You very well may have first heard ZZ Top rock, while carrying your boom-box on your shoulder, and walking down your block. It was the lovely ‘80s when I was no longer a virgin to ZZ Top's tunes, and it was also when Aqua Net hairspray was rampantly used to create cockamamie up-do's.
(On a serious note, in the process of one getting his or her cigarette lit, hair fires were quite frequent).
However, ZZ Top ignited a blast of a time starting way back in 1969. Billy Gibbons (guitar, vocals, harmonica and bass) had started "Moving Sidewalks" and kicked the two other men in the band to the curb. Gibbons, then, stumbled upon Frank Beard (drums, percussion, vocals, saxophone, trumpet and tuba) as well as Dusty Hill (bass guitar, keyboards, vocals, saxophone and base clarinet ), forming ZZ Top, also known as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas." The three buds got the taste of success pretty quickly, becoming a band in demand.
The creation of the name "ZZ Top" may devastate Marijuana-joint-making enthusiasts, since it did not actually stem from the highly esteemed Zig Zag (ZZ) and Top's Rolling papers. Rather, it was Gibbon's cross-breeding of Z.Z. Hill's name, and B.B King's up on "top" status that resulted in the name of the band.
ZZ Top has broken records, received awards up the wazoo, and has worked on numerous television shows plus movies. The band, which once had their stage the shape of the state of Texas, was honored in a big way when "They were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. With that said, I was expecting to see star qualities while they perform. Besides, ZZ Top have opened for The Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, Santana and many other Music Industry heavy weights for Pete's sake!
A few nights ago, at Hammond Indiana's Horseshoe Casino, three sharp dressed men came out onstage, playing many of their greatest hits that sounded just like if you were listening to them on the radio. Only a handful or so of fans were dressed in clothes reminiscent of the ‘80s, and the stage design proved ZZ Top are no "cheapos", also keeping up to date with the latest technology. That is, they had three Paul Bunion-sized screens, one in back of them and on each side. Everyone in the crowd was able to see the ZZ Top guys up close and personal, and at one time during their performance, the monitor behind them played graphics of intricately-designed hub caps that appeared to be flying out into the audience.
ZZ Top filled the venue with their signature, sizzling Texas boogie rock and blues, and it was great to watch folks passionately adore them and want more. A "Yee-haw!" is also in store, because ZZ Top will have a new album, currently untitled, out this fall and you can catch them on tour!
