ZZ Top...Yes or No? Has anybody seen them in

[Dees]

concert? Billy Gibbons can sure hit a few licks and set my toes a tappin' Favorite tune?

Just an anachronistic old rocker here.

[NoPasaran]

1. El Paso, 1974

And one other time in the Seventies. Not exactly sure when. Memories are getting a little blurry. :smoke:

[Ernesto]

2. All I know is that they played at the

chimp's coronation.... Bad taste for me.

[Zomby Woof]

6. they were putting Texas first

They aren't political, at all. To them, it was being asked to play for something even sideways related to Texas, and they did.

I am sure they don't give a shit about Bush one way or the other. There is NOTHING in their work to indicate any type of political leanings, including interviews.

They did write an anti-drunk driving song back in 1976, which is the closest to social commentary they come.

They are musicians and Texans first, the politics wasn't even a consideration when they played for Chimpy.

Not everyone is as engaged or political as we are at DU.

[Zomby Woof]

3. love 'em!

Saw them in 1986 and again in 1999. As tight and crunchy as you should expect.

They have been together with the original 3 members since 1970, which is unprecedented in rock. 34 years of recording, and only one bad album ("Afterburner"), which is a good ratio.

See them. It should be great fun.

[impeach the gop]

4. Retired I think

n/t

[Zomby Woof]

7. just put out 2 new albums

They have a new studio album, called "Mescalero", and new boxed set.

Not even close to hanging it up.

[htuttle]

5. Alpine Valley Music Theater, 1980 (or so)

We had lawn seats, but got there early enough to be somewhat close. I think Foghat and part of Black Oak Arkansas opened for them (ohhhhh...now I'm really dating myself).

One of the best live shows I'd ever seen, but I was sad that I missed the previous tour when the brought the livestock on stage with them...

One of the better songs of the night, as I recall, was 'Fool for your Stockings'.

"It's 3 o'clock in the morning...."

:)

[jobycom]

8. Used to, saw them, they were good, but too choreographed

Kind of like watching Paula Abdul. I saw them after their early stage, though, when they were going pop, and doing those car videos. Maybe they were better earlier.

By now, I can't stand their music anymore. Kind of like Boston, all their stuff sounds the same. Not their fault, just evolution of music.

Favorite song-- La Grange (or whatever the actual title is).

A few years back I met someone who worked for the them, who told me one of the band members was on the verge of death from some self-inflicted ailment (I swear I think he said bulemia, but maybe it was drugs). I don't know how that turned out, but here in Austin I would have heard if he had actually died. Plus, I think I've heard of them doing concerts around here since then.

[argyl]

9. Saw them the first time about 1970.They were beardless and opening

for the Flying Burrito Brothers at the State Fair Bandshell in Dallas.Saw them a couple of other times also,and Billy Gibbons really cuts loose in concert.He's much more restrained on record but he is scorching live.
Way back around 1969 on the old Dick Cavett show Cavett asked Jimi Hendrix about guitarists he liked.He mentioned Gibbons.Not a bad endorsement.

11. Gibbons and Hendrix

I've heard (it might just be an urban rumor) that Hendrix gave Gibbons one of his guitars.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

13. Yup.

IIRC, a 58, strings through the body Flying V. IIRC.

[Zomby Woof]

On Johnny Carson...

Back in 1969, Hendrix appeared on Johnny Carson, and was asked if there were any new guitarists out there deserving of recognition. Hendrix mentioned he was in Houston recently, where a local band called The Moving Sidewalks opened for him. He praised Sidewalks guitarist Billy Gibbons, and said something to the effect of "you'll be hearing from him one day".

A year later, ZZ Top grew out of that band, and put out their national debut album.

In 1986, ZZ Top finally appeared on the Tonight Show. I have no idea if Carson would have recalled that was the guitarist Hendrix praised 17 years before.

It was a great appearance. Doc Sevrenson wore a fake beard, hat, and sunglasses, and then when the camera turned to Carson at the end of the two songs, he was wearing the same, white beard and all. :-)

[argyl]

18. I'd forgotten about The Moving Sidewalks.They had some regional success

with one song that I believe was titled"The 99th Floor".Real Texas psychedelic stuff,heavily influenced by the 13th Floor Elevators,right down to band name and song title.Gibbons is a Houston boy but Hill and Beard are from Dallas.They came from a Dallas psychedelic band called American Blues.

[Zomby Woof]

20. yep

The new boxed set has a few Sidewalks singles, including "99Th Floor".

Have you ever heard of Rocky Hill? He is Dusty's brother, and was the guitarist for American Blues with his brother and Beard. He never wanted anything to do with the music business, but ZZ Top producer Bill Ham talked him into doing an album, which he produced on Virgin Records in 1988. "Rocky Hill", self-titled, actually had a video, and Rocky never capitulated again, since the album didn't do that well.

I bought the CD when it came out, and it is damn good! It is a shame it didn't get more attention. It is much straighter than Top, with Hendrixian vocals and thickly flanged Strat-playing. If you can find a used copy, get it. It is long out of print.

[argyl]

32. I've seen American Blues and have heard of Rocky Hill.

He was the lead guitarist and was commited to a mental institution years ago,over 30 in fact.Supposedly too much acid,more likely schizophrenia or some other disorder.They were a tight three piece band.Hadn't thought of Rocky in ages.Great to know he was able to do some more work;too bad he didn't continue.I have no idea how long he was originally hospitalized or if he ever relapsed.

[Champion Jack]

10. I worked on a music vid for them

{Can't remember the song.The one where the car is a space ship and there are sets of legs walking around coming out of boxes.}
I took them up on the offer to check out the show when they played the Forum in L.A. Great show!
Somewhere, I have a ZZ Top baseball hat signed by all 3 .

[Demobrat]

12. I saw them about 5 years ago in Concord, CA.

I had fun.

[proud patriot]

14. The them once in 94

They rocked it was cool ..A laser Dancing Cowgirl on the
Ceiling

[RUexperienced]

15. Speaking of beards

a town here in Michigan just mandated that all residents grow a beard by next summer's 150th anniversary parade.

By then, the whole town will be looking ZZTopish... or Omish.

[Spirochete]

17. I guess they did that here, too

at the city's 125th aniversary. They called it the Cenaqua, and anyone without a beard was "jailed". A few years before my time, though.

[Spirochete]

16. I saw them once

back in the early 70's. they were the opening act for Rare Earth. I went mostly to see ZZ Top. They were short haired and clean shaven, and Gibbons wore this big ten-gallon hat.

[Character Assassin]

19. Check out their live album 'Fandango', recorded in a New Orleans club

From what it sounds like. Maybe 500 people or so.

They are monstrously 'in the pocket', almost psychic in how intuitive they are with each other, and just burn the place down.

An added plus is that it is obvious the band is really having fun and enjoying themselves, and you can tell it's smack in the 1970's, as Gibbons makes the statement "He thinks he's badder than James Bond, Kung Fu, Superfly and Shaft all put together".

Go, Billy!

[jus_the_facts]

22. MY GAWD.......

......."...her Momma was a Mezcan and her Pappa was the Ace'o'Spades!" :D :D :smoke:

That one's on Fandango isn't it.....can't remember the name of that song but it is a good one regardless! :evilgrin:

[Zomby Woof]

24. the boy's got to boogie-woogie!

It's in him, and it's got to GET OUT!

[Character Assassin]

29. Long about that time, I heard poppa turn to momma

[argyl]

33. That'd be "Mexican Blackbird".

xx

[Zomby Woof]

23. love that one

No overdubs, no mixing... it's as if they are in your garage, and a cold keg has just been tapped. Smokes.

[jus_the_facts]

21. HEY....where've you been keepin' that PIE HOLE o' yours?????

...I've never gotten to see 'em in concert but do love those crazy bastards...EL LOCO is my most favorite o'theirs! :evilgrin:

:hi: loooong time no see Dees...ya'll enjoyed any Buttermilk pies lately????? :D

[Zomby Woof]

25. I know why you like "El Loco"!

It's got :smoke: on the cover.

Kidding about why, but I have to tell you this story...

Back in high school, senior year, '84-'85, my psych class was in a room shared with the sociology teacher, who was a major music fanatic (hell, so was my psych teacher - she saw both Hendrix in 1968 and 1971 vintage Floyd, but I digress). The sociology teacher had the promo poster for "El Loco" on the wall, huge. I have NO IDEA how he got away with it, being the era of "Just Say No", random locker searches, and other drug hysterics. But there it was, while most of the students who weren't into Top thought of them as those guys with the beards, fuzzy guitars, leggy blondes, and cars on MTV. But the rest of us knew better. :-)

[jus_the_facts]

26. Well it IS my favorite cover of an album too in fact.....

....and the suggestive songs are quite good too :evilgrin:

[Zomby Woof]

27. Pearl Necklace RULES

And I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole!

[jus_the_facts]

34. ahh yeah....and.....Tube Snake Boogie....Groovie Little Hippie Pad.....

.....Party On The Patio....*jiggy* :D

[Dees]

28. Hello to everyone. It's been awhile indeed. I remember the

recipe too!!

[jus_the_facts]

35. So glad ya'll enjoyed those pies..with that fresh squeezed lime..*drool*.

......they are soooo tasty! :9

Good to see ya back here Dees...missed ya! :pals:

[lazarus]

30. I'm bad

I'm nationwide.

I remember when I lived in San Antonio, there was a law that ever radio station had to play a ZZ Top song once an hour. Didn't matter what format the station was, either. Gospel, country, news/talk, you played ZZ Top every hour.

Paradise.

[Kat45]

31. Saw them in 1974, a free concert by the Charles River in Boston

I ran into so many people I knew at the show. It was a lot of fun.