Unlike many people believe ZZ Top is not just one person but an American Blues Rock Band comprises of the members Billy Gibbons on guitar and lead vocals, Dusty Hill on bass and vocals, and Frank Beard on drums and percussion.
The three formed the band in Houston, Texas in 1969 and after 35 years still has the same exact members as in the beginning. As for the name of the band, several rumors were spread around which include they named their band as a tribute to Z.Z. Hill, and after the two brands of rolling paper, Zig-Zag. As best as any one knows they choose the name from a derived version of B.B. King in which their first inclination was to be called Z.Z. King but decided, it was just too close to the legendary singer so they figured that King was at the top, thus the name Z.Z. Top.
In February 1970, Z.Z. Top performed their first show and toured practically all the top. The first two albums recorded by the group were in Tyler, Texas at Robin Hood Studios. In 1973, they began recording with Terry Manning at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. With this album, Tres Hombres they were finally recognized worldwide when it was released on London Records. The song “La Grange†was on this album.
Z.Z. Top’s Discography includes:
ZZ Top’s First Album in 1971
Rio Grande Mud in 1972
Tres Hombres in 1973 gained Platinum in the US
Fandango! in 1975 gained Gold in the US
Tejas in 1977 gained Gold in the US
Deguello in 1979 gained Gold in the US
El Loco in 1981 gained Gold in the US
Eliminator in 1983 gained 10x Platinum 24x in the US and Platinum Worldwide
Afterburner in 1985 gained 5x Platinum in the US
Recycler in 1990 gained Platinum in the US
Antenna in 1994 gained Platinum in the US
Rhythmeen in 1996
XXX in 1999
Mescalero in 2003
Z.Z. Top has several compilations and singles that have made noise worldwide along with videos and books such as "ZZ Top: Bad and Worldwide" in 1985 and "Billy F. Gibbons: Rock+Roll Gearhead" in 2005. They also have been recognized with awards as “The Living Legends Award†in 2006 and the “VH1 Rock Honors†award in 2007
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