| Mr. Billy
Hale.... Mr Hale, to most....'Hailstorm'....'Hellstoned'.. 'HooDoo Man
Hale'. Who is the man, anyway? Master magician of the musical mayhem behind the scene of the famous ZZ TOP stage, that's who. And to take a 'spy' into the mystique of Willie the Workingman...this opportunity to catch the man of madness took hold in the wee hours of a cool, backroom bar in Barcelona ,'Espana', where the ZZ boys were working the studioboard in one of Spain's newest, pop music recording rooms, right next door. Mr. Hale said make it quick, so we did just that. This guy's a trip! Check it out... |
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Mr. Hale....greetings!.. Thanks for meeting with us back here.
Mr. H: My pleasure. What is it that you want?
Well, sir...we want it all! You're the main mover and shaker, called Mr. Mysterious, as well as many other nicknames...you seem to manage a wide range of wild things for the ZZ boys. Is there a good way to get to know who you are and perhaps something of what you do?
Mr. H: No.
Well...uh...we were hoping that....
Mr. H: Please sit down. Let's get an order in for something cooling and enjoy a little of the Spanish life. Por favor, Senor...!
Well alright! Uh..as we were about to say...?
Mr H: 'We' were about to order...
Great. Great....may we ask a few personal questions?
Mr. H: No. Just a few little things...
Mr. H: Let's go for the big stuff. This is a big operation and we'll have to shoot the moon, amigo. Cigarette...? Yes. Now then, our viewers are curious about the tall gent at Dusty's edge of the stage... ...namely,...you! They've asked where your famous red suit comes from...?!!?!!?
Mr H: Ah, yes. the 'Red'....kinda looks like a fine, deep maroon bottle of aged, French Merlot. But to answer your question, the city of Milano is our preferred hunting ground for such fine threads. Gibbons, Hill and myself make a round now and again when we get low on stock. In fact, Milano, Italy's fashion zone, is even mentioned in the breakdown verse in the song, BEATBOX, off 'XXX'. There are 3 other Italian cities named in that section, inspired by the finer elements of Italian fashion. Secrets of the wardrobe case. We prefer going during our break days straight to Italy and search up the summer stash. It's hot where we come from. Some Versace...Zegna...Armani mainly. Great looking and fully Italian. Ya' got the best traveling fabric on the planet...period. No wrinkles, if you believe .
And what about the hat? Looks like something more 'West Coast surf shop'.
Mr. H: Italian surf shop. (laughs)...but this is Spain. Surf's over there. (points). Cocktail...?
Well, while the band remixes the new tracks...what is the most difficult part working alongside Dusty and the guys at the show level?
Mr. H: Not much in the difficult dept. with Mr. Dusty workin'. My real job is keeping up with him and the other two. They play great, work hard and take a bunch of chances....yet...there's such a refined tradition of barroom in their brand of rockin it...the experience at that side of the stage is sheer foot stompin'. Not a problem. Dusty suggested such fine gear in his rig that the main thing is keeping it tuned up and fully torque'd. He and his rig are as radical as the red suit! I'm always there if he needs, though.... ah...a cold, cold 'round', gentlemen. What's next?
Well, before we go...you're interested in keeping the ZZ TOP website smooth from the the road. Any suggestions for the fans that monitor the ZZ site?
Mr. H: Get a pocket job computer. It's this...(produces a small computer). It's is the ticket, man..and gettin' 'tikkier'. Get a Fender guitar, first. That...and a cooler near a beach. That's happennin'.
How about vid-cams...still cams...and thru the web....that's something we're seeing from your perspective.
Mr. H: Go tiny. Order big drinks. (red suits...?)
OK! It is getting dark. That's a lot to learn!
Mr. H: Another round, gents. Cigarette...?
Oh, yeah! Thanks. Here's something our viewers find truly cool...you invented the web software called Net Chaser, and now, Net Chaser Ultra. How does a tour tech and consultant, particularly working in an outfit as worldly as the ZZ TOP group, find time for such heady outside works? That's got to take a lot of resourcefulness....
Mr H: Well, like now for instance. There's a lot of energy spinning right through these walls from the guys crackin' on the power-board, next door. Dusty's the man, man....and there's tons of momentum surrounding a strange circle around each of those guys, that's hard to describe. They're private, and quite fussy about their space yet an infectious escalating energy spins up, and around them all the time. I find that it's stimulating and the extra boost stimulates the creative process. I've really no choice but take it into a design plane that satisfies a personal practice. Very satisfying. By the way, the band is planning to post a special version of Net Chaser Ultra, sometime this year, which is, obviously, most flattering. Your viewers are invited to check in and register with the ZZ TOP webmaster's announcement list and check it out when released. It's a bit premature to reveal all, just now, but it's great for the traveling websurfer. Cheap, fast, global. Another, on me, compadres. I believe the jukebox needs some attention.
So do those Senoritas... Thank you so very much, Mr. Billy Hale. We'll be seeing you all in Japan. We will catch up with our camera crew and broadcast our next 'Hail Storm' interview from the steps close to you and Dusty...red suit required!