Post by sacrilegend on May 26, 2007 15:23:30 GMT -5
ZZ Top is an American blues rock band formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. The group members are Billy Gibbons (guitar, lead vocals), Dusty Hill (bass, lead vocals), and Frank Beard (drums, percussion).
They hold the distinction of being the only rock band still composed of its original members after more than 35 years and until September 2006, the same manager/producer, Bill Ham.
They reached the peak of their commercial success in the 1970s and 1980s, scoring many hit songs during that era, but they remain together today and are still touring and releasing albums. ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2004. Summarizing their music, Cub Koda wrote, "As genuine roots musicians, they have few peers; Gibbons is one of America's finest blues guitarists working in the arena rock idiom ... while Hill and Beard provide the ultimate rhythm section support." Their song lyrics often feature sexual innuendo and humor. Gibbons and Hill are also famous for their custom guitars, many of which were co-designed by Gibbons with master luthier John Bolin of Bolin Guitars. Hill requests that his basses have a similar neck profile to the 1950's Fender Precision Bass he used extensively in the early days of the band.
Nearly as well-known as their music is the group's appearance: Gibbons and Hill are always pictured wearing sunglasses (a nod to their 1979 song "Cheap Sunglasses"), similar if not matching clothing, and their trademark chest-length beards; curiously, Beard sports a mustache but not a beard. In 1984, the Gillette Company reportedly offered Gibbons and Hill US$1 million apiece to shave their beards for a television commercial, but they declined.
The origin of the band's name was not officially known for many years. Some theories included: the two brands of rolling paper, Zig-Zag and Top; a tribute to blues legend Z.Z. Hill; Z-shaped barn-door braces Gibbons once saw at a farm; and/or Billy Gibbons seeing the two words running together on a dilapidated bill board. The real origin, as told by Billy Gibbons and also recorded in his book (Rock + Roll Gearhead), is derived from the name of blues musician B.B. King. They wanted to call themselves Z.Z. King, but that sounded too similar to their blues legend hero. They figured that "King" was at the "top" so thus settled on ZZ Top.
Discography
Studio albums
ZZ Top's First Album
(1971)
(London)
Rio Grande Mud
(1972)
(London)
Tres Hombres
(1973)
(London)
Fandango!
(1975)
(London)
Tejas
(1977)
(London)
Degüello
(1979)
(Warner Bros.)
El Loco
(1981)
(Warner Bros.)
Eliminator
(1983)
(Warner Bros.)
Afterburner
(1985)
(Warner Bros.)
Recycler
(1990)
(Warner Bros.)
Antenna
(1994)
(RCA)
UK #3
Rhythmeen
(1996)
(RCA)
XXX
(1999)
(RCA)
Mescalero
(2003)
(RCA)
Compilations
The Best of ZZ Top (1977)
The ZZ Top Six Pack (1987)
ZZ Top's Greatest Hits (1992)
One Foot in the Blues (1994)
Chrome, Smoke & BBQ (2003)
Rancho Texicano (2004)
They hold the distinction of being the only rock band still composed of its original members after more than 35 years and until September 2006, the same manager/producer, Bill Ham.
They reached the peak of their commercial success in the 1970s and 1980s, scoring many hit songs during that era, but they remain together today and are still touring and releasing albums. ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2004. Summarizing their music, Cub Koda wrote, "As genuine roots musicians, they have few peers; Gibbons is one of America's finest blues guitarists working in the arena rock idiom ... while Hill and Beard provide the ultimate rhythm section support." Their song lyrics often feature sexual innuendo and humor. Gibbons and Hill are also famous for their custom guitars, many of which were co-designed by Gibbons with master luthier John Bolin of Bolin Guitars. Hill requests that his basses have a similar neck profile to the 1950's Fender Precision Bass he used extensively in the early days of the band.
Nearly as well-known as their music is the group's appearance: Gibbons and Hill are always pictured wearing sunglasses (a nod to their 1979 song "Cheap Sunglasses"), similar if not matching clothing, and their trademark chest-length beards; curiously, Beard sports a mustache but not a beard. In 1984, the Gillette Company reportedly offered Gibbons and Hill US$1 million apiece to shave their beards for a television commercial, but they declined.
The origin of the band's name was not officially known for many years. Some theories included: the two brands of rolling paper, Zig-Zag and Top; a tribute to blues legend Z.Z. Hill; Z-shaped barn-door braces Gibbons once saw at a farm; and/or Billy Gibbons seeing the two words running together on a dilapidated bill board. The real origin, as told by Billy Gibbons and also recorded in his book (Rock + Roll Gearhead), is derived from the name of blues musician B.B. King. They wanted to call themselves Z.Z. King, but that sounded too similar to their blues legend hero. They figured that "King" was at the "top" so thus settled on ZZ Top.
Discography
Studio albums
ZZ Top's First Album
(1971)
(London)
Rio Grande Mud
(1972)
(London)
Tres Hombres
(1973)
(London)
Fandango!
(1975)
(London)
Tejas
(1977)
(London)
Degüello
(1979)
(Warner Bros.)
El Loco
(1981)
(Warner Bros.)
Eliminator
(1983)
(Warner Bros.)
Afterburner
(1985)
(Warner Bros.)
Recycler
(1990)
(Warner Bros.)
Antenna
(1994)
(RCA)
UK #3
Rhythmeen
(1996)
(RCA)
XXX
(1999)
(RCA)
Mescalero
(2003)
(RCA)
Compilations
The Best of ZZ Top (1977)
The ZZ Top Six Pack (1987)
ZZ Top's Greatest Hits (1992)
One Foot in the Blues (1994)
Chrome, Smoke & BBQ (2003)
Rancho Texicano (2004)
