Beaumont, Texas

[BigAl]

Where ZZ Topp first played a Gig.

History[edit] Formation and early years (1967–1972)In 1967, Billy Gibbons formed his own band called the Moving Sidewalks with bassist Don Summers, drummer Dan Mitchell, and organist Tom Moore in Houston.[13] After Summers and Moore were drafted into the United States Army, Gibbons formed a new group with Mitchell and bassist Lanier Greig,[14] although they still needed a name. Lanier Greig later left the band and was replaced by Billy Ethridge.[15]

The band's name was rumored to have derived from Zig-Zag and TOP rolling papers. Gibbons, however, revealed the true origin of the group's name in his autobiographical book Billy F Gibbons: Rock + Roll Gearhead. The book mentions an apartment that Gibbons lived in, with a row of flyers on a wall. Taking notice of Z. Z. Hill and B. B. King posters, Gibbons favored "ZZ" and "King," and came up with "ZZ King," though it was too much like the guitarist's name. Coming to the conclusion that B.B. King was on the "top," Gibbons settled with the name "ZZ Top."[14]

Meanwhile, Hill and Beard formed the band American Blues with Hill's brother Rocky Hill, which was based on blues and psychedelic rock. Hill and Beard moved to Houston in 1968. Two years later, they met with Gibbons, who had dropped Mitchell and Ethridge from the group. After finalizing the lineup, they hired Bill Ham as their manager, who secured a record deal with London Records. ZZ Top played their first gig in Beaumont, Texas at the Knights of Columbus Hall on February 10, 1970, which was booked by rock DJ Al Caldwell.[16][17]

The band issued their debut album, ZZ Top's First Album. Released in January 1971, the album failed to chart, though the single "(Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree" peaked at No.50 on the Billboard Hot 100.[18] The album was a blues-rock record filled with distorted guitars, boogie-woogie rhythms, and sexual innuendos, laying the foundation for ZZ Top's signature blues-rock sound.[19]

The band started to attract local attention doing live shows, opening for acts like Janis Joplin, Humble Pie, Ten Years After, and Mott the Hoople.[6] Ham also hired the Lubbock, Texas, guitarist Jay Boy Adams.[20]

In January 1973, ZZ Top was asked by Rolling Stones frontman, Mick Jagger, to open their shows in Honolulu. Dusty Hill recalls:

“ We got word that Mick Jagger heard our first album and liked it. And he wanted us to open for the Stones in Hawaii. That just blew us away. But the next thing I heard was that Stevie Wonder opened for them here in the States and actually got booed at one show. So I was scared to death.
We get onstage in Hawaii with our cowboy hats, boots and jeans and you could hear a pin drop. Somebody went, ‘Oh no, they’re a country band.’

ZZ TOP - Arrested For Driving While Blind	powered by Aeva

 

[BigAl]

zz top live on a show	powered by Aeva

[Gear Jammer]

That Lil ole Band from Texas 

[HayHauler]

Now ur talkin Al!!  My favorite band of all time. 
Woke up with wood!
Gimme all your lovin.
Legs.
I got the six. 
Sharp dressed man.
TV dinners. 
Man, I could go on all night. 

Thanks for the tribute Al.

Hay
Jimmyt

[HayHauler]

Love thang!
Hi fi mama. 

Now u got me started. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[Disco]

Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings
Mexican Blackbird (not PC at all)

[HayHauler]

Nasty Dogs and Funky Kings
Mexican Blackbird (not PC at all)

Had to go listen to that one again. 
"keep your hands on the wheel down there boy"

Hahahaha

Hay
Jimmyt

[wdvalk]

ZZ Top - A Fool for Your Stockings	powered by Aeva

ZZ Top - Lowdown in the Street	powered by Aeva

ZZ Top - It's Only Love.wmv	powered by Aeva

[BigAl]

This made the top 50 on the Hot 100.

Never Heard it Before.

ZZ Top - (Somebody else been) Shaking your Tree	powered by Aeva

[Jess Tolbirt]

hey Al, your sig picture is way to big,,takes up a full page on my puter,, albeit a nice pic tho,,

[BigAl]

Just experimenting  It's gone now

[Jess Tolbirt]

i can resize it if you want,,

[Red Diamond]

According to a co-worker from the Nederland-Port Neches area, a group played there high school prom, turns out that group would later become ZZ Top. That prom was a long time ago. LOL

[us385south]

I met two of the members of ZZTopp in the early 80's at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Houston.  Frank Beard had just hopped in a cab so I missed him.

 

I actually got Billy's autograph...

"If your down in Acuna and you ain't up to bein' alone...
Don't spend all your money on just any honey that's grown...
Go find the Mexican Black Bird and send all you trouble's back home.

Let's drive that ole Chrysler to mexico boyz..."

[mrider]

i seen them play many times at many differnet place in and around Tx, man they can get your juices moving but when they break out all the stops and do a elvis tune............man... it's almost spirtial