ZZ Top

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer

Category: Performer

Inducted: 2004

Inducted by: Keith Richards

Nominated: 2004

First Eligible: 1996 Ceremony

Inducted Members: Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard


Induction Ceremony Songs:

SongPerformed By
La Grange  ZZ Top
Tush  ZZ Top

Inducted into Rock Hall Revisited in 2004 (ranked #149) .

R.S. Top 500 Albums (?)RankVersion
Eliminator3982012
Tres Hombres4902012

Essential Albums (?)WikipediaYouTube
Rio Grande Mud (1972)
Tres Hombres (1973)
Fandango! (1975)
Degüello (1979)
El Loco (1981)
Eliminator (1983)
Afterburner (1985)

Essential Songs (?)WikipediaYouTube
La Grange (1973)
Waitin' for the Bus / Jesus Just Left Chicago (1973)
Tush (1975)
Cheap Sunglasses (1979)
Sharp Dressed Man (1983)
Legs (1983)
Gimme All Your Lovin' (1983)
Got Me Under Pressure (1983)

ZZ Top @ Wikipedia



Comments

17 comments so far (post your own)

Saw the Texas Trio at Bonnaroo. Played at midnight. Went thru all their hits. Vocals not quite as good (these guys are older than dirt), but guitar/drum action was right there.

Finished up with LaGrange.

Posted by Paul in KY on Thursday, 06/20/2013 @ 08:46am


Always loved this band's music and they've always had a great defining sound. I thought they would be good live but for some reason they didn't cut it with me at Bonnaroo. Maybe its because all my energy was used for Paul McCartney, but I almost was put to sleep. Too bad I missed out on La Grange....always an energetic guitar song!

Posted by Jason Voigt on Friday, 06/21/2013 @ 20:29pm


THese guys really knew how to do it. They combined southern blues with hard rock. And then in the '80s they put synthesizers in. These guys were genius when it comes to writing their own music. They were massively innovative. Not sure about influence. But they deserved to go in

Posted by Karl Singleton on Sunday, 03/2/2014 @ 12:34pm


I gave these guys another chance almost 2 wks ago when they came to St. Louis. They did way better than they did at Bonnaroo a year ago. I think they were probably uncomfortable being only one of hundreds of acts playing at a festival, who knows. But they were very comfortable to have all of their true fans right in front of them and they played all the hits, the way the people wanted to hear and see them!

Posted by Jason Voigt on Friday, 09/5/2014 @ 17:50pm


It is always ABBA to ZZTOP when looking at A-Z lists of bands/artists.It will always be like this in the years to come.That encure ZZTOP's place in rock history - even if you don't like them.The main thing is that they are still rocking live whereby tons of other so-called "rock bands" are long forgotten.Give them the respect they deserve.Long live ZZTOP.

Posted by Marius Terblanche on Friday, 01/2/2015 @ 11:24am


ZZ Top Are My Favourite Three Piece Band Besides The KISS Trio Of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Eric Carr

Posted by Roger Daltrey on Monday, 06/27/2016 @ 19:57pm


ZZ Top had consisted of three extremely handsome and talented men who had written great music and had featured extremely beautiful women in their videos. What’s more, they have had a nearly 50 year long career and have been together as a unit with no lineup changes, for nearly that long. That’s a testament to their longevity and quite unprecedented in this age.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Thursday, 05/3/2018 @ 10:56am


Actually, Dusty and Frank aren’t the band’s original members, but they did put themselves on the map.

Posted by The Dude on Thursday, 05/3/2018 @ 11:11am


ZZ Top has consisted of three extremely handsome and talented men who had written great music and have featured extremely beautiful women in their videos. What’s more, they have had a nearly 50 year long career and have been together as a unit with no lineup changes, for nearly that long. That’s a testament to their longevity and really quite unprecedented in this day and age, when many bands change their lineups much more frequently.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Thursday, 05/3/2018 @ 11:15am


The Dude,

Yes, Dusty and Frank are not the original members, but the fact that they had joined Billy Gibbons in ZZ Top not quite 50 years ago is still quite amazing. Next year, this particular incarnation of ZZ Top will be half a century old.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Friday, 05/4/2018 @ 14:21pm


I had just watched "That Little Ol' Band from Texas" on BluRay yesterday.

After seeing it, I would conclude that even though they may be eccentric, for the most part, those three guys (Gibbons, Hill and Beard) had just seemed to be quite down to earth.

I would also like to wish a Happy slightly belated birthday to Dusty Hill who had turned 71 on May 19, 2020.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Tuesday, 06/2/2020 @ 08:59am


Incidentally, Z.Z. Top's 'Manic Mechanic' reminds me of King Crimson's angularity in songs like 'Frame By Frame' from "Discipline."

Well, what do you think?

Posted by Enigmaticus on Tuesday, 06/2/2020 @ 19:38pm


Frame by Frame was a great song. And Discipline was a great album for King Crimson.

P.S. Why the HELL is King Crimson still NOT in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame???

Posted by John Mangee on Tuesday, 06/2/2020 @ 20:17pm


John,

I agree that "Discipline" is a great King Crimson album, it is certainly one of my favorites. I believe that King Crimson will receive a nomination after Duran Duran, Jethro Tull and possibly Procol Harum have been inducted. What helps King Crimson the most is probably the fact that the "holy trinity" of prog (Rush, Yes and The Moody Blues), Roxy Music, Radiohead, Talking Heads, Genesis, Pink Floyd and Jefferson Airplane have previously been inducted.

So, 'Manic Mechanic' is definitely a huge departure for Z.Z. Top. Does it indicate that Billy Gibbons had admired Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew's quirky and angular guitar playing?

Well, what do you think?

Posted by Enigmaticus on Wednesday, 06/3/2020 @ 01:20am


Rest in Peace Dusty Hill, 1949-2021.

Posted by Joe on Wednesday, 07/28/2021 @ 15:26pm


R.I.P. Dusty Hill

Now there are two.

Posted by Plebeian on Thursday, 07/29/2021 @ 08:59am


I am extremely saddened to hear the news that Joseph Michael (Dusty) Hill had passed away at the age of 72. My most sincere condolences to his family and friends on his unexpected passing. Dusty, you will definitely not be forgotten and your songs will be played for a long, long, long time. Of course, Billy and Frank must be devastated by this tragic news.

Posted by Enigmaticus on Friday, 07/30/2021 @ 08:06am


Leave your comment:





In the alphabet, which letter is between D and F?



Note: Emails will not be visible or used in any way, but are required. Please keep comments relevant to the topic. Any content deemed inappropriate or offensive may be edited and/or deleted.

No HTML code is allowed.


Future Rock Legends is your home for ZZ Top and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, including year of eligibility, number of nominations, induction chances, essential songs and albums, and an open discussion of their career.


This site is not affiliated with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.