On a recent episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Billy Bob Thornton made an appearance to discuss his new show on Paramount+, “Landman.” In addition to being an actor, writer, and director, Thornton is also a musician who recently finished a tour with his band, The Box Masters.
Colbert started off the conversation by commenting on a photo of Thornton rocking out on stage. Thornton revealed that his everyday look could be described as a “jazz pirate,” which received a chuckle from the audience. Curious about Thornton’s musical history, Colbert asked him about the various bands he has been a part of over the years.
Thornton shared some interesting band names, including Nebula 5, which he formed in elementary school because five was the best number. Another band he had in high school was called “Shot in the Dark,” which he humorously admitted was terrible. Other memorable band names included Hotlanta (despite being from Arkansas), Nothing Doing, Cottonwood, and The Blue Velvets.
However, the band name that caught Colbert’s attention was “Ecclesiastes.” Thornton explained that during a period when they wanted to be British art rockers, the band members wore open satin jackets with crosses, no shirts, and high heel shoes. They thought fancy names were essential for the image, so they settled on “Ecclesiastes” – a choice that Thornton admitted now seemed rather silly.
Moving on to the topic of discussion, Colbert asked Thornton about his new show, “Landman.” Thornton explained that a landman is someone who procures leases for drilling on land. He described the landman as a fixer who works between the oil company owners and the workers in the field. The landman’s responsibility is to ensure the safety of the workers while making sure the job gets done and the oil is extracted.
Thornton emphasized that being a landman is an exhausting job, particularly with an eccentric family circling around the protagonist’s world. Colbert commended Thornton for taking on such a demanding role.
As the segment concluded, Thornton expressed his gratitude for being on the show and announced that “Landman” will premiere on Paramount+ on Sunday. With his multifaceted talents, it’s no wonder that Billy Bob Thornton continues to captivate audiences with his diverse range of projects.
