ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American trio from Texas. The group was founded in 1970. Its members were artists from once competing bands – guitarist Billy Gibbons from the Moving Sidewalks, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard from American Blues.
ZZ Top gained fame thanks to the track “La Grange” from the blues-rock album “Tres Hombres“. The next albums “Deguello”, “El Loco”, “Eliminator” and “Afterburner” also did not go unnoticed. The artists developed a distinctive image – long beards, golf hats and dark glasses.
They started their musical career in the seventies with a sound characterized by blues-rock and south rock while retaining the characteristic hard rock. However, they gained commercial fame in the 1980s with the albums 1983 Eliminator and 1985 Afterburner, in a style closer to electronic rock and with the use of synthesizers. In the nineties, they largely returned to the style of the seventies, but without completely losing the ability to use the keys. This partially caused their albums to pull away from the charts, but they regained many of their early followers. In 2012, the group released their fifteenth studio album La Futura, their first work in about ten years, which once again placed them on charts around the world.
With over forty years of a music career, they have earned dozens of gold and platinum records, being one of the most successful bands in the south of North America. In the United States alone, they sold approximately 25 million copies, and by 2014 it was estimated that their worldwide sales exceeded 50 million.
Back to the Future Part III
Ever since ZZ Top created his artistic image with huge beards, sunglasses, hats and suits imitating jeans, they have earned their place in the world of film and television. The first appearance of famous names was in 1990 in the movie Back to the Future Part III.
ZZ Top rocks on after losing bassist Dusty Hill
On July 28, 2021, bassist Dusty Hill passed away. According to the last will of the musician, he was replaced by Elwood Francis. The band’s new bass player is a longtime technical of the group. Billy Gibbons announced the change in the lineup of ZZ Top.