ZZ Top

Name	ZZ Top
Landscape	Yes
Background	group_or_band
Origin	Houston, Texas, United States
Genre	Blues-rock, southern rock, hard rock
Years active	1969–present |Label = American, RCA, Warner Bros., London
Associated acts	Moving Sidewalks, American Blues
Url	Official site
Current members	Billy GibbonsDusty HillFrank Beard
Past members	See: #Former Members

ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, Southern, and boogie rock. By the mid-1970s, they were among the most popular touring acts in the United States and broke various concert attendance feats. After years of touring, the band went on a two-year break in 1977, which resulted in Gibbons and Hill growing chest-length beards.

Although they returned in 1979 and the band signed a new deal with Warner Bros. Records (taking the rights to their London recordings with them), it was not until the band released 1983's Eliminator that they reached a new height in popularity, selling over 10 million copies. Throughout the late 1980s, the band made several hits and won several awards for music videos like "Legs" and "Sharp Dressed Man". After over 40 years of performing with the same members, the band continues to tour and record music.

ZZ Top has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, including 25 million albums in the US alone. The band scored 8 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, six number one Mainstream Rock hits, and three MTV Video Music Awards. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. After Summers and Moore were drafted into the US Army, Gibbons formed a new group with Mitchell and bassist Lanier Greig, although they still needed a name. Lanier Greig later left the band and was replaced by Billy Ethridge.

The band's name was rumored to have derived from Zig-Zag and TOP rolling papers. Gibbons, however, revealed the true origin of the group's name in his autobiographical book Billy F Gibbons: Rock + Roll Gearhead. The book mentions an apartment that Gibbons lived in, with a row of flyers on a wall. Taking notice of Z. Z. Hill and B.B. King posters, Gibbons favored "ZZ" and "King," and came up with "ZZ King," though it was too much like the guitarist's name. Coming to the conclusion that B.B. King was on the "top," Gibbons settled with the name "ZZ Top."

The band issued their debut album, ZZ Top's First Album. Released in January 1971, the album failed to chart, though the single "(Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree" peaked at No.50 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album was a blues-rock record filled with distorted guitars, boogie-woogie rhythms, and sexual innuendos, laying the foundation for ZZ Top's signature blues-rock sound. After releasing their first album, the band started to attract local attention doing live shows, opening for acts like Janis Joplin, Humble Pie, Ten Years After, and Mott the Hoople.}} The band released their second album Rio Grande Mud in 1972, which peaked at No.104 on the Billboard 200. Although the only charting single from the album was "Francine" at #69, several songs such as "Just Got Paid" and "Bar-B-Q" would become fan favorites of the band's live shows.

Touring years (1973–1977)

US popularity, Tres Hombres and Fandango!

ZZ Top's next album was 1973's Tres Hombres, which established them as national stars when the album charted at No.8 on the Billboard 200. Tres Hombres was an instant success, starting with the single "La Grange," which hit No.41 on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition, "La Grange," a song about a bordello on the outskirts of La Grange, Texas, became a permanent staple in the band's set list. The album is well regarded and appeared on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The band toured in support of Tres Hombres, performing for stadium-sized audiences. On Labor Day in 1974, a show at Austin's Texas Memorial Stadium attracted an audience of over 100,000. The concert, named "ZZ Top's First Annual Texas Size Rompin' Stompin' Barn Dance and Bar B.Q.," featured special guests including Santana, Joe Cocker, and Bad Company. Soon after Fandango! was released, the band continued to tour extensively, headlining their own shows, and breaking concert attendance records set by Elvis Presley and Led Zeppelin. 1977's Tejas was not as successful or as positively received as their previous efforts, although the album went to No.17 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart.

ZZ Top continued the Worldwide Texas Tour in support of Tejas, though they had been touring for seven years. The band went on what was supposed to be a 90-day break from public appearances. Gibbons traveled to Europe, Beard had gone to Jamaica, and Hill went to Mexico. The break extended to two years, during which Gibbons and Hill grew chest-length beards.

Reunion, Degüello and El Loco (1979–1981)

In 1979, ZZ Top signed with Warner Bros. Records and released the album Degüello. While the album went platinum, it only reached No.24 on the Billboard chart. The album produced two singles, including "I Thank You," a cover of a song recorded by Sam and Dave, and "Cheap Sunglasses." The band remained a popular concert attraction and toured in support of Degüello. In April 1980, ZZ Top made their first appearance in Europe, performing for the German music television show Rockpalast. El Loco was released in October 1981, featuring three singles ("Tube Snake Boogie," "Pearl Necklace," and "Leila").

Eliminator and the synth era (1981–1990)

ZZ Top's next album was even more successful. Eliminator, released in March 1983, featured two Top 40 singles ("Gimme All Your Lovin'" and "Legs"), four Mainstream Rock hits (including "Got Me Under Pressure" and "Sharp Dressed Man"), and "Legs" peaking at No.13 on the Club Play Singles chart. Eliminator was a critical and commercial success, selling more than 10 million copies, and several music videos were in regular rotation on MTV. The band also won their first MTV Video Music Awards in the categories of Best Group Video for "Legs," and Best Direction for "Sharp Dressed Man." and racking up sales of 5 million units. The music video for "Velcro Fly" was choreographed by pop singer Paula Abdul. ZZ Top's grueling Afterburner World Tour lasted well into 1987, which also saw the release of The ZZ Top Sixpack, a three-disc collection of ZZ Top's albums from 1970 to 1981, with the exception of Degüello. The albums were remixed with the result that the sound of the first 5 albums of material was updated to 1980's standards, and sounded very different from the original album releases. The original mixes of the back catalog have not (and in some cases have still not been) issued on the CD format for over two decades.

Recycler

Recycler, released in 1990, was ZZ Top's last studio album under contract with Warner Records. Recycler was also the last of a distinct sonic trilogy in the ZZ Top catalogue. The collection actually marked a return towards the earlier, simpler guitar-driven blues sound with less synthesizer and pop bounce of the previous two albums. This move did not entirely suit the fan base that Eliminator and Afterburner had built up, and while Recycler did achieve platinum status, it never matched the sales of Eliminator and Afterburner. The cartoonish and sexy-ZZ-girl videos continued in singles like "My Head's in Mississippi", "Give It Up", and "Burger Man".

ZZ Top contributed a song, "Doubleback", and appeared as an acoustic band in the wild-west dance scene in the 1990 movie Back to the Future Part III. The band also appeared in the 1990 TV movie Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme, portraying the Three Men in a Tub.

In 1992, Warner released ZZ Top's Greatest Hits along with a new Rolling Stones-style cut "Gun Love" and an Elvis-inflected video, "Viva Las Vegas".

In 1993, ZZ Top inducted a major influence, Cream, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

RCA years (1994–2003)

Antenna, Rhythmeen and XXX

The band then signed to a $35 million deal with RCA Records, releasing the million-selling Antenna in 1994. Subsequent RCA albums, Rhythmeen (1996) and 1999's XXX (the second album to feature live tracks) sold well, but did not reach earlier standards. ZZ Top, however, continued to play to enthusiastic live audiences.

Mescalero

In 2003, ZZ Top released a final RCA album, Mescalero, an album thick with harsh Gibbons guitar and featuring a hidden track – a cover version of "As Time Goes By". RCA impresario Clive Davis wanted to do a collaboration record (in the mode of Carlos Santana's successful Supernatural) for this album. In an interview in Goldmine magazine, artists Pink, Dave Matthews, and Wilco were among the artists slated for the project.

A comprehensive four-CD collection of recordings from the London and Warner Bros. years, Chrome, Smoke & BBQ, was released in 2003. It featured the band's first single (A- and B-side), several rare B-side tracks as well as a radio promotion from 1979, a live track and several extended dance mix versions of their biggest MTV hits. Three tracks from Billy Gibbons' pre-ZZ band, The Moving Sidewalks, were also included.

Hall of Fame, touring, and unfinished album (2004–present)

In 2004, ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones gave the induction speech. ZZ Top gave a brief performance, playing "La Grange" and "Tush."

Expanded and remastered versions of the original studio albums from the 1970s and ’80s are currently in production. Marketed as "Remastered and Expanded," these releases include additional live tracks which were not present on the original recordings. Three such CDs have been released to date (Tres Hombres, Fandango!, and Eliminator). The first two were released in 2006 and use the original mixes free from echo and drum machines, while "Eliminator" was released in 2008. The Eliminator re-release also features a collector's edition version containing a DVD featuring several videos and additional live tracks.

As of 2006, it was reported that ZZ Top were recording their 15th studio album. There was no release, however, and on September 17, 2006, the band ended their tenure with RCA Records and further left their manager Bill Ham, president of Lone Wolf Management. No reasons were publicized for these changes. In December 2006, Sanctuary Management added ZZ Top to its roster.

ZZ Top's most recent high-profile appearance was a performance at the 2008 Orange Bowl game in Miami. They also performed in 2008 at the Auto Club 500 NASCAR event at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California.

On June 23, 2008, ZZ Top celebrated the release of their first live concert DVD entitled Live From Texas with the world premiere, a special appearance, and charity auction at the Hard Rock Cafe in Houston. The DVD was officially released on June 24, 2008. The featured performance was culled from a concert filmed at the Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie, Texas on November 1, 2007.

In July 2008, the band announced they have signed with producer Rick Rubin and are recording a new album. Rubin will be producing the next album, and it has been reported that the band will be aiming to move back to their pre-80s La Grange sound.

The Eliminator Collector's Edition CD/DVD, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the band's iconic RIAA Diamond Certified album, was released September 10, 2008. The release includes seven bonus tracks and a bonus DVD, including four television performances from The Tube in November 1983.

On January 22, 2010, Billy Gibbons accompanied Will Ferrell and others playing "Free Bird" on Conan O'Brien's last show. O'Brien joined in on guitar.

On June 8, 2011, a press release, reported on various media sources, announced that the new song "Flyin' High" will debut in space. Astronaut and friend of ZZ Top, Michael Fossum, was given the yet to be released single to listen to on his trip to the International Space Station.

Band Members

Current members

Billy Gibbons – vocals, guitar

Dusty Hill – bass, keyboards, vocals

Frank Beard – drums

Discography

1971 – ZZ Top's First Album

1972 – Rio Grande Mud

1973 – Tres Hombres

1975 – Fandango!

1977 – Tejas

1979 – Degüello

1981 – El Loco

1983 – Eliminator

1985 – Afterburner

1990 – Recycler

1994 – Antenna

1996 – Rhythmeen

1999 – XXX

2003 – Mescalero

2011 – 15th Studio Album

Filmography

In addition to recording and performing concerts, ZZ Top has also been involved with films and television. In 1990, the group starred as the "band at the party" in the film Back to the Future Part III, and played the "Three Men in a Tub" in the movie Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme. ZZ Top made further appearances, including the "Gumby with a Pokey" episode of Two and a Half Men in 2010 and the "" episode of King of the Hill in 2007. The band were also guest hosts on an episode of WWE Raw. In 2008, ZZ Top performed "Sharp Dressed Man" with David Cook at the season 7 finale of American Idol. Billy Gibbons also portrays the father of Angela in the television show Bones.

Concert tours

1975: Fandango! Tour

1976–1977: Worldwide Texas Tour

1979–1981: Degüello Tour

1981–1983: El Loco Tour

1983–1984: Eliminator Tour

1985–1987: Afterburner World Tour

1990–1991: Recycler World Tour

1994: Antenna World Tour

1996–1997: Continental Safari Tour

1997: Mean Rhythm Global Tour

1999–2000: XXX Tour

2000: XXX World Tour 2000

2002: Casino Tour

2002: European Tour 2002

2003: Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers Tour

2004: Summer North American Tour

2005: Whack Attack Tour

2007: Hollywood Blues Tour

2008: El Camino Ocho Tour

2008: Brooks & Dunn's Cowboy Town Tour

2008: In Your Face Tour

2009: European Tour 2009

2009: Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour

2009: Necessity Is a Mother Tour

2010: 2010 World Tour

Awards and achievements

Despite ZZ Top's popularity and success in the 1970s, it wasn't until the 1980s that they started winning major awards and honors. ZZ Top's music videos won awards throughout the 1980s, winning once each in the categories Best Group Video, Best Direction, and Best Art Direction. The videos that won the VMAs are "Legs," "Sharp Dressed Man," and "Rough Boy." Some of the high honors ZZ Top have achieved include induction into Hollywood's RockWalk in 1994, the Texas House of Representatives naming them "Official Heroes for the State of Texas", a declaration of "ZZ Top Day" in Texas by then-governor Ann Richards on May 4, 1991, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. They were also given commemorative rings by actor Billy Bob Thornton from the VH1 Rock Honors in 2007.

ZZ Top also holds several chart and album sales feats, including six number one singles on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. From the RIAA, ZZ Top has achieved 4 gold, 3 platinum, and 2 multi-platinum album certifications, in addition to one diamond album. In addition to this,many of their songs have become classic rock and hard rock radio staples.

Rankings

"Legs" is listed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

In 1999, "MTV: 100 Greatest Music Videos Ever Made" included "Gimme All Your Lovin'" at #43.

In 2000, ranked No.44 on VH1's "100 Greatest Hard Rock Artists."

In 2001, "VH1: 100 Greatest Videos" included "Legs" at #96.

In 2003, Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time included Tres Hombres at No.498 and Eliminator at #396.

In 2004, ranked No.292 on the "Top Pop Artists of the Past 25 Years" chart.

In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked "La Grange" at No.74 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.

In 2009, "VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs" ranked "Tush" at #67.

See also

ZZ Top equipment

List of best-selling music artists

List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart

References

Bibliography

Footnotes

External links

Official website of Billy Gibbons

ZZ Top Interview with ARTISTDirect.com

ZZ Top's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame bio

ZZ Top on VH1 Storytellers

Category:Blues-rock groups Category:American hard rock musical groups Category:Rock music groups from Texas Category:Musical groups from Houston, Texas Category:RCA Records artists Category:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Category:Musical groups established in 1969 Category:Musical trios Category:1970s music groups Category:1980s music groups Category:1990s music groups Category:2000s music groups Category:ZZ Top