Billy Zoom

Billy Zoom (born Tyson Kindell on February 20, 1948, in Savanna, Illinois) is an American guitarist, best known as one of the founders of the punk rock band X. He is an Anaheim resident and owns the Billy Zoom Custom Shop near Old Towne Orange. The 67-year-old was diagnosed in 2015 with an aggressive form of bladder cancer and will begin immediate treatment. He has since stated that he is "cancer-free" but will continue receiving chemotherapy treatments.

Early life

The son of a Big Band woodwinds player, Kindell began playing a variety of instruments, including violin, accordion, piano, clarinet, tenor, alto, and baritone saxophones, flute, banjo, and guitar.

Upon moving to Los Angeles in the 1960s, he worked as a session guitarist while attending technical school for training in electronics repair. He has an insider's reputation as an expert in the maintenance, restoration, and modification of vintage tube amplifiers, and Combo Organs. He has performed custom technical work on the amps for a host of electric guitarists and bassists.