ZZ Top are an American rock band formed in Houston, Texas, known for their blues-infused rock sound, humorous lyrics, and iconic image featuring two members with long beards (ironically, the one member without a beard is named Frank Beard). The power trio of Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard stayed together for over 50 years, one of the longest-running lineups in rock history. They masterfully blended Texas blues with hard rock, boogie, and later synthesizer-driven new wave sounds on their massively successful 1983 album Eliminator. Dusty Hill passed away in 2021, but his legacy as one-third of this legendary trio endures.
Billy Gibbons is widely regarded as one of the finest blues-rock guitarists of all time, his tone thick and gritty, his phrasing effortlessly cool. Jimi Hendrix himself once called Gibbons one of America's best guitarists. Dusty Hill's bass provided the low-end rumble and vocal harmonies that gave the band its full, powerful sound, while Frank Beard's steady, no-nonsense drumming anchored everything with metronomic precision. Together, the three Texans created a sound that was deceptively simple on the surface but packed with groove, swagger, and deep musical knowledge.
The band's commercial peak came in the 1980s when they embraced synthesizers and music videos, becoming MTV staples with hits like "Sharp Dressed Man," "Legs," and "Tush." Their videos, featuring the band's signature hot rod -- a 1933 Ford Coupe -- and beautiful women, became some of the most recognizable of the era. But beneath the flashy production, the blues foundation never wavered. Whether playing a roadhouse in Texas or headlining arenas worldwide, ZZ Top always remained true to their roots as a down-and-dirty blues band with a sense of humor as big as the Lone Star State.
Frank Beard — and no. He's the only member of ZZ Top without a famous long beard. Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill are the bearded ones. Beard did occasionally sport a short mustache.
Jimi Hendrix. After seeing Gibbons perform with his band Moving Sidewalks in 1968, Hendrix called him one of the finest guitarists in America — a remarkable compliment from someone widely regarded as the greatest to ever do it.
Over 50 years — from 1969 until bassist Dusty Hill's death in July 2021. It's one of the longest-running original lineups in the history of rock music.
The 1933 Ford Coupe that starred in ZZ Top's classic MTV videos is on permanent display at the Hard Rock Cafe in Dallas, Texas — not far from the band's Houston roots.