BILLY BOB THORNTON ROCKS, FOR REAL

By JIM BEAL Jr. c.2008 San Antonio Express-News SAN ANTONIO -- Billy Bob Thornton is a bona fide, Oscar-winning movie star. He also makes music. "That's how I grew up, playing drums," he said. "I played in my uncle's country band. I had a soul band." Thornton, who hails from Hot Springs, Ark., played in a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band; in Tres Hombres, a ZZ Top cover band; and worked as a roadie. He made his first record in 1974 with a band called Hot Lanta. "In 1980, a friend was going to California to get into acting. He asked me to go along. He said, 'You were in drama classes.' I was in drama. There were girls in there and I thought I could make a good grade in something," he said, laughing. "I thought I might be able to join a band, anyway. So I came out here and gave it a shot." It was a good shot. Thornton... [read full story]