Mescalero Mess

Texas' chief boogie chillen ZZ Top cruise into the Erwin Center Friday,
accompanied by the Double Trouble-backed Kenny Wayne Shepherd, but with
their 14th LP, Mescalero, still no closer to seeing the (official) light of
day. Longtime Top publicist Bob Merlis says the delay -- Mescalero was
originally slated to come out this spring -- is due to the latest regime
change at the band's label of the last decade, RCA. "Basically, they
recorded it for one administration and delivered it to another," says
Merlis. According to him, new RCA head Clive Davis, upon hearing Mescalero,
was reputed to say, "I think we can do more." Merlis' colleague Amy Treco,
press liaison for this Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers tour, confirms the
party line. "[Clive] liked the album, but thought something special should
happen to it." While it's been widely speculated this "something special"
will turn out to be the Santana treatment of numerous chart-friendly guest
stars -- meaning Avril Lavigne's two-way should be going off any time --
Merlis says changes to the album have yet to be determined. During all this,
he says the band has been "really open-minded" and "hopeful that [Davis']
interest in the release will make it more anticipated." Though he admits
that not having new product out hasn't exactly helped the current tour's
ticket sales, he points out that a recent show in San Bernardino, Calif.,
"essentially" sold out, and furthermore, it was in his estimation the Top's
"best show ever." With the band heading to Europe this summer before more
U.S. dates in the fall, Merlis says it's unclear when they will be available
to address Davis' suggestions, but points out that new songs "Buck Nekkid"
and "Peace" have been well-received on the road. As for the band's
long-delayed 4-CD box set, Merlis reports that it's more or less ready, but
will have to wait until after Mescalero's release to shake some more tush. 

From the Austin Chronicle, original URL:
http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2003-06-13/music_TCB_all.html