#DUSTY HILL OF ZZ TOP HOW TO#
#DUSTY HILL OF ZZ TOP PRO#

Their breakout third album, Tres Hombres, released in 1973, put ZZ Top on the map. But no other power trio created such an authentic sound built on a strong blues foundation, and none expanded and reinvented their original sound like ZZ Top. Other power trios were circulating around rock arenas at the time, notably Grand Funk Railroad, the James Gang, and the Johnny Winter Group-all influenced by the prototypical power trio Cream, headed by Eric Clapton, and by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. In a business where the blues was a sound mostly learned from records by mysterious musicians, Dusty Hill had the benefit of direct transmission: He didnвЂ™t just emulate blues mastersвЂ™ records, he had played and interacted with the blues masters.

#DUSTY HILL OF ZZ TOP HOW TO#

Hill (and Beard) knew how to rock too, but also had extensive experience playing authentic blues, having backed up blues icons Freddie King, LightninвЂ™ Hopkins, and Jimmy Reed. Gibbons was an extraordinarily talented guitarist in the rock idiom and a natural showman.

#DUSTY HILL OF ZZ TOP PRO#

He was the old-timer in the band, the pro who had been around and tasted some modicum of success. Later that year, London Records released the self-explanatory ZZ TopвЂ™s First Album.ДЄdding Dusty Hill completed HamвЂ™s vision. The ensemble debuted on Februat the Beaumont VFW Hall.

ThatвЂ™s when Beard called Dusty Hill.ДЄfter calling for-and then playing-a shuffle in the key of C on a borrowed bass with Gibbons and Beard, Hill was hired. Etheridge was fired (allegedly for being a bad influence on Beard). The record failed to stir up much attention, and Ham replaced Greig and Mitchell with bassist Billy Etheridge and drummer Frank Beard.

The ensemble recorded a 45 rpm single in Tyler, вЂњSalt Lick,вЂќ on HamвЂ™s independent label, Scat Records. Lanier Greig, a keyboardist from another hot Houston band, Neil Ford and the Fanatics, sat in on bass. Drummer Dan Mitchell came with Gibbons from the Moving Sidewalks. HamвЂ™s idea was solid, but the band was not. They met backstage at a gig where the Sidewalks were opening a concert for The Doors. ZZ Top was dreamed up in 1969 when an ambitious record promo man and frustrated singer from Waxahachie named Bill Ham met Billy Gibbons, an 18-year-old guitarist with the Houston psychedelic rock band Moving Sidewalks.

Dusty hill of zz top