Snapshotzz from Pete's Photo Album de ZZ Top

• First things first: A business card from the Coachmen, circa 1965.
• Next up are a stage shot and group photo of the Moving Sidewalks, Billy Gibbons' old band. These pictures are from around 1967-69. (Donated by Mike Crane.)
• Thanks to Russell Elrod for sending in an authentic contract signed by Bill Ham and advertisement for a December 23 1969 "Z. Z. TOP" appearance at the Houston Music Theatre as a special added attraction with Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley. According to Dan Mitchell, Chuck Berry was noticably ticked that BFG was on that night and outplaying him!
• Here is the first known picture of ZZ Top dated 1971, thanks to Mike Crane. "Looks like a high school auditorium" -- indeed!
• Dating way back to 1973 -- check out this authentic backstage pass from a Tres Hombres-era ZZ Top concert in Albuquerque. (Thanks to John Cline!)
• This poster is from ZZ Top's First Annual Rompin' Stompin Barn Dance & Bar-B-Q, on September 1, 1974 at Austin's Memorial Stadium. (Thanks to Robin Roberts for the contribution.)
• Here's a higher quality scan of the Barn Dance & Bar-B-Q handbill, sent in by Glenn Rollins. Glenn also sends in what is presumably an earlier version of the handbill which doesn't include the guest list.
• Here's a close up shot of Billy Gibbons taken by our own Jim Criswell, from the front row of a Fandango!-era concert back in '76.
• Check out these two promo shots from Fandango ("They just don't spread the legs like this anymore.") and Deguello ("This picture didn't get around much because as you can see it appears to be a bad idea.") Commentary and pictures courtesy of the incomparable Mike Crane.
• Here we have a very unique collectible thanks to Bill Irwin: a Tejas album release party invite, for after the WWTT show in Richmond Texas on November 26, 1976. [ front | inside ]
• Mike Thacker sent this snapshot from the Columbus Georgia show in 1980, the first time many people saw the beards after the boyzz' post-Deguello hiatus.
• During the early 80's, ZZ Top was well known for its obsession with certain anatomical extremities. The band was captured by Guitarist Magazine flanked by a fine set thereof. Another common sight in the vicinity of the hirsute trio was the red car named Eliminator.
• Here is a classic photo of the three guys with Bill Ham, taken in 1985, perhaps the peak of their popularity. Thanks to Mike Crane.
• This Press photo was released in support of ZZ Top's 11/30/93 visit to Wembley Arena in London, England.
• After releasing Afterburner, the boyzz sent this Christmas card out to members of the fan club.
• The boyzz made a cameo appearance as a 3-piece band in "Back to the Future, Part III."
• During the Recycler tour (1990), the band was accompanied by a chopped black Cadillac named Cadzzilla and several Harleys collectively known as the Hogzzillas.
• 'Round about 1994, ZZ Top could be seen showing off their custom Harley. Also from the Antenna era, check out this shot of Billy and Dusty jamming onstage and a sample Pincushion promo postcard that was sent to fan club members. This Christmas card was also sent out at the time. Finally, this group shot captures Billy wearing a "Henry Swing Club" hat -- a Detroit bar mentioned in the John Lee Hooker song "Boogie Chillen'."
• Fast fowarding to the Rhythmeen era, here are shots of ZZ Top performing "She's Just Killing Me" and Robert Rodriguez filming ZZ Top making the video for the same song. Also take a look at the What's Up With That promo postcard that was sent to fan club members at the time. This recent group shot shows the band in their stage dress. Note Billy's "ZZ Hat de Afrique" and Frank's 'chick-warmer' goatee. Check out this backstage pass from the Continental Safari tour. I also have this excellent stage shot from ZZ Top's Summer '96 visit to Sweden.
• Here's a picture from Ryan Grealy of Billy adjusting his tree of six Bixonic Expandoras at their show in Vancouver on 6/1/97. (For more on the Bixonic Expandora visit the Potatoe Salad page.)
• Peter Svensson sent in this collection of backstage passes from a variety of tours. Here's Ryan Grealy's collection, and a couple of Mean Rhythm passes (signed "FB") from Gary N. Gay.
• Take a look at this spectacular shot of ZZ Top performing in Tennessee in May '97 during the Mean Rhythm tour.
• Jackie Ray got her paws on this stage shot and closeup of the Reverend from the recent 8/5/99 Fairbanks, Alaska show.
• Here are a couple pictures of Billy and the whole band in Providence, R.I. on January 22, 2000, thanks to John Monast.
• Trond Midthaug contributed this promo shot and poster of the boyzz from their XXX album & tour.
• Mookie sent in this desert photo of the boyzz during the filming of a video. Check out their "Z" guitars! According to Brice Delage this is actually a commercial for the Honda Z.
• Conehead went to the Delta Blues Museum and sent in this picture of the Muddywood guitar.
• These pictures from RodeoHouston (2/21/02) of the stage props and Billy Gibbons' guitar strap were sent in and copyrighted by Lew Fincher.
• Another photo of the RodeoHouston stage, thanks to Galen Scott. Note the large purple cacti!
• Mike Crane took this great shot at the May 4, 2002 Taj Mahal/Ettis Arena gig in Atlantic City, NJ. Note the same purple cacti and metal tumbleweeds as they had at RodeoHouston.
• John Monast took this spectacular closeup of Billy at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT on May 7, 2002.
• Markus Krekel sent in this picture of Billy and Elwood onstage at the Oct 12, 2002 show in Frankfurt, Germany.
• Rolf Krieger got this great snapshot of the whole band onstage 10/12/02 in Frankfurt.
• Bernd Heilmann took this picture of the band onstage and playing Legs and Tush. in Amsterdam on 10/29/02.
• Markus Krekel sent in another great picture of Billy puffing away and the band bathed in red light in Amsterdam.
• And also from Amsterdam come these excellent pictures from Rene Kuiken: The Speaker Effect | Tumbleweed, cactus & Expandoras | The Set with Explorers | BFG with Gibson & Tone Dog
• The following photos from the Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers Tour were taken by John Monast at Boston on 5/20/03: Boyzz in Mexican getup | The standard outfits | B.G. showing off his Gretsch from Bo Diddley | Frank's drum kit | Cowboy outfits | Elwood lighting Billy G's cigar | Paying homage to the Expandora dog. Thanks John!
• Thanks to Jim McAnulty, here is a closeup of Billy's new shoes.
• Here are some more concert shots from St. Louis (5/31/03) sent in by Jim Mcanulty: Billy playing the slide with Frank | The whole band in normal outfits | Billy with his Gretsch from Bo Diddley | Billy and Dusty | The whole band in serapes | Billy with Gretsch and the Expandora dog | Another shot of the whole band | Dusty | BG and DH in serapes | Closeup of Frank
• Dusty and one of the Mescalero Brothers showing Dusty in a new outfit. From New Orleans, June 17 03, thanks to Paul Busby, who says these outfits were not used at the Nashville show on May 30.
• My man in Switzerland Mr. B. sends in two awesome shots of BFG, the first in front of a 48 Ford at a photo shoot during the Montreux Festival; the second sporting Versace with a custom bike and matching guitar. Both taken around July 20, 2003.
• Thanks to Frank Braun for these excellent shots from Hannover (Aug 5 2003), Bonn BG w/Les | Band w/Explorers (Jul 9 2003), and Erfurt Dancing | BG w/Gretsch | Cowboy hats | BG & DH singing (Jul 18 2003).
• Jim McAnulty sent in the following pics Mario Vazquez took at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia on August 13 2004: BG & DH in Blue Suits | Black suits & guitars (note BG's new boots) | DH & BG closeup | BG closeup.
• Denny Noland sent in this stage shot from the Allentown, PA show on September 2, 2004.
• Mark Homen took these pictures of Billy and Dusty at the June 4 2005 concert at Konocti Harbor Amphitheater in Kelseyville, CA.
• A few more pics from Konocti were sent in by Jeff Schultz: B&D and the whole band blowing in the wind, Frank's new drums and the tone dog (note new green Foxx boxes instead of the Expandoras).
• Ken Wysocki sent in some great pics of the Las Vegas show on June 10, 2005: The guitar salute | The band in black | Billy with boots & black Gretsch | Elwood gives BG a light | BG playing slide in profile | Closeup of BG with his black backwards Gretsch
• On June 12 2005, Russell Elrod got this great pic of Billy at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar, Calif.
• Here's an interesting shot of Billy arriving at the show in Denver on June 25, 2005 thanks to James Dean.
• Here are some press shots from Billy's new autobiography: Cover | The Cars | The Guitars | The Life | Fixed - Tricked - Transformed | Kopperhed | A Hop-up Hop-down Affair ... and one from Paul Rosola Pit BBQ
• Frank Sylvester sent in these pics from Big Flats, New York on July 9 2005: 1 | 2
• Jim McAnulty sent in these pics from St. Charles Missouri on July 27 2005: BG in red jacket | another BG in red jacket | BG extreme closeup | BG w/speaker rack | Frank | BG & DH | DH w/white fuzzy Gibson | BG black | BG & DH with the tone dog | Elwood gives BG a light
• Here are some pics Jim's brother Mario took at the same show on July 27: B&D looking at camera | Frank | BG w/speakers | Frank in red light | BG closeup | BG havin fun | another fun BG shot | DH closeup | Billy & Frank | the whole band
• Here is one neat pic sent in by Bob Dyer, which I believe is from the same show (he called it St. Louis): Billy showing the back of his guitar
• And now for some fantastic shots from Reno 9/24/05 sent in by Jeff Schultz: B&D in new lime green jackets with green guitars 1 | 2 | BG w/green Gretsch 1 | 2 | DH green jacket & red bass | B&D green w/red 1 | 2 | BG green w/red | B&D green w/red 3 | Billy black jacket w/black Hcsterg | Dusty black w/black
• Here are another 2 thanks to Russell Elrod: BFG & DH w/fuzzy Explorers and BFG w/Gretsch.
• Thanks to Sean Vincent for sending in this picture from 5/22/06 WWE RAW Wrestling of Billy G. with Vince McMahon and Candice Michelle.
• First pic of the 2007 tour, here's the whole band in Biloxi, Mississippi, thanks to Paul Busby.
• Thanks to the anonymous lizzter who sent in this picture of some of the boyzz' mics and stands taken backstage during the early part of the 2007 Hollywood Blues tour.
• Thanks to "Padre" Bill Schroeder for these pics of the band in concert and leaving after the show and Frank carrying his dog to a golf cart from March 18, 2007 in Houston. Also for these two showing Billy's new guitar and 'Willyboy' jacket.
• More thanks to Padre Bill for these pics from Corpus Christi, March 23, 2007, showing BFG's new Gretsch: closeup & wide.
• Thanks to Jeff Schultz for some more great camera work from Las Vegas on March 31 2007: Pablo does the 'I Say ZZ' intro | So, you wondered what Billy's boots look like? | No, you wanted to know what brand of cymbals Frank uses, or what his earrings look like. | Dusty's new 'thedust' jacket | Ya-ya | Elwood | BFG with yet another new gold guitar, this one similar to or an actual regular goldtop but with 3 knobs instead of 4, no selector switch, and nonstandard pinstriping. Modifications possibly by Bolin. | Another shot of same | Photo showing the Prince Albert tobacco can on BG's guitar strap, the wireless transmitter for his guitar | the cheatsheet | good pic of BG's jacket, the new Gretsch and the end-of-show smoke
• From Alpine, California's Viejas Concerts in the Park, Russell Elrod sends the following: BFG showing off the BEER sticker on the back of his guitar as he plays it with his belt buckle | willyboy smoking while thedust strokes his beard.
• A few more from Russell Elrod, these from Pala California on April 29 2007: BFG & DH w/amps | BFG w/gold guitar, slide | Frank w/backdrop, riser, amps
• A closeup of BFG's rings
• One again Craneman calls in a few excellent shots, this time from JazzFest May 4 2007 in New Orleans: BG & DH from the stage | headed off stage, with Donny Stuart
• Thanks to Bobby Z for these pics from Toyota Park in Bridgeview Illinois on July 19 2007: Billy's beard does the splits | Billy at the mic | Billy & Dusty
• Thanks to Erin Crowley for more pics from the same show: Dusty | Billy | Billy & Dusty
• Thanks to DS for this pic of Frank's rig & stage accoutrements from Birmingham, Alabama on 7/31/07.
• Thanks to ambazzador Pat Washburn for pics from San Antonio on 8/5/07 of the whole band and a closeup of Billy showing his Big Tex guitar. Pat points out the cricket invasion evidenced by the critters present on Billy's left shoulder and pants leg and in the upper corners of the lowest level of Crate amps behind him. Nice work!
• Muchas gracias to Russ Elrod for this picture from August 19 in Chula Vista, California.
• Here are some pics from Merillville, Indiana on Sept. 11 07, thanks to George Kovacich: Billy | the whole band, closeup | band with backdrop | BFG & Elwood
• Thanks to Ilya Mirman for these pics from Boston: Billy w/Z.Vex amps & tone dog | B&D w/Z.Vex amps & tone dog | Billy plays slide
• Thanks to Erin Crowley for pics from Dubuque Iowa on 10/23/07: stage set showing the tone dog, pick chair, etc. | Billy's new light up guitar 1 | 2 | 3 with official ZZ Top dollar store cheap tequila closeup of the pick chair, slide & tequila
• Thanks to Russell Elrod for sending in these very cool shots from the Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella, California (November 14) to close out the 2007 tour: super closeup of BFG's smoking guitar & Billy's bow
• Russell Elrod also sent in some pics from Valley Center, California, on May 10, 2008, including this shot of Billy & Dusty with their new bomber jackets and goggles.
• Thanks to Padre Bill for sending in this pic of Billy and his new guitar from Corpus Christi on May 16 2008.
• Thanks to the anonymous contributor who sent in this closeup of BFG with his new goggles and leather jacket from 5/24/08 in Robinsonville, MS.
• Thanks to GG for sending in pictures from Rutland Vermont, 6/21/08, of BFG with 'King Billy' guitar and Sammy Sanchez, BFG's new guitar tech.
• From the surprise jam session at Montreux on July 9 2008, here's a picture of Billy with a one-off James Trussart guitar from Bernard Moix. Picture is by Alain Sauquet.
• From Museumsplatz in Bonn, Germany, July 11, 2008, thanks to Markuzz Krekel for these very rare pics of the whole band w/projection system (and Billy out for a stroll...) and BFG's new flat black Billy-Bo guitar that seems to match their leather jackets. Are those rhinestones?!
• Round Two from Museumsplatz thanks to Markuzz and his German Voodooglazzes, BFG & DH showing video projecting on the speakers | video on the backdrop 1 | 2 | another shot of BFG with his new spotted Billy-Bo | Billy's German cheet sheet
• Thanks to Ken Wysocki for sending this pic of Frank's new drum kit from the HD Summerfest in Milwaukee on 8/29/08.
• Thanks to Mr. Anonymous for sending in two pictures from Nashville on 10/3/08, one showing Billy's newly modified hat (note the tuft of Hat de Afrique poking out), and one showing Frank's new drum kit.
• Steve Kalinsky reports in from Cleveland, Oct 5 2008, with these pictures of Billy, Dusty and Frank's drum kit and a closeup of Billy and Dusty, both showing the black studded guitars. Thanks Steve!
• Thanks to superb cameraman Steve Kalinsky for these four pics from Pittsburgh on October 15 2008: B & D with King Billy and Gold Duster white guitars | black studded guitars and Frank's skull drum kit | Dusty's Gold Duster guitar and Billy's custom gold-colored Gretsch | entire band w/Brooks and Dunn
• Thanks to Murray for sending in this pic of the whole band at the Orpheum in Minneapolis on 10/17/08. Check out BFG's new stack o'hats and Dusty's guitar.
• First pics from the 2009 tour come From Jelling in Denmark on May 31 2009 thanks to Peer Henrik Hansen! Billy's new rectangular fuzzy guitar | closeup | the blue orb makes a comeback | gold/magenta ones as seen later in Mainz
• From Mainz in Germany on June 7 2009 come these pictures thanks to Markuzz Krekel: New guitars gold/magenta (id?) | New rectangular fuzzy bass | Pablo catching the bottle of whiskey that seems to be getting thrown lately... | Elwood lighting up and Billy with his red Gretsch Billy-Bo
• Thanks to Gareth Smith and Anne Saunders for sending in these pictures from Donington Park UK, June 14 2009: Zoom in to find Billy's green paisley butterfly neckerchief, the white satchel around his neck, and the Landshark Lager bucket | Zoom in to see the headstock of Dusty's rectangular fuzzy and the reverse of Billy's | Billy tossing a bottle of JD while Dusty plays his white "Gold Duster" guitar
• Thanks again to Steve Kalinsky for sending in this photo from Burgettstown, Pennsylvania on June 24 2009: the whole band and Billy with a new Gibson Moderne
• Dateline 8/1/2010: BFG has been pulling a kid out of the near audience on his side of the stage to "help" play the guitar. At least 3-4 confirmed reports of this so far. If you have a kid, get him or her up there in front! [Incident at Snowden Grove, Southaven, Mississippi]
• Check out these pics from Russ Elrod, taken at the Snoqualmie, Washington concert on August 29: BFG & DH -- note Billy's hot purple shoelaces and Dusty's boots and pant cuffs; what's the partial gauntlet (black) on DH's left hand? | Jimi Hendrix tribute time
• BFG on Just Got Paid at the Del Mar Racetrack on September 4. Thanks again to Russ Elrod for the contribution!
• Check out Billy and Dusty at Palais Omnisports Paris Bercy, France on Oct 16 2010, thanks to Madeline Le Botlan. (Note the new FFA "Agricultural Education" patches!)
• Here are some gorgeous pictures from the October 19 2010 show in the Netherlands, thanks to Larzz Ketzer: BFG as contestant #13 and showing off a gorgeous new Billy-Bo design guitar and FFA patch -- is he going to the rodeo? | Now the bandana and hat de Afrique are topped off with a third (or is it fourth?) chapeau | Dusty with the fuzzy Gibson and FFA patch | A great end-of-show picture showing Billy smoking his cigarillo and playing the green and red on black Billy-Bo, backed up by the light-up backdrop displaying the stylized Little ol' Band from Texas logo.
• Here's another big sack o'Enschede wack, thanks to our man Markuzz: Beard in fine form, all lit up and neoney with Paiste cymbals, Tama "FB" drums, and the usual bottle of bourbon in front at his left. | Dusty with a new guitar design. Zoom in close to see the Antenna avatar just south of his pickup. | This one's got it all. Fancy guitar, a great smile, nice shiny boots, the man's in motion, we got a gorgeous pattern on the backdrop, and Dusty's pointing the way to where it's all at. | Temporary Dutch version of the surprise "beer" advertisement! | It's about out of control. We got Frank's drums going bonkers, spotlights, cars driving around, a ghostly Mexican in a sombrero, day-glo purple shoelaces on the Reverend, and... his hat. | Just a little something I saved for the fans of the green fairy | And to wrap things up, this one is about as close as most of us are ever gonna get to the Worldwide Texas Tour. Have mercy!
• Thanks to Ruzz' cousin Susie B. from the Penitentiary for sending in these great pics of the Psychedelic Ice Cream Social, held at SXSW in Austin town on March 17 2011! Roky Erickson sings onstage at SXSW | BFG onstage, good quality shot of his guitar and the neck chain of flair | Billy and Roky Erickson | Closeup of "Bad Billy's" guitar with Marlboro inset | Billy playing onstage with another band member in the background. Good high rez photo with plenty of zoomable goodness
• Thanks to Markuzz Krekel for photos from Koln, June 27 2011: "Darlin while you take this thing off, can you scratch me here..." | BFG closeup with keychain detail | sliding down the new Engelhardt guitar (see below for more details) | Dusty, Billy and Frank onstage (note BFG's purple laces and the uplights in front of Frank's skull bass drums) | closeup of Billy's ring and one of the orange on green on black Billy-Bo guitars
• Markuzz hits us again with some amazing photos, this time from Mainz on June 29 2011: Billy's amp | The guitar vault showing the backs of many of the guitars (Who's the picture on the top right? Ray Charles?) | Frank waiting on stage for Billy and Dusty - and demonstrating as always why he is Tab's #1 customer | BFG in serape backed by the tumbling amps | good technicolor shot of the whole stage set | BFG and Frank with the lightup backdrop in a cool pattern -- and possibly the best image yet of Billy's necklace swag | closeup of a Pearly clone, supposedly one with a Norwegian pickup | another shot of BFG with the Pearly clone. Check out the wording on the headstock: "Gibbons" | bowing to the audience | making their exit
• Thanks to Volker Friedrich and Frank Braun for sending in pictures of from Abenberg, Germany. [ photo from concert | photo from nordbayern.de ] The guitar, fashioned from a 100-year old piece of floorboard, was made by German luthier Herbert Engelhard, who has built guitars since 1983 and whose guitars are also played by the Scorpions. The guitar is described to be in the shape of a Gibson Explorer "with Billy's preferred bridge-pickup-and-one-knob setup." Another contributor notes a "Gretsch Humbucker or at least a clone cut off Tele bridge".
• Kudos to Frank Braun for sending in a pic of BFG with another new guitar, this one at Lille, France on July 1, 2011. It's been described as a telecaster-shaped guitar with a headstock reminiscent of John Bolin design. The guitar appears to feature a single bridge pickup, tone and volume knobs, and some sort of automobile emblem-type accoutrement on the upper bout. The bridge appears to be different than the model Bolin had been using previously on Billy's guitars.
• Thanks to Russ Elrod for these excellent shots from 2011's Coachella show on October 2: BFG with the pinstriped "Gibson" guitar, which reads "Mojo Maker" where the neck joins the body, and the satchel around his neck | Billy pauses the show to autograph a Warner issue of the First Album on vinyl | Good view of Dusty's guitar with the Antenna man and "JB" logo on the headstock, also showing Billy's heart-shaped guitar strap buckle | Excellent shot capturing another of Dusty's guitars; this one having what appears to be an engine near the bottom, which glows red from time to time
• Thanks to Steve Kalinsky for photos from the last gig of the 2011 tour, October 30, in Charleston, West Virginia: Dusty signs a First Album | Billy gets the blues hat from Ali Kat 1 | 2 | Closeup of BFG's "Esquire" Tele | "BG" Billy-Bo | Good shot of the whole stage; note the spider climbing on the speakers for Halloween | DH looks on as Elwood lends Billy a light | Dusty and his "engine" bass. Per Lefty W., the "Fender Esquire" is a "one-pickup job, looks like an ash body, maple neck. It has some writing on the lower bout". Can anyone identify the language of the writing?
• Thanks again to Russ Elrod for another excellent photo, this one from Bakersfield California 8/14/2012 showing Billy's DRINK DIXIE BEER guitar.

Peter Zurich
pbz@lowpft.com