little hall in Grand Forks ND….and knocked it out of the park! What really struck me were two things. At intermission, they were out front signing CDs…and at the end of ZZ’s show, they were all at the front doors, shaking everyone’s hands and thanking us for coming to the show!
Real people, real class act! 👍
The "zen" of Billy Gibbons!
What a great interview! Thanks Otis! Thanks Charlie Starr!
Charlie is such a cool cat to listen to. Thank you Otis, this one is a gem.
Charlie is the best. So happy you had the chance to put him on camera.
Keep up the great content Otis!
Wow! That was good story telling. I met Billy & Dusty in '77 after a show in the hotel. They were so kind and gracious. You never forget the good guys.
Man, there is something to be said about people that can tell stories. How you position the camera it’s like I’m in the room listening to two other people talk. Well done!
Well, as a 72 year old local country rocker with thousands of gigs under the old belt, we love Charlie too!! With all their success they still remain humble, respectful and approachable. The same things we love about Billy and Frank, and of course Dusty. This was one of the best interviews I've seen in a long while. Otis put him at ease with his gentle voice and calm way enabling him to tell some great stories, about BBS, and the legendary ZZT with Billy himself. Thanks much, really enjoyed that!! 8) --gary
@gtr1952......Just a few moons shy of your number since the Cabbage Patch morning. Your thoughts on the band read as if I had written them myself. Good post. 👍👍 🇺🇲
When Jeff Beck said that Billy Gibbons was the coolest cat he’d ever met, I figured it could now be etched in stone.
Lets do it.
Lets do it.
car guys that played guitar
Billy was also Jimi's favorite guitarist
What a cool interview I love this
Love hearing Charlie telling stories, please have him back on
I never saw Led Zeppelin or Lynyrd Skynyrd back in the day... but... I have seen these boys well over a dozen times🔥The boys took my wife and I back stage and showed us all of their guitars and told us loads of stories. Dream come true! Legends! If you haven't seen them its a must❤❤❤Thank you Otis and Thank Boys!!
These ‘road warrior’ stories of working musicians off and near the major concert circuit
deserve to be told and heard. The ‘Armstrong’ guitar story is a treasure. ☘
An original indeed. Met him on a couple of occasions at Fitzgeralds in Houston. He would just hang at the bar checking out some local grimy punk rock bands. Genuinely humble and one of the coolest cats to do it.
Love Charlie and the Smoke. I bet he's got lots more great stories. Thanks, Otis
Love Charlie! I was blessed to meet them in 06 in merriville Indiana opening for ZZ and many more times over the years awesome to see them gain success they all so much deserve coming around!
Yep ! One of the ONLY tru-originals left , been there and back , still doin it HIS WAY !! LUV THAT GUY
Great stories Charlie , man you ought write memoirs, we all love to hear insiders experiences !!
Love that Billy giving Charlie the guitar story. Charlie knows how to be grateful. A rare gift! Someone who had to work for what he got.
Delightful interview. Charlie is a story teller and his songs reflect that too. Thank you so much for sharing this. RIP Brit Turner.
Otis! You get guys who can really tell stories. And you know how to add just enough to keep the vibe without getting in the way. Thanks!
I saw BBS 5-6 years ago at an open field concert not far from Wake Forest NC and they were awesome. Very tight and Charlie's playing and singing was just spot on. It was a great show.
Man, Wake Forest is no more than an hour from me
I met Charlie in '06, when they were travelling in that white Econoline van. He wanted to know what I thought about their name. It was in spring, so before they got the ZZ Top gig. They played to a small crowd at the Town Pump Tavern in Black Mountain. NC. I told Charlie. " rest easy, dude, don't worry, guys you are bound for the big stage!", and I wasn't wrong. I don't think I'm as much psychic as a good judge of talent.
Charlie really is the “Real deal” He’s such a cool, humble cat!
Charlie is following in Billy Gibbons footsteps as far as understanding his own presence in music. I could listen to him chat about anything all day. I reckon all the band mates feed off of each other’s good vibes. Great interview/chat.
Man, what great stories! Thanks for sharing Otis, this was superbly entertaining!
I'm glad this ended up in my feed. Great story.
Great story. My heart leapt when he mentioned Brian Henneman of the Bottle Rockets. I heard them sound checking in 2008 and thought they were doing a ZZ Top song. Nope, it was a new one of theirs: “Hard Times.” Play it LOUD.
This is priceless! I hope you have many, many hours to post.
Charlie is such a great interview and the band is the best!!! Keep it up guys and love what you're doing Otis!
Fantastic story, awesome, I love this guy, Blackberry smoke has it goin' on and what a pair , Smoke and ZZ
If I could give this 100 thumbs up I would! Thank you Otis
Wow! Great interview. I love Charlie Starr and Blackberry Smoke. What a great interview. Thanks Otis!
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Thanks Otis - loves these stories!!!
Thoroughly enjoy these stories! Fascinating!
Charlie is from my hometown of Lanett, AL. He wrote “One Horse Town” about it
Love that song! I grew up in one horse town
The most underrated guitar player and composer I know.
Charlie is a great story teller and could likely write and amazing book of road stories. An under appreciated musician and band just now getting the dues they deserve.
THx Otis. You have such a good way it interview people and let them talk. You dont onject yourself in the interview
What a cool interview. Charlie Starr speaks like he performs. His conversation is the stuff of feeling and style. He is also an original.
Dang I love hearing Charlie tell stories
What a lovely soul, and so are you Otis. Great content! Keep it coming!
Love this guy, one of the best interviews on the channel!
Billy Gibbons eats? Regularly? 🧐
What a legend anyway 🙌
And what a great interview. Love EVERYTHING about this 👏👏👏❤️
That is rather surprising🤣
i used to play softball with frank beard. pappa blakleys in houston. he was a good second baseman. down to earth just one of the guys
Haha papa blakleys? I grew up in Katy. I forgot about that place.
@@plottwist8338 1985 to 90
Great place to play
Train roll through beer was half price.
The beer league
Pitcher had to take a beer to the mound. Set it on the rubber
If the beer gets knocked over it's a home run
Hard to keep pitchers. Kept getting hit
@@keithsullivan-lt4nk Stevens and Pruett were broadcasting out there one morning and me and buddy went to watch. 8am and they were serving beer as long as you bought a bag of chips to go with it. Could not have us drinking on an empty stomach.
@@plottwist8338 all class
We used to play Papa Blakeys, good memories
Love hearing these stories from my favorite southern rock bands!
Love these stories.
This was such a great video! Love the stories! I am a friend of Billy and everything said here is just spot on and so well said! Thank you for sharing this Charlie!
Blackberry Smoke is awesome ❤
Blackberry smoke is an awesome band. They held their ground had faith and worked very hard from the bottom up. Of you haven't done that, you have no idea what they have been through to be an opening act. Charlie is a fantastic guitar player.
He seems like such a humble likable person. I enjoyed this interview.👍🇺🇸
What a great video, i smiled the whole time...wow, love the Billy stuff!!
what a story!! love the outcome, especially!
Wow a what a great interview and story 😎
Is there more of Charlie Starr interview ? Put it out man ! Thanks though for this bit.🎸🙏
2007! I played that NAMM show in LA he’s talkin bout. I was playin with Marc Ford,& Deacon Jones,the B3 player who sat in with them was a very good friend of mine
Awesome interview !
Blackberry Smoke ZZ Top don't get much better than that like the Southern bands
Great interview! Well done!
More Charlie Starr please! Great interview and a great band!
As kids back in the 80’s, we used to see Billy a few times at Rockets games at the Summit club level, he gave us gold keychains, next time it was an embroidered ZZ Top hat, the famous pink ones. After 40 years all I have left is a silver keychain. I flashed it at Frank while we were waiting at a light. Franks house is about 400 yards from mine, his cows graze the pasture behind my house.
Pecan Grove, off Pitts Rd.
Man. What a story. I love Charlie and Billy so much. Relatable cool guys that absolutely rip on guitar. Thanks Otis for this one. It made me feel good about the world. I’m seeing BBsmoke next month in Denver
What a great interview : thanks Otis
I just met Billy Gibbons last week and he was the coolest guy I ever met.
What a great interview.
Great Interview Charlie!! Love Ya TFM
I met Billy Gibbons once in Memphis. Back in the eighties and early nineties they spent a lot of time in Memphis recording at ardent studios. I worked at business that framed pictures and made what they used too call shadow boxes. Billy Gibbons came in one day,he had found way down in the corner a clump of three or four spiders all dead and entangled together as if they fought to the death.Well he thought this was the coolest thing he ever saw. So we built a small box and and attached the spiders too the back of the Matt. He was very cool.
Charlie is a cool cat. 🖐😎👍🎶🎶
Saw ZZ after deguello with head east. Incredible show. Thanks again Otis.
Some years ago I went to see Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown open for some band named Blackberry Smoke. Awesome set bye the way, Stuck around for the main act. Holleeeeee Shiittttttttt amazing. Love this guy 🔥 🎸
,,,...tnx,,,Mr. OTTIS,.......for another great story,.one hell of a band,.....peace-out,,,as always,,pat&family,...land o' lakes,wi..
Great interview with a world-class raconteur! The Reverend Billy G is one of the immortals. Lovely to hear Charlie's anecdotes!
The way Charlie talks and feels about Billy is the same way I feel about Charlie…. a fabulous musician I greatly admire and would just love to sit on the porch and chew the fat with for a little while.
What a cool guy Charlie Starr is. Very talented guy, but you'd never know it to hear him talk. He's always talking up someone else. I've watched quite a few of his interviews and he always comes off as a regular guy doing what he loves to do. He'd be a fun guy to hang with.
Blackberry Smoke is an awesome band.
Billy gibbons is in the club with willie nelson...he is just never allowed to die! The world needs them!
Keep em coming Otis!👍
The "rev" himself : the last of a dying breed no doubt. I go back to the dust bowl with him & the Top.....down Mexico way. He was the man then , and forever will be...the pro. RIP Dusto , r
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Awesome video! Thanks!
My daughter and I have seen them 13 times and even got to meet them twice. Great guys!
All the recent music news. Fascinating
Billy is the GOAT! Pun intended… Charlie Starr is brilliant also!!
Great stories thanks
Charlie is one extremely well spoken dude. I like the fact that he has a pretty broad knowledge of where the music came from.
I've had the pleasure of meeting Charlie and the band recently and I got to visit with Billy after a concert in the late 70s what great people All of them
Great story, thanks Otis!
I was SO lucky to meet Billy in Houston...
Most unique/special/humble human I've ever met
Pure Class
Wow… that was a very enjoyable 14 minute watch! Some great story telling😃.
I was 13 the First time I saw Billie Gibbons on a stage he was playing the Teen Fair in the Astro Hall at the Astro Domein the Moving sidewalks on the Fender Stage my band was on the Vox stage. I then saw him with The Moving Sidewalks open for the Doors in the Coliseum in Houston. Then with Dusty at Love Street Light Circus and Feel Good Machine at Allens Landing at ZZ tops first gig and Frank Beard wasn't there they had no Originals. Then the Catacombs in Houston for the debut gig for the first Album.
Much appreciated 🫡🙏
Another great interview full of insight :-) thank you Otis!
The fork of approval. Classic...
what a great storyteller and an awesome subject to talk about.
What a great and heartfelt story
Saw blackberry smoke at the troubadour in Hollywood, then billy shows up on stage drunk as a skunk but still killed it , tiny club fun night
Drove Billy and his tech around in my old firebird during the recycler tour bought me a led Zeppelin box set for showing him Billings Mt
awesome! what year was it?
It was 1990 damn where does time go?