Most of us rock and roll fans remember our first ZZ Top song. The older generation might think of “(Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree” from 1971 or maybe something off the second album, “Francine“, which was the only single released from Rio Grande Mud In 1973. The song “La Grange” officially put the band on the map and to most is still one of the most popular songs ever released. It was all downhill from there and over the next 3 generations the band continued to morph. They continued to grow and became one of the most famous and iconic bands of all time. It seemed with each new decade the guys would find a way to make the charts without going too far away from their roots when it comes to southwestern blues. The recent passing of Dusty Hill basically ends an era of older American rock and roll bands. There are some wild stories out there as well as some sweet ones about life on their tours. One thing is for sure – the legacy is firm and they will be remembered forever Here’s a little more about the little three piece out of Texas with a big sound and amazing journey.
ZZ Top, an American rock band formed in 1969 in Houston, TX by Billy Gibbons. For 51 years, the band consisted of Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard and bassist Dusty Hill. Rooted in blues, ZZ Top developed a signature sound based on Gibbons’ blues guitar style and Hill and Beard’s rhythm section. They gained popularity for their live performances, humorous lyrics and the similarity in appearance of Gibbons and Hill with their sunglasses, long beards and hots.
ZZ Top formed after the demise of Gibbons’ previous band, Moving Sidewalks. Within a year of forming they signed with London Records and released ZZ Top’s First Album. They subsequently released Tres Hombres and Fandango! and the singles “La Grange’ and “Tush” got extensive radio play. By the mid-1970s the band became renowned for its live act. Their performances during their Worldwide Texas Tour from 1976 to 1977 gave them critical and commercial success.
ZZ Top returned in 1979 with a new musical direction and image, with Gibbons and Hill wearing sunglasses and matching chest-length beards. They experimented with different instruments such as clavinets, saxophones and synthesizers and established a more mainstream sound. They gained international favor with their Eliminator album in 1983 and Afterburner in 1985 by integrating influences from new wave, punk and dance-rock. Songs such as “Gimme All Your Lovin’”, “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs” helped propel them onto MTV and gave them prominence in 1980s culture.
The Afterburner Tour set records for the highest-attended and highest-grossing concert tour of 1986. ZZ top gained additional acclaim with the release of Recycler, their tenth album, in 1990 and its accompanying tour. The group’s experimentation continued with mixed success on the albums Antenna in 1994, Rhythmeen in 1996, XXX in 1999 and Mescalero in 2003. Their most recent release was La Future in 2012 and Goin’ 50 in 2019, which is a compilation album commemorating the band’s 50th anniversary.
After Hill’s death in 2021, Gibbons announced that, per his wishes, ZZ Top would continue with Hill’s longtime guitar tech, Elwood Francis, on bass. It is the band’s first lineup change in 51 years.
ZZ Top has released 15 studio albums and sold an estimated 50 million albums worldwide. They won three MTV Video Music Awards. In 2004, the members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone ranked Gibbons number 32 on their list of “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. During their careers, the band and its members have supported charities including Childline, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and have raised funds for the Delta Blues Museum.
