When you're a rock star of the stature of ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, you're used to a certain level of luxury when it comes to turning up to your own gig. Helicopters. Limousines. Luxury people carriers with blacked-out windows.

However, the Tops' lead guitarist used a novel approach to get to the band's Wembley Arena gig in London last week -- public transport.

The bearded southern boogie legend told the BBC News website he decided to descend beneath the very streets of London and make his way -- ticket no doubt clutched in hand -- via the Tube.

"Being the consummate tourist, I wanted to ride the Tube," he said.

"Someone said, 'You know it may not be that bad of an idea because travel in London has not been known for its expedient way to get from A to B.'

"And off I went -- it's a only a block from the hotel down to the station, and no sooner had I bought the ticket the agent informed me that the Circle Line had broken down."

Not to be deterred, the Texan rocker hopped on a bus to Baker Street, strode manfully to the Metropolitan Line platform and took a train to Wembley Park – alongside a fair few ZZ top fans making their way to the gig.

"There was a guy on the route that was checking me out and it was getting a little edgy, and then I realised that he was looking at a ZZ Top concert ticket for the Wembley show."

Asked if he would make public transport a habit, he said, "Well, I may in the future. I beat my partners by 45 minutes."

The ZZ Top star was in London to pick up the Marshall 11 award at the Classic Rock Roll of Honour awards Monday (Nov. 2).