Zz Top – Biography, Songs, Albums, Discography & Facts

Zz Top Biography

American rock group ZZ Top was founded in Houston, Texas, in 1969. Billy Gibbons on vocals and guitar, Frank Beard on drums, and Dusty Hill on vocals and bass made up the band for 51 years, until Hill’s passing in 2021. Based on the rhythm section of Hill and Beard and the blues guitar playing of Gibbons, ZZ Top created their own distinctive sound. They are well-known for their live performances, witty songs, and Gibbons and Hill’s identical looks; they were hardly ever seen without hats, sunglasses, and long beards.

After Gibbons’ previous band, Moving Sidewalks, broke up, ZZ Top was created. The band members joined London Records within a year and issued ZZ Top’s First Album (1971).

Tres Hombres, a 1973 album by ZZ Top, peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in early 1974. The dynamic backing supplied by Hill and Beard, as well as Gibbons’ “growling” guitar tone, were responsible for the album’s overall sound. The album “gave ZZ Top their first Top Ten record, making them stars in the process,” according to Stephen Thomas Erlewine. The boogie-inspired “La Grange” was on the album (written about the Chicken Ranch, a notorious brothel in La Grange, Texas, that also inspired the musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas). The band played to packed houses during the ensuing tour of the US. ZZ Top captured the live songs for one side of their 1975 album Fandango! while on this tour. Fandango! was a top-ten album; its single “Tush” peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also included one side of new studio music.

Midway through the 1970s, the band gained notoriety in North America for its live performance, which was exemplified by its appearances on the critically and financially successful Worldwide Texas Tour from 1976 to 1977.

After a break, ZZ Top made a comeback in 1979 with a new musical direction and look, with Gibbons and Hill sporting matching chest-length beards and sunglasses. The band started experimenting with synthesizers and drum machines with the release of the album El Loco in 1981. With Eliminator (1983) and Afterburner (1985), which combined influences from new wave, punk, and dance-rock, they built a more mainstream sound and won admiration around the world.

The band became one of the more well-known performers in 1980s popular culture thanks to the success of these albums’ music videos, which include those for the songs “Legs,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’.” The Afterburner Tour broke records as 1986’s most popular and financially successful concert tour. The group’s experimentation continued with varying degrees of success on the albums Antenna (1994), Rhythmeen (1996), XXX (1999), and Mescalero after receiving extra praise for the publication of their tenth album Recycler (1990) and the tour that accompanied it (2003). La Futura (2012) and Goin’ 50 (2019), a compilation album honoring the band’s 50th anniversary, are their most recent releases. ZZ Top was the longest-running band with an unaltered roster in the history of popular music by the time of Hill’s passing in 2021. Elwood Francis, their longtime guitar tech, took over on bass as per Hill’s request.

ZZ Top has 15 studio albums under their belt, with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide. Three MTV Video Music Awards have been won by them, and the group’s members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Gibbons was recognized as the 32nd greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone in 2015. Among the causes and organizations the band members have sponsored include Childline, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and a charity event for the Delta Blues Museum.

Zz Top Discography

La FuturaSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
MescaleroSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
AntennaSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
RecyclerSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
AfterburnerSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
EliminatorSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
El LocoSpotifyYouTubeAmazon
Fandango!SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
ZZ Top’s First AlbumSpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Zz Top’S Best Selling Album?

The best selling album of ZZ Top is “Eliminator”. It was released in 1983 and sold more than 10 million copies in the United States.

What Is Zz Top’S Most Famous Song?

“Sharp Dressed Man” is ZZ Top’s most famous song. The song was released in 1983 as the lead single from the band’s eighth studio album, Eliminator. The song became a massive success, peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming one of the band’s signature tunes. “Sharp Dressed Man” has since been covered by a number of artists, including country music singer Brad Paisley.

How Many Members Of Zz Top?

There are three members of ZZ Top: Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard.

Who Was The Lead Singer Of Zz Top?

The lead singer of Zz Top is Billy Gibbons. He is also the band’s guitarist and primary songwriter. Gibbons has a distinctive blues-rock guitar style and he is known for his dark, gravelly voice. He is one of the most respected and influential guitarists of all time. Zz Top was formed in 1969 and they are still active today. They have released 15 studio albums and have sold over 50 million records worldwide.

Is Salt-N-Pepa In The Hall Of Fame?

Yes, ZZ Top is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They were inducted in 2004.

Most Searched For Zz Top Songs

La Grange – 2005 Remaster SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Sharp Dressed Man – 2008 Remaster SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Gimme All Your Lovin’ SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Tush – 2006 Remaster SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Legs – 2008 Remaster SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Rough Boy SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Just Got Paid SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Got Me Under Pressure – 2008 Remaster SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Jesus Just Left Chicago – 2006 Remaster SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon
Waitin’ for the Bus – 2006 Remaster SpotifyAppleYouTubeAmazon