ZZ Top facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
ZZ Top
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Houston, Texas, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1969–present |
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ZZ Top is a super cool American rock band that started in 1969 in Houston, Texas. The band was formed by singer and guitarist Billy Gibbons. Soon after, Frank Beard joined on drums and Dusty Hill joined on bass. This group of three stayed together for more than 50 years!
ZZ Top is known for its unique sound, which mixes blues and rock. Billy Gibbons' guitar playing is a big part of their sound. The band is also famous for its amazing live shows, funny song lyrics, and the matching looks of Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill. They were almost always seen with long beards, cool sunglasses, and Stetson hats!
Contents
The Band's Journey
ZZ Top formed after Billy Gibbons' old band, Moving Sidewalks, ended. Within a year, they signed with London Records. They released their first album, ZZ Top's First Album, in 1971.
Early Hits and Tours
Later albums like Tres Hombres (1973) and Fandango! (1975) became very popular. Songs like "La Grange" and "Tush" were played a lot on the radio. By the mid-1970s, ZZ Top was famous in North America for their live concerts. Their "Worldwide Texas Tour" from 1976 to 1977 was a huge success.
A New Look and Sound
After a short break, ZZ Top came back in the late 1970s with a fresh sound and their now-famous look. They started trying out new instruments like synthesizers. This helped them create a more popular sound. Albums like Eliminator (1983) and Afterburner (1985) became hits around the world. These albums mixed in sounds from new wave and dance-rock.
The music videos for songs like "Gimme All Your Lovin'", "Sharp Dressed Man", and "Legs" were very popular on MTV. This made ZZ Top one of the biggest bands in the 1980s. Their "Afterburner Tour" in 1986 broke records for how many people attended and how much money it made.
Later Years and Legacy
The band continued to make music, releasing Recycler in 1990. They kept experimenting with their sound on albums like Antenna (1994) and Mescalero (2003). Their most recent albums are La Futura (2012) and Goin' 50 (2019). Goin' 50 was a special album to celebrate the band's 50th anniversary.
On July 28, 2021, Dusty Hill passed away at 72 years old. Billy Gibbons announced that ZZ Top would keep playing, just as Dusty wanted. Elwood Francis, who was their guitar tech for a long time, took over on bass. This was the first time the band's main lineup changed in 51 years!
ZZ Top has released 15 studio albums and sold about 50 million albums worldwide. They have won three MTV Video Music Awards. In 2004, the band members were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine even ranked Billy Gibbons as one of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." The band and its members have also supported many good causes, like Childline and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Band Members
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Current members
Former members
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Albums and Music
Studio albums
- ZZ Top's First Album (1971)
- Rio Grande Mud (1972)
- Tres Hombres (1973)
- Fandango! (1975)
- Tejas (1976)
- Degüello (1979)
- El Loco (1981)
- Eliminator (1983)
- Afterburner (1985)
- Recycler (1990)
- Antenna (1994)
- Rhythmeen (1996)
- XXX (1999)
- Mescalero (2003)
- La Futura (2012)
Images for kids
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ZZ Top performing live in 1976.
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Hill and Gibbons in 1983.
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ZZ Top at the Crossroads Guitar Festival, on June 26, 2010
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ZZ Top at The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas 12/7/13, private function not open to public
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ZZ Top performing at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio in 2015
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ZZ Top in September 2016.
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See also
In Spanish: ZZ Top para niños
