ZZ Top, affectionately known by their fans as "That little ol' band from Texas",
is an American blues rock band formed in 1970 in Houston, Texas. The group members
are Billy Gibbons (guitar and vocals), Dusty Hill (bass guitar and vocals), and Frank
Beard (drums). They hold the distinction of being one of the few rock combos still
comprising its original members after more than 35 years, along with 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."[1] Their song lyrics often feature sexual innuendo and humor.
Gibbons and Hill are also famous for their nostalgic guitars, many of which were
co-designed with master luthier John Bolin of Bolin Guitars.
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, while
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. [1]
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 new book (Rock + Roll Gearhead), is derived
from the name of blues master B.B. King. They wanted to call themselves Z.Z. King but
sounded too similar to their blues legend hero. They figured that "King" was at the "top"
so thus settled on ZZ Top.
AS YOU CAN SEE, am a big fan of zztop.
i spent 3 years with them in 1970-71-and 72 and yes i even have a pic of them with out
there beards.it was a wild time back than. and yes thay are the koolest band ever.also
if you see the vidio called legs that thay did watch at the very end and you will see them wave.
thay picked up that wave from me.i use to wave like that to them every time i saw them
playing in a club here.back than thay werent famious like now.but thay were always kool
and very frendly.thay still are.i could tell meny stories about things than happened back
than but it would take to long. but i will say this we had fun and i would not trade it
for anything elce. it was the best time of my life and i owe part of it to the lill old band
from tx.the one and onely ZZ TOP..."
