ZZ Top and McKinley James

In 1969 the band was formed by Billy Gibbons, a man touted by none other than the great Jimi Hendrix as the next hottest guitarist, in Houston, Texas. After a few line-up changes, Billy eventually bought in Dusty Hill on bass and Frank Beard on Drums (who ironically is the one without the beard). This line-up has remained a constant for their 40 year career which a complete rarity for a band of their caliber.

With the line-up in place, the band set about defining their signature sound, rooted in Gibbons’ uniquely raw guitar tone and the thunderous rhythm section of Hill and Beard. They experienced immediate success and this period spawned anthems like the groovy, ‘La Grange’, a catchy tune that perfectly captures the nature of its inspiration, a Texan brothel.

In 1983 they released Eliminator and shocked critics and fans with a change of direction. They added synthesizers and sequencers to their signature sound and although some fans found it hard to adjust to the change, the album went on to sell over 10 million copies and is seen as a certified classic after it spawned timeless hits like Sharp Dressed Man.

The band have continued to release music and tour and in 2004 they were deservedly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For these sharp dressed men, the show just keeps going.