Billy Gibbons, who joined the often-mocked Canadian band Nickelback on the title track for their 2005 studio effort 'Rockstar,' makes no apologies about an association that began with a chance meeting.
For the last 45 years, ZZ Top has been the most dependable bands in rock and roll, sticking with the same three-man lineup while groups like the Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath and even AC/DC underwent a series of personnel changes. But did you know that in the brief time before the Little Ol’ Band from Texas settled on their current configuration, no less than three other people were in the group?
ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill isn't the most-interviewed member of the band, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have his share of stories to tell -- like the time he drove himself to the hospital after accidentally shooting himself in the abdomen.
ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons will be making a rare solo club appearance later this month. The guitar maverick has a date set at the B.B. King Blues Club in New York City on Dec. 17.
Earlier this month, ZZ Top performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival and wanted to do something for the festival's founder, Claude Nobs. Nobs -- a good friend of Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard and Dusty Hill -- died in January at the age of 76.
Generally speaking, ZZ Top isn't a band we tend to look to for innovation and change; they do one thing, and they do it very, very well. But the Texas trio can still surprise us sometimes, as evidenced by their recent collaboration with the British synth-pop veterans in Depeche Mode.