ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons has pulled the plug on his Australian tour after a third show saw him get pelted with debris by the audience.
The quick backstory: He played just three songs on the first night of the tour and four on the second. On the third night, this one in Newcastle, he was into his third song when the assault ensued. So he's cancelled the fourth and final show, Friday in Brisbane.
While we wait for his manager to comment, Noise11 in Australia reports that he signed on for question-and-answer events to discuss his love of hot rods, but that is not how it was promoted. Here's how it was sold to tickets buyers: "Billy’s Up Close and Personal Show consists of intimate life stories, while kicking back with Billy as he plays and reflects on some of his favorite tunes and famous riffs. To perform some of his greatest hits, Billy will be joined by his Australian band the Billy T’Zz. Also accompanying Billy will be his longtime friend, hot rod guru Jimmy Shine, as they share their 'Rock and Rod' stories.”
This story is developing.
And today's (Friday) update:
A spokesperson for ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons says the negative stories about his Up Close & Personal shows in Australia were a result of improper promotion.
A statement reads, in part, "Mr. Gibbons was contracted to appear on those dates to discuss his passion for custom cars and hot rods, and to sign autographs and greet fans with no musical component called for or anticipated in the arrangement... Based on that understanding, he didn’t even bring, nor did he request musical equipment appropriate to such a performance. It appears that these dates were promoted in such a way as miscommunication to ticket holders that a substantial musical performance would be part of these events. Billy Gibbons...regrets that his role in those dates appears to have been grossly misstated."
The pushback came after Gibbons performed just a very handful of songs over three shows. At the third show, he got pelted with debris from the audience, and so the fourth show was canceled.