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NEXT YEAR MARKS the 40th anniversary of ZZ Top, and as time rolls on, the Lone Star State's bluesy raunch 'n' roll band continues pulling in new fans from unexpected places like "American Idol" and "Guitar Hero." While riding a tourist trolley in Knoxville, Billy F. Gibbons, the vocalist and guitar great with the nose-to-chest beard, recently chatted about the band's extended tenure, a new DVD and the passing of a longtime friend, rock pioneer Bo Diddley.

JEFF TOPPING/STR (ENLARGE)
Billy F. Gibbons (right, with Dusty Hill) says he spoke with friend and rock pioneer Bo Diddley a few days before his death.
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Q: The band will be playing Atlanta on June 7.

A: Yes, and I will be detouring through LaGrange, Ga., to visit my lovely sweetheart's grandmother who's 103, Miss Betty Jarrell. She has a new Cadillac. ... She will be escorting me to the performance, because she said, "I wanna see you play your banjo."

Q: Guess you need to go pick up a banjo.

A: Well, as close as I can get. I play the famous Gretsch Billy-Bo [Gibbons' tweaked version of Bo Diddley's original design]. ... Believe it or not, I spoke to Bo [three days before he died]. The organizers who oversee this new, runaway game "Guitar Hero" and now "Rock Band" contacted me to get in touch with Bo for approval to use the shape of the Billy-Bo guitar, which he designed in 1959. He was all about it. As we were closing the conversation, I said, "Bo, it's been great talking to you." He said, "Anytime. You know I'll always be around." We kind of laughed at that. Today I said, "Yeah, we know he will." So it's a good day to share the thought that we were able to walk on the planet at the same time as him.

Q: How will ZZ Top ring in its 40th anniversary?

A: It's right around the corner, and to celebrate this upcoming fourth decade we have put together a live performance DVD. It was shot in Dallas, Texas, in November of 2007, and it's a good representation of the whole thing as you know it. We made a point to include some of the old ones, some of the new ones and everything in between.

Q: What's the secret to the band's longevity?

A: The good news is this is what we enjoy doing the most. ... It might be fair to say that some of the mystery is not being exactly certain what the other band members are going to do. From night to night, there are a couple of spots in the middle of the program where we'll shout one out from the way-back-when, and it keeps us on our toes. I think that's part of the charm of this whole keeping-it-together thing.

Q: Your fan base is wide. Why?

A: It's gaining ground. There are youngsters coming out at 13, and it goes right up and off the chart. ... Recently we appeared on "American Idol," which was a nice surprise invitation. We thought, "It is what it is." But lo and behold, the youngster who got up there and performed with us was the big prize winner. The appeal of that show is ageless.

THE 411: ZZ Top. $38-$63. 8 p.m. June 7. Chastain Park Amphitheatre, Stella Drive, Atlanta. 404-249-6400, www.ticketmaster.com.