This American blues rock trio has shown the world what they have been able to accomplish in the forty one years that they have been together. They have produced numerous albums including numerous concert tours. But regardless of the fame they have shown that they have not forgot where they came from.

ZZ Top

“Muddy Waters taught us "You don't have to be the best one, just be a good 'un." That just about says it all, always strive to be a good 'un.”

This American blues rock trio has shown the world what they have been able to accomplish in the forty one years that they have been together. They have produced numerous albums including numerous concert tours. But regardless of the fame they have shown that they have not forgot where they came from.

From the Heartland

Band member Billy Gibbons first showed interest in rock ‘n roll music when he saw Elvis Presley perform on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956. ZZ top was formed in 1969 in the town of Houston Texas. ZZ Top was founded Billy Gibbons, Joseph Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard. Billy Gibbons had played with the band Moving Sidewalks which was also from the state of Texas, and Hill and Beard in American Blues. With both of these bands disbanding Gibbons invited Hill to join his new band, Hill agreed if he was able to invite previous band member Frank Beard.

In the beginning of 1970 ZZ Top played their first show in their home state of Texas. After performing their first tour ZZ Top began tour their home state of Texas for the next couple of years. They were soon approached by London records where, soon after signing their record contract the band went on to record their first two albums ZZ Top’s First Album and Rio Grande Mud. The band continued their climb towards success performing with such bands as The Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker, Santana, and Bad Company. After seven years of a large amount of touring and many recording schedules, ZZ Top began drifting towards an unplanned hiatus. Their manager-producer used the time while they were on hiatus to allow negotiations of a recording deal.

Back On Top

In 1979 the hiatus was finally over ZZ Top had brought their new album Degüello and began touring again promoting their new album. With the release of their newest album paved the way for ZZ Top’s success to travel with them into the 1980’s. During the 1980’s ZZ Top released popular hits such as “Gimme All Your Lovin”, “Legs”, and “Sharp Dressed Man”. Now with the popularity of these songs gave them the opportunity to have their songs now being performed through music videos which had become extremely popular with the creation of MTV. ZZ Top continued up an ongoing ladder of success which carried them over into the 1990’s. Their first album Recycler of the 90’s was released in 1990 and their studio album while they were still under contract with Warner Records. With their fame still on the rise the band was even given an opportunity to perform in the 1990 release of the movie Back to The Future 3.

Fame on the Rise

ZZ top’s fame still continued to increase with the buildup of a fan following that had been around now for almost thirty years. In 2003 ZZ Top released a four-CD collection of their recordings from their London and Warner Brothers records. In 2004 the band received the honor of being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their induction speech was actually done by Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones which was one of the first bands that they had opened for. In 2006 ZZ Top and begun recording their fifteenth album however the album was never released. However in July of 2008 the band announce that they were recording their fifteenth album. As well with the increase of technology ZZ Top released their first official live concert DVD. With the increase of internet technology ZZ Top has become to make their music available through different outlets including their page on myspace.com allows people to listen to their music free of charge.

Charity

The members of ZZ top have been involved with numerous charitable organizations of the years. Vocalist Bill Gibbons was the first musician to be honored by the cancer league for fund raising for cancer sufferers in his home town. ZZ Top was also once honored by the delta blues museum and was presented with a piece of timber that had fallen of the roof of the famous Muddy Waters. The group then decided to construct a guitar from that wood and named it “Muddywood”, the guitar was then donated back to the museum. ZZ Top also performed for troops overseas in 2008 paying tribute to the troop’s service to the country.

Did You Know

In 1984 Bill Gibbons and Joseph Dusty Hill both received an offer of a million dollars from Gillette razors if they would shave their trademark beards with a Gillette razor in a commercial. Both Gibbons and Hill both declined the offer.

ZZ Tops drummer Frank Beard is the only member of the trio who doesn’t have a beard but a simple groomed mustache.

Bill Gibbons and Joseph Dusty Hill began wearing dark sunglasses while perform roughly ten years before the hit song “Cheap Sunglasses” was released.

ZZ Top first opened up for Janis Joplin in 1969.

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