Spring Break
ZZ Top rocks 'n' rolls into NWA
Lauren James
Issue date: 10/3/07 Section: Life & Style
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Hot rods, cheap sunglasses, fishnet stockings, legs and sharp clothing might seem like a thing of the past on the music scene, but ZZ Top, the trio that popularized such things, has continued to rock audiences with classic anthems and signature style.
A show that has been desired by many is finally making its way to Fayetteville, as ZZ Top will be the premiere artist of the eighth annual Bikes, Blues & BBQ.
Geology graduate student Ryan Dupree is a classic rock fan and is taking advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the rock legends. "Anytime I get a chance to see a major classic rock band like ZZ Top, I go for it because they don't come around very often," Dupree said. "They're like a dying breed these days."
ZZ Top has in many ways transformed rock and created a heavy following for more than 30 years with their Texas flare, long beards, rotating fur-lined guitars and songs about the fast life.
The boogie and blues trio from Texas consists of guitarist and vocalist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard. Rival bands the Moving Sidewalks, formerly consisting of Gibbons, and American Blues, formerly consisting of Hill and Beard, joined rock forces as ZZ Top in 1969 in the Houston area.
ZZ Top lists blues legends Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters and Lightnin' Hopkins as major influences.
The band signed with London Records, recording label of the Rolling Stones, and released the 1970 album ZZ Top's First Album and 1971 album Rio Grande Mud, which brought heavy blues roots and country rock to the surface of mainstream music. Their 1973 album Tres Hombres, however, gained widespread attention with the hit "La Grange," a toe-tapping rock anthem with its signature riff and heavy rhythmic hooks.
Tres Hombres landed a Top 10 spot on the Billboard charts and became the first in a series of 11 gold and platinum albums, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Web site. The latter albums Fandago! of 1975, which yielded the major Top 40 hit "Tush," and Tejas of 1977, made the Top 20 charts.
A show that has been desired by many is finally making its way to Fayetteville, as ZZ Top will be the premiere artist of the eighth annual Bikes, Blues & BBQ.
Geology graduate student Ryan Dupree is a classic rock fan and is taking advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the rock legends. "Anytime I get a chance to see a major classic rock band like ZZ Top, I go for it because they don't come around very often," Dupree said. "They're like a dying breed these days."
ZZ Top has in many ways transformed rock and created a heavy following for more than 30 years with their Texas flare, long beards, rotating fur-lined guitars and songs about the fast life.
The boogie and blues trio from Texas consists of guitarist and vocalist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard. Rival bands the Moving Sidewalks, formerly consisting of Gibbons, and American Blues, formerly consisting of Hill and Beard, joined rock forces as ZZ Top in 1969 in the Houston area.
ZZ Top lists blues legends Freddie King, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters and Lightnin' Hopkins as major influences.
The band signed with London Records, recording label of the Rolling Stones, and released the 1970 album ZZ Top's First Album and 1971 album Rio Grande Mud, which brought heavy blues roots and country rock to the surface of mainstream music. Their 1973 album Tres Hombres, however, gained widespread attention with the hit "La Grange," a toe-tapping rock anthem with its signature riff and heavy rhythmic hooks.
Tres Hombres landed a Top 10 spot on the Billboard charts and became the first in a series of 11 gold and platinum albums, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Web site. The latter albums Fandago! of 1975, which yielded the major Top 40 hit "Tush," and Tejas of 1977, made the Top 20 charts.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
MadChinese
posted 10/15/07 @ 4:13 AM CST
ZZ-Top simply the best R&R Band in the World...
don't understand, that they play more often in
Europe, than in Arkansas??? Huh, sorry from
Switz... (Continued…)
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