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| Left: Below: The band's full discography. Click on album covers for larger pictures or on album titles for complete lyrics. Or... fast forward directly to the latest newzz including info about new tour dates for 2008 and the latest reviews and pictures from recent concerts. Far below: Photo album, record cabinet and much more about ZZ Top. | |
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ZZ Top, the quintessential Texas boogie band, was formed in 1969 in Houston from rival psychedelic bands, the Moving Sidewalks (guitarist Billy Gibbons) and the American Blues (bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard). While they would eventually become famous for hits such as "Legs," "Sharp Dressed Man," and "La Grange," the band's first two albums reflected ZZ Top's blues roots and Texas sense of humor -- as they struggled to build on their success as a local and regional act. Among their early influences: Jimi Hendrix, Howlin' Wolf, and Elvis Presley.
ZZ Top's First Album (1970),
ZZ Top's debut album on London Records, featuring "Shaking Your Tree" and
"Brown Sugar," as well as "Back Door Love Affair," which would later be featured
as part of a live concert recording on Fandango! (1975). D.S.
raves about "Neighbor, Neighbor", track six, "Mane,
the trend for guitar was set early. Always loved that solo. And that one
fine pull-off before it explodes. And then taking it all over the world
till you get back home again. And that fine startling chord tug at the end
of the solo. Mane, it still be fine."
Rio Grande Mud (1972),
featuring ZZ's first hit single, "Francine," as well as "Just Got Paid." Other
highlights include "Bar-B-Q," "Down Brownie" and "Mushmouth Shoutin'." A
review
is available.
Tres Hombres (1973), ZZ Top's first gold album, featuring "La Grange," a signature riff tune and their first Top 40 hit, as well as the twosome "Waitin' For The Bus" and "Jesus Just Left Chicago."
A review is
available from Rolling Stone. D.S. writes,
"Waitin' on the Bus is a real
favorite. So is Jesus. And ZZ's signature
song, La Grange (one of Billy's hottest, but played on a Strat, not Pearly.
Listen to it.) That whole album is hot, blue, and righteous. The tone is
so incredible it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. This
album is the ZZ centerpiece.
All the previous cuts led to this, and this
led to everything else. This is the one that established ZZ Top. No
question about it. Don't care which is your favorite, this is the one."
Fandango! (1975), a half-studio, half-live album, featuring ZZ's future long-term live encore, "Tush," which hit the Top 20, as well as "Heard it on the X," a
tribute to the pirate radio stations whose sound lent early influence to the
band. In-depth magazine articles are available from
Sound and
Circus RAVES. A Rolling Stone article comparing ZZ Top,
BTO and the Doobie Brothers is also available.
Tejas (1976), featuring "Arrested for Driving While Blind" and "El Diablo." A
Rolling Stone review and
larger
Circus Magazine article
are available.
The Best
of ZZ Top (1977), London's recap of ZZ Top's early work, containing
classic riff-heavy blues rockers like "Jesus Just Left Chicago," "Heard it on
the X," "Tush" and "La Grange."
Deguello (1979), ZZ Top's first new album on Warner, featuring "I Thank You,"
"Cheap Sunglasses" and concert favorite "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide." This album
is believed by some ZZ Top fans to be the band's strongest release.
It also introduced the
"Lone Wolf Horns," a simulcast horn section staffed by the boyzz themselves.
"Deguello" was temporarily pulled from distribution
because of a legal dispute between the
members of Elmore James' estate. It had nothing to do with ZZ,
but until they could settle amongst themselves, the
family members enjoined record labels from
distributing products containing Elmore James compositions (James'
"Dust My Broom"
appears on Deguello). The suit has been settled, and Deguello has been
returned to the shelves. A review is
available from Rolling Stone's Lester Bangs.
El Loco (1981),
featuring "Party on the Patio," "Pearl Necklace" and "Tube Snake Boogie."
This album also contains "Leila", which some say was the first song to
generate an argument among the trio during the writing process. Also
contained is "Heaven, Hell or Houston," which -- if you believe the story --
was originally
a sound check tune that Billy added the slide part to ten years later.
A press release
and Kerrang! magazine
article are available.
Eliminator (1983),
named after Gibbons' 1933 Ford coupe, went multiplatinum,
remaining on the charts for 135 weeks. It featured the hit trio "Gimme All
Your Lovin'," "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs."
The band didn't neglect its roots, including
"I Need You Tonight," a soulful blues. Nor did they pass up the chance to
include another double-entendre, in "I Got the Six."
Reviews are available from a May 1983 Rolling Stone and the
Rolling Stone Yearbook 1984.
Afterburner (1985),
another worldwide smash album which featured the Top 10 hit "Sleeping Bag,"
and the bluesy "Rough Boy."
The boys gave a nod to space-age technology with the imagery
of the album cover, videos featuring outer-space scenes, and songs like
"I Got the Message" and "Velcro Fly." And of course a wink to all those
in on the joke is included in "Woke Up With Wood." Reviews are available from
Musician and
Rolling Stone.
ZZ Top Six Pack (1987), a three-CD
set, contains all the music
from ZZ Top's first six albums: ZZ Top's First Album,
Rio Grande Mud (CD 1); Tres
Hombres, Fandango! (CD 2); Tejas and El Loco (CD 3).
The set was digitally remixed in Memphis, Tennessee, and is
one of ZZ Top's most controversial projects in that the music contained within
is appreciably different from the original vinyl releases. While the
band undoubtedly did this on purpose, many fans prefer the
sound of the original releases
on vinyl to the re-released CD version.
The only way to get the "original" music on CD,
with the exception of "Best Of ZZ Top" and
possibly
"Deguello", is to purchase the "Chrome Smoke and BBQ" box set described below.
Nothwithstanding these CD's, every other
CD reissue of an original vinyl release
has similar remastering.
Recycler (1990), featuring "Doubleback," a theme song created for Back to the Future III, and "My Head's in Mississippi," a gritty synthesis of ZZ's early blues-rock and later high-tech gloss, that is taken by many to be a statement of purpose.
A review is available from Rolling Stone and an article
with interview is available from It's Hip!. Also a
concert review is available.
Greatest Hits (1992), featuring classic hits and two new
singles, "Gun Love" and "Viva Las Vegas". The version of "Legs" on this CD is
also the synthesizer-enhanced
dance remix -- different from the original version which appeared on
Eliminator. "Gun Love" is an upbeat rocker, top shelf, and what
collection would be complete without Dusty's "Viva Las Vegas" tribute to Elvis?
Antenna (1994), ZZ Top's
debut RCA disc, featuring concert opener "Pincushion," and the bluesy
"Breakaway." "PCH" pays tribute to Beach Boy Brian Wilson, and P.Z.
says "Get down with 'Fuzzbox Voodoo.'"
Reviews are available from Newsweek and Time. Two rarer tracks
were also released at the time -- "Everything", a
bonus track only on the European pressing of Antenna, and "Mary's," on
the Breakaway CD single. An audio clip (552k .wav)
is available for "Mary's."
One Foot In The Blues (1994), a compendium of seventeen classic ZZ Top blues originals. A press release is available.
Rhythmeen
was released in the US on
September 17, 1996. Singles released include "She's Just Killing Me," which
was also on the "From Dusk Till Dawn" soundtrack with "Mexican Blackbird."
The SJKM music video premiered 1/24/96 and was
featured on the From Dusk Till Dawn Collectors Edition DVD.
Other singles include "What's Up With That"
(released to US radio 8/26/96 on its own CD single along with bonus song "Stop Breakin' Down
Blues"), "Bang Bang" and "Rhythmeen."
A press release
and review
are available for the album.
The Japanese release of Rhythmeen contains a
bonus track, "Isn't
Love Amazing," for which an audio clip (750k
.wav) is available.
The album release went hand-in-hand with the announcement of ZZ Top's 1996-1997 "Continental Safari" tour. Shortly thereafter, ZZ Top embarked on a follow-up global tour, called "Mean Rhythm." A press release, schedule and reviews and set list are available for the tour. An article from Guitar Magazine is also available.
Of special interest...
10/2/96: ZZ Top appeared as guests on the Late Show with David Letterman
playing their new single "What's Up With That."
1/26/97:
ZZ Top appeared at the
Super Bowl Halftime Show. (Press Release).
10/28/97:
ZZ Top appeared as surprise guests on the
VH1 Fashion Awards. (Press Release).
9/30/98: Dusty Hill
made a cameo appearance on the Drew Carey Show.
XXX
was released on September 28, 1999 in the US. The album's
title, XXX, primarily refers to
ZZ Top's 30-year anniversary. The album contains twelve songs,
four of them live cuts recorded in small clubs. Songs include "36-22-36,"
"Trippin'," and a live remake of "Pincushion" entitled "Sinpusher."
Reviews are available
from Billboard
Magazine,
Rolling
Stone,
VH1.com,
Wallofsound.com
and Onradio.com.
A promotional photo and
poster are also available.
The Japanese release of XXX contains a bonus track, Ninja Shak.
The "Fearless Boogie" single was released to US radio on 9/3/99. An audio clip (1.3MB .wav) and CD single cover are available. An audio clip (409k .wav) is also available for "36-22-36," track 4 on the new album.
Of special interest...
9/29/99: ZZ Top was featured on the "Rockline" program.
10/7/99: The band were guests on the Late Show with David Letterman,
performing "Fearless Boogie" with the Late Show band.
3/5/00: ZZ Top hosted an online chat, answering questions and
announcing new tour dates. (Read the chat
transcript.)
Over 100 concert dates took place on the "XXX Tour" with special guest Lynyrd Skynyrd. Billy Gibbons referred to it as "a collision of the rednecks." The tour was scheduled to continue through July 2000, however, due to Dusty Hill's serious illness, June and July dates were postponed indefinitely. Please check the Dusty Update for further details. Available here are the XXX concert schedule, notes and reviews, and set lists.
1/18/01:
ZZ Top performed at the inauguration
party of President George W. Bush. The set list included a new song called
"Man Upstairs." Check zztop.com
for plen'y details.
5/8/01:
Billy Gibbons is a guest on the John Mayall CD
"Along for the Ride," released today. Other guests on the album
include Jonny Lang, Steve Cropper and Jeff Healey.
8/01: BFG sat in with Kid Rock on Rock's "If I Were President", on
Mtv's 20th Anniversary special. [video]
2/21/02: ZZ Top played
RodeoHouston.
Reviews are available from the Houston Chronicle
and from mailing lizzt members Mike Keith and
Francene Price. Photos are available in
the Photo Album.
Dusty got married! Check out the press release and pictures on the Dusty Wedding page.
Country music update: Billy Gibbons is featured on the new Hank Williams III album Lovesick Broke & Driftin' on the song "Trashville." ZZ Top also appeared with Brooks & Dunn on the April 21 episode of CMT Crossroads. Their performance was taped on March 3 in Nashville in front of a studio audience at the Grand Ole Opry House. Moving right along... Country artists including Willie Nelson, Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn and others pay tribute to ZZ Top with a new album Sharp Dressed Man: A Tribute to ZZ Top, out on May 7. Consensus: If you're into country, you might consider it. According to CMT.com, Gibbons and Hill also backed several country acts at RCA's recent General Jackson riverboat concert. Lastly, Billy Gibbons makes a brief appearance in the Tim McGraw video "The Cowboy In Me."
Billy Gibbons has appeared in a Quaker State motor oil commercial. The ad features some of his hot rods including Eliminator, Cadzzilla and the Hogzzillas. In the ad, Billy looks for help changing his oil, and a group of women in pit crew jumpsuits pop out. A video clip [5MB .mpg] is available.
ZZ Top completed a short tour of casinos in the US in May '02. A European tour leg took place next in October-November 2002. All pertinent information including dates, set lists, reviews, photos, etc. for both tours can be found on the Past Tour Info Page. Drummer Frank Beard underwent an operation during the European tour. Check the Frank Update for details.
The movie "Back to the Future, Part III," wherein ZZ Top made a cameo appearance as a 3-piece band, was released on DVD in the US on December 17, 2002. The DVD has also been released in Europe. The Doubleback music video is included as a bonus feature on this DVD.
Billy Gibbons was recently interviewed by Car Crazy on the Speed Channel. The show first aired Feb. 15, 2003. A video clip (34MB divx encoded .avi) is available. (Thanks to SV.)
3/4/03: The boyzz played RodeoHouston for the second time. A Houston Chronicle review and set list are available.
5/26/03: ZZ Top appeared on the USA Network for a 70th birthday tribute to Willie Nelson, playing "She Loves My Automobile." The show was originally taped in New York in April. A video clip (25MB divx encoded .avi) is available thanks to SV.
6/13/03: The Austin Chronicle published this article regarding Clive Davis and the Mescalero snafu.
6/28/03: ZZ Top played at the Corvette 50th Anniversary in
Nashville, Tennessee. A news
article is available, along with an article
on B.G.'s Les Paul 50th
Anniversary Corvette guitar. Also check out the
recent Corvette print advertisement featuring
lyrics from the song "Chevrolet" off Rio Grande Mud.
A new album entitled
Mescalero was
released in the US on September 9, 2003 and September 8
internationally. The new album features 17 songs including an unlisted
bonus song after the sixteenth track, "As Time Goes By." There were
numerous reports of the "Piece" single getting radio play for a short time
but sadly no widespread radio play for some of the arguably stronger songs on
the album like Stackin' Paper, Tramp, Crunchy, Dusted, or Liquor.
A press release is available for the new
album.
Reviews are available from: San Antonio Express-News and
gomemphis.com.
(The album was originally to be released in the US
on April 15, 2003 and April 14 internationally.
This article has more
information on the album delay.) The Japanese issue of
Mescalero, released September 25, features a bonus track called Sanctify in addition to the aforementioned "As Time
Goes By."
11/6/03: ZZ Top made an appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Video clip is available now! [Unless you have a very fast net connection, (right click to) save the file, then play it when done downloading. Otherwise it may appear choppy due to your player attempting to play it faster than it can be downloaded.]
Billy Gibbons made a guest appearance on Kid Rock's new album Kid Rock which came out November 11, 2003.
ZZ Top has been inducted into the Rock & Roll
Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held March 15th 2003 at the
Waldorf-Astoria
Hotel in New York, and aired on VH1 on Sunday March 21 at 8pm and 10pm. A video clip (59MB mpg) is available. About
time!
The Houston Chronicle article
was one of more than 400 news outlets to
mention ZZ Top in this regard.
An AP press release on their nomination
and Billboard articles on the induction and the inductees' reactions.
The "Chrome, Smoke and BBQ" CD box set was
released on October 14, 2003.
The standard box set contains four discs and
80 remastered
tracks. Yes, that means they sound like they did on the original vinyl,
not like the Six-Pack or the individual CD's which were controversially
remixed.
A limited-edition release of
15,000 CSBBQ
sets exists, each of which contains a flip book,
"BBQ shack-inspired packaging" and
cardboard cutouts.
The CSBBQ box set was originally to be released in February 2003.
For further information check the Billboard article
The 'Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers' tour, which began in April 2003, wrapped up in November 2003 but the tour was extended with a series of dates in July-September 2004. The schedule and full concert information including press release, review and set lists can be found on the Past Tour Info page. A press release is also available. Opening most shows were Ted Nugent and Kenny Wayne Shepherd with Double Trouble. ZZ Top closed the Compaq Center in Houston, playing the final show there the night of November 22, 2003. The venue, previously known as the Summit, was to be converted into a church. Check the press release and Houston Chronicle article for further details. An advertisement for that show is also available on the Photo Album page.
A two-disc boxed CD set called "Rancho
Texicano" and DVD of "Greatest Hits - The Video
Collection" were released on June 15, 2004. The DVD offers Dolby Surround
and DTS in addition to standard stereo audio. DK writes in to advise that
"the mixes are the ones from the CS&B box set, newly remastered from the
original tapes, and not the old Six Pack 'echoey 80s drums' mixes."
7/26/04: Billy Gibbons sat in at a Los Angeles studio for a midnight jam with Queens of the Stone Age. It was rumored that BFG's contributions might make QOTSA's new album.
3/15/05: Billy G. does a Q&A in the May 2005 issue of Guitar World. He also reviews the new Los Super Seven disc "Heard It on the X".
3/22/05: Queens of the Stone Age (QOTSA) released their new album, Lullabies to Paralyze. Billy G. plays and sings on track 6, "Burn the Witch". It is reported that the limited edition album contains a DVD with a video clip of BFG and QOTSA playing & talking.
4/1/05: ZZ Top plays the Discovery Channel's "Biker Build Off Ultimate Chop" award show at the Hard Rock in Las Vegas. Videos are available for Cheap Sunglasses and Waitin' for My Bike. Early tickets to the taping were offered to mailing lizzt members. The show first aired on April 3rd and repeats continued to air thereafter.
4/20/05: Billy Gibbons makes a cameo appearance on Speedvision's Build or Bust. Video clips 1 and 2 are available thanks to Ryan Grealy.
8/5/05: BFG collaborates on the score to the new Dukes of Hazzard movie, press release and photo here.
8/21/05: Star Travel, on the Travel Channel, featured 10 minutes with Billy Gibbons and his hot rods. 36mb avi thanks to Sean Vincent.
Billy Gibbons is featured on Nickelback's album All the Right Reasons released October 4th. Gibbons plays on the "Follow You Home" track. BG also appears on Vivian Campbell's new album Two Sides of If, as musician and writer of the "Willin' for Satisfaction" song which he reportedly penned minutes before it was recorded. Further, BG appears on a track called "Tired of your Jive" on the new B.B. King album 80 released September 13th. Lastly, Gibbons will be a part of the Les Paul & Friends album American Made World Played released August 30, playing on the "Bad Case of Lovin' You" track. [mp3]
Billy's autobiography, "Billy F. Gibbons: Rock + Roll Gearhead" was released on October 15, 2005. Press coverage is available from Rubber Magazine. Lister Jerry says, "The content is AWESOME! Lots of pictures of Billy, his cars, hot women and guitars. It doesn't get much better. Billy's story telling ability is in overdrive." For further information visit the Photo Album and Books pages under More About ZZ Top.
Nov. 11, 2005: ZZ Top completed their 2005 "Whack Attack" tour. Check the tour page for full details.
Billy appeared for book signings at the following locations:
Independent filmmaker Jamie Chamberlin spent four days with Billy Gibbons documenting the release of his book, his studio and radio appearances, and the people who surround him. The trailer can be viewed on YouTube. Jamie requests that viewers interested in seeing the entire film post their comments on YouTube.
Nov. 28, 2005: Billy appeared on Leno with Queens of the Stone Age. Fan reviews were mixed with widespread confusion about BFG's interest in QOTSA alongside appreciation of his strong guitar performance.
Feb. 28, 2006: Warner released reissues of "Tres Hombres" and "Fandango!" According to this article each album features three additional live tracks.
April 23, 2006: Billy Gibbons was featured in an interview on the T-Bird Show.
According to 96kzel.com, ZZ Top was inducted into the City of Houston's Hall of Fame at a gala dinner on August 23 at the Worthham Theater. For full details see the article on 96kzel.com.
August 31, 2006: BFG made a guest appearance on the MTV Video Music Awards, joining the Raconteurs for "Cheap Sunglasses". Check out the Buck Owens guitar in this video clip.
Sept. 11, 2006: Jim Slotek & Jane Stevenson write in this article in the Toronto Sun that BFG may lend his voice to one of the cars in the new car culture documentary "Tales of the Rat Fink."
Sep. 18, 2006: ZZ Top is parting ways with manager Bill Ham and the RCA label. Ham, president of Austin-based Lone Wolf Management, played a central role in the formation of the band around 1969 and was, according to many accounts, a key player in the band's development for much of their early years. His style was undoubtedly key to building ZZ Top's mystique as an act. Articles from Reuters and The Austin American Statesman are available.
October 1, 2006: "Skydog: The Duane Allman Story", a hardcover biography by Billy Gibbons is available from Barnes & Noble at www.bn.com.
ZZ Top received the International Entertainment Buyer's Association's Lifetime Achievement Award at their conference in Nashville, October 15-17, 2006. For further details see this article from Entertainment Magazine.
10/24/06: Restless Records will release "Butchering the Beatles", featuring Billy Gibbons singing and playing guitar on "Revolution". For further information see this Market Wire article.
November 30, 2006: Tour dates were posted for the 2007 Tour. Check the old concerts page for more details including set lists and show notes from the first shows. Note: The European tour dates announced previously were cancelled so that Dusty could undergo medical treatments for a benign growth in his inner ear that is affecting his hearing. Check the Dusty Update for the latest.
December 6, 2006: The Austin American Statesman has reported that ZZ Top has signed the Sanctuary Group to be their new management. Here is a subsequent article from Encore.
March 14, 2007: VH-1 Classic aired the Celebrity Poker Tournament with Dusty at 10pm EST, rerunning it several times over the next few days.
April 7, 2007: ZZ Top was inducted into the Southeast Texas Walk of Fame. This article from KBTV has more details.
May 12, 2007: VH1 honored the music and influence of ZZ Top at their Rock Honors show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
May 16, 2007: BFG made another guest appearance on Bones airing on Fox.
November 12, 2007: Billy appeared alongside Roky Erickson at an Austin City Limits taping. The show was scheduled to be broadcast on January 12th. Thanks to CW for the tip. BK, who was at the taping, reports that Billy "absolutely didn't want to steal the spotlight away from his friend Roky, who he musically looked up to as a young man. He was clearly enjoying the experience immensely, and paying something back. Billy never stepped forward for any of his solos. The only thing he did besides playing was, during applause breaks, to twice point his index fingers at Roky."
January 3, 2008: ZZ Top was the major attraction during the halftime show of the 2008 Orange Bowl at Dolphin Stadium.
According to the article in MySA.com Dusty says ZZ Top plans to go into the studio towards the end of 07 and wants to release an album in early 08.
January 10, 2008: Warner Bros. Records issued a press release detailing the upcoming Eliminator Collector's Edition CD/DVD. The CD will include seven new audio tracks including 2 remixes and 5 live cuts from Castle Donington and The Marquee Club. The DVD portion includes four previously released music videos and five live songs originally broadcast on British TV in 1983. Current release date is March 26 and suggested pricing $25. [Update: Current release date is June 10.]
February 25, 2008: Tour dates are posted for 2008 Tour dates. Check the concerts page for more details. This schedule will be updated constantly as new information is released and dates are confirmed.
"ZZ Top: Live From Texas", a widescreen DVD with DTS/Dolby Digital 5.1/Dolby Stereo sound, captured live during the most recent tour, will be released June 9, 2008 in Europe. Click here for a prerelease sales bulletin that gives some advance information.
BW&BK quotes Billy Gibbons as saying they have "inked a deal with Rick Rubin that will be announced shortly." Stay tuned for a possible announcement in the near future.
Stay tuned to the mailing lizzt and newzzfeed for more in depth information!
