by Brent Warnken
Aerosmith may have cancelled its tour with ZZ Top, but that isn't stopping the Texas-bred boogey band from continuing on the road without them! Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler fell off the stage during a performance at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota (breaking his shoulder among other injuries) on August 5, and the band was thus forced to cancel its tour.
This left tour mates ZZ Top in a pickle, until they decided to forge on, announcing a string of brand new dates! ZZ Top's Frank Beard released a statement on the group's decision saying, "When we found out that the tour was going to be canceled, we got together and decided that since we're ready, willing and able, we should get out there immediately and get it on and that's exactly what we intent to do."
Among ZZ Top's new non-Aerosmith dates are shows at the Kewadin Casino in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan September 6-7; at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. September 13-14 and at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston September 15. More ZZ Top dates are expected to be announced at a later date so check online for ZZ Top tickets.
ZZ Top formed in Houston, Texas in 1970 when guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard merged their rival bands, Moving Sidewalks (Gibbons) and American Blues (Hill and Beard). The newly-minted group released two albums that introduced audiences to their blues music and penchant for Southern humor before their third record, Tres Hombres, became their true breakthrough. The album contained the hit single "La Grange," a track based on John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillen" which remains ZZ Top's best-known song some decades later.
ZZ Top was the premier blues band of the 1970s and finished off the decade in style, with a year-and-a-half-long tour dubbed the Worldwide Texas Tour. After taking a three-year hiatus, ZZ Top jumped labels and released Deguello and El Loco before adding synthesizers for their next two albums, the more contemporary efforts Eliminator and Afterburner. Around this time the trio also created striking imagery with their long beards and boiler suits-topped with golf hats no less-just in time to usher in the era of the music video.
As hard as it may be to believe, ZZ Top's original lineup remains intact, even after over 30 years of making music. The trio released XXX to celebrate their longevity in 1999 and continues to steadily churn out albums, their most recent being 2008's Live from Texas. ZZ Top is rumored to be working on a new album with famed producer Rick Rubin, although they will be busy on the road for awhile.
Hill recently said of the state of the tour, "We, like so many fans, are disappointed that we're not going to be out with Aerosmith and we wish Steven a speedy recovery." Gibbons finished his thought adding, "As musicians, we sometimes have to improvise and that's exactly what this tour is about. We're going to get out there as quickly as possible and to play for people who want to come to a 'down 'n' dirty rock and roll show-no frills and no holds barred." Get your ZZ Top tickets to see the band live!
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