i saw them, too, before anyone else outside of texas did. guess who cancelled in tulsa so they refunded all the tickets to those on the floor. we cam down out of the nosebleed section and they had zztop play for those who wanted to stay. they jammed like half the night. three long encores. the whos-who of tulsa got their refunds and us kids(i was 13) got to see a force that would dominate for decades. last time i saw them was when the radio station i worked for sponsored them in fairbanks alaska. they cooked. billy had some strange metal dog idol on stage he kept thanking and petting. and yes, they had jalepenos in the green room.
i know, billy was around before i saw him the first time. jimi hendrix said he was the best blues guitarist he had ever seen. i saw them in 71, 72? something like that.