ZZ Top are Texas Legends Who've Stayed Together for 50 Years

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members and Houston, Texas natives ZZ Top might not immediately come to mind when you think of country music, even if its members, guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard, and vocalist/bassist Dusty Hill look as country as it comes with those beards, but the legendary classic rock band -- or that little ol' band from Texas, as they call themselves -- is a lot more country than you think. (They even performed their first concert together at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Beaumont, Texas.)

When the band was first formed, it was Gibbons, Dan Mitchell, and Lanier Greig. Gibbons was really drawn to the band names B.B. King and Z.Z. Hill and almost landed on the combined name of Z.Z. King. But since the king is technically "on top", ZZ Top was born. The band's first single, "Salt Lick" helped the group secure a deal with London Records, the US affiliate of the British label, Decca Records. Bassist Billy Ethridg replaced Greig and Frank Beard replaced Mitchell. Ethridge quit when he didn't want to sign with London records and Dusty Hill took his spot. It was this groups first show together at the Knights of Columbus Hall in 1970.

ZZ Top's first album with the main group, Tres Hombres, was an instant success and really turned the band into stars. Pretty much overnight. One of its most popular songs, "La Grange", was written about the Chicken Ranch in LaGrange, Texas -- the famous brothel portrayed in the country musical classic "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas".

Fandango! followed in 1975, another top 10 album with it's well-performing single, "Tush." The band went on a worldwide tour to promote their 1976 album, Tejas, which didn't perform as well peaking at 17 on the charts. After taking a two year break, ZZ Top signed with Warner Bros Records and released the platinum album, Degüello which produced popular singles "I Thank You" and "Cheap Sunglasses".

From there, ZZ Top took their twangy, Texas-inspired rock and shot to the top of the popular music world. After the release of their 1983 album Eliminator, which featured some of the greatest hits in rock history, they won their first MTV Video Music Awards for "Legs." With billboard chart-toppers like "Sharp Dressed Man", "Gimme All Your Lovin", and "Got Me Under Pressure", ZZ Top was one of the top acts on MTV, with several of their videos playing in regular rotation on the then insanely popular network. The album went multi-platinum.

Their country boogie and American blues sound might have been ignored by the mainstream at the time but like their blues-rock predecessors Lynard Skynard, it was undeniable that ZZ Top had some serious country influence. From their Worldwide Texas Tour to country and blues-rock songs like "Jesus Left Chicago", ZZ Top was able to further imbue country music into the DNA of the rock world. Sure, they got a little synthesizer friendly for a while too, but it was the '80s! Everyone was doing it.

After figuring out the perfect mix of personalities, the band has consistently been Gibbons, Beard, and Hill for decades. Very impressive. Gibbons told the National Podcast of Texas that the secret to their longevity lies in everyone essentially understanding personal space.

“Someone asked recently, ‘How did you three guys manage to stay together for longer than most marriages?’ Two words come to mind: separate buses. It’s made it all go all right. It’s a good team.”

Gibbons has also told Kentucky.com that the three men just love playing together.

"Of course, standing as a trio, an odd number helps as there can't be any ties when a group decision is made. So, if one of us isn't in accord with the other two, odd man out just goes with the flow. And, since it's so in fashion to 'break up' and then 'get back together,' one can think of ZZ Top as being on an infinite tour that just skipped the part where you split. However, we're really good at getting back together."

These days the country rock legends are still touring, and playing to their country roots. Their tour page says the band will be appearing at the Choctaw Casino in Oklahoma and the country music festival Stagecoach.

Sure, ZZ Top may be rock legends on par with The Rolling Stones, but they've got Texas in their blood, and country music in their souls.

For more, check out WideOpenCountry.com!