zz top current tour

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ZZ Top Kicks Off Tour With Lynyrd Skynyrd: Set List and Interview

ZZ Top launched their Sharp-Dressed Simple Man co-headlining tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd on Friday evening at the iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Texas legends delivered a tight 16-song set which touched on moments from their entire catalog. 1983's Eliminator recently hit the 40-year mark, while 1973's Tres Hombres will celebrate its own 50-year milestone next week. Both were well-represented during the night's performance.

You can see the complete set list, as well as videos, below.

The current tour marks a reunion for the two groups, who toured together in 1999 and 2000, with a brief reprise in 2019 when Lynyrd Skynyrd opened two dates on ZZ Top's 50th anniversary tour. But the roots go much further back for the two bands. "It was kind of a rekindling of kindred spirits. It’s a little known fact that ZZ Top gave Lynyrd Skynyrd one of their first official paying gigs, way, way back in the day," guitarist and vocalist Billy Gibbons laughs during a conversation with UCR following the first show. "We had an enjoyable moment to compare notes over five decades of sharing the stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd. It’s been a really interesting and incredibly long run."

It's easy to think the Florida heat could have kept the fur-covered guitars in the road cases. But as ZZ Top broke into "Legs," the fabled instruments were right there, now representing a signature part of the song's legacy 40 years later . "It’s over 100 degrees," Gibbons confirms. "But you know, we’ve done it before and we’ll do it again. Somebody said, 'A fur guitar in this heat? Are you crazy?' I said, 'Well, we’ve been crazy for a long time. I think we’ll get by.'"

Watch ZZ Top Perform 'Legs' in West Palm Beach

Some of the most poignant moments of the night were provided by the people who weren't there at the gig. Though Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Gary Rossington passed away earlier this year , he was still very much part of the concert. "I was walking across the stage just now and Gary’s setup is still in place," Gibbons shares. "What was really warming...was that last night, I was standing at the microphone and Lynyrd Skynyrd had just left the stage. I looked down and there was a piece of tape marking the spot that Gary would occupy. So he’s still with us in no small terms. All of those guys, you know, it’s that Skynyrd thing. They live on."

The Sharp-Dressed Simple Man tour, which sees the two bands alternating as headliners, continues tonight in Alpharetta, Georgia, before moving to Tennessee in the coming week.

Watch ZZ Top Perform 'Sharp Dressed Man'' in West Palm Beach

Watch ZZ Top Perform 'La Grange' in West Palm Beach

Watch ZZ Top Perform 'Just Got Paid' in West Palm Beach

Watch ZZ Top Perform 'Tube Snake Boogie' in West Palm Beach

Watch Lynyrd Skynyrd Perform 'That Smell' in West Palm Beach

Watch Lynyrd Skynyrd Perform 'Call Me the Breeze' in West Palm Beach

Watch Lynyrd Skynyrd Perform 'Free Bird' in West Palm Beach

ZZ Top, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach, Florida, 7/21/23  1. "Got Me Under Pressure" 2. "I Thank You" 3. "Waitin' for the Bus" 4. "Jesus Just Left Chicago" 5. "Gimme All Your Lovin'" 6. "Pearl Necklace" 7. "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" 8. "I Gotsta Get Paid" 9. "My Head's in Mississippi" 10. "Sixteen Tons" 11. "Just Got Paid" 12. "Sharp Dressed Man" 13. "Legs" 14. "Brown Sugar" 15. "Tube Snake Boogie" 16. "La Grange"

Lynyrd Skynyrd, iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, West Palm Beach, Florida, 7/21/23  1. "Workin' for MCA" 2. "Skynyrd Nation" 3. "What's Your Name" 4. "That Smell" 5. "Whiskey Rock-a-Roller" 6. "The Needle and the Spoon" 7. "Saturday Night Special" 8. "The Ballad of Curtis Loew" 9. "I Know a Little" 10. "Tuesday's Gone" (Dedicated to Gary Rossington) 11. "Simple Man" (Dedicated to First Responders and the Troops) 12. "Gimme Three Steps" 13. "Call Me the Breeze" (J.J. Cale cover) 14. "Sweet Home Alabama" 15. "Free Bird"

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Lynyrd Skynyrd And ZZ Top Announce Co-Headlining The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour

Tickets On Sale Starting Friday, December 16 at 10am Local on LiveNation.com

Today, the titans of American classic rock ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd have announced their first co-headlining tour – The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour – taking over twenty-two cities in North America this summer. Produced by Live Nation, the tour kicks off on Friday, July 21 at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, FL, and continues with stops in Fort Worth, Phoenix, Chicago, and more before wrapping up in Camden, NJ at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion on Sunday, September 17.

TICKETS:  Tickets go on sale starting Friday, December 16 at 10am local time on LiveNation.com

LYNYRD SKYNYRD & ZZ TOP: THE SHARP DRESSED SIMPLE MAN TOUR DATES: 

Fri Jul 21 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

Sun Jul 23 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

Fri Jul 28 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP

Sat Jul 29 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena

Sun Jul 30 – Woodlands, TX – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman

Mon Aug 7 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre*

Thu Aug 10 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre

Fri Aug 11 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre

Sun Aug 13 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion

Thu Aug 17 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis, MO

Sat Aug 19 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago, IL

Sun Aug 20 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center

Fri Aug 25 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center

Sat Aug 26 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre

Sun Aug 27 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage

Fri Sep 01 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion

Sat Sep 02 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion

Sun Sep 03 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake

Fri Sep 08 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Sat Sep 09 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium

Sun Sep 10 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center

Fri Sep 15 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

Sun Sep 17 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion

* Not A Live Nation Date

About Lynyrd Skynyrd:

As Lynyrd Skynyrd approaches the 50 th anniversary of the band’s critically acclaimed debut album ‘Pronounced ‘Lĕh-‘nérd ‘Skin-‘nérd’ in 2023, they resonate as deeply with their multi-generational fan base today as when they first emerged out of Jacksonville, Florida in 1973. Few ensembles have had the deep impact in creating a lifestyle as Skynyrd has. The band travels forward with a primary mission of celebrating a legacy that honors all whom have had a resonating contribution to the lives of hundreds of millions of fans globally. Former members Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Steve Gaines, Ed King, Billy Powell, Bob Burns, Leon Wilkeson and Hughie Thomasson alongside others will forever remain significant contributors to this indelible repertoire and the band’s colorful history. Today, Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks on with a current line-up featuring Johnny Van Zant, Rickey Medlocke, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, Carol Chase and Stacy Michelle. Gary Rossington continues to have a significant presence and creative influence with the band, while making select appearances on the road.

The rock and roll powerhouse continually tours, and as Van Zant shares, “It’s about the legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and what it stands for, what the fans are all about. There’s nothing like getting out there playing a great show with Skynyrd and seeing people love this music.”  Adds Rossington, “We’re still standing, Still keeping the music going. We wanted to do the guys who aren’t with us any more proud, and keep the name proud, too.”

 With a catalog of over 60 albums, billions of streams, and tens of millions of records sold,  Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Lynyrd Skynyrd remain a cultural icon that appeal to all generations.

About ZZ Top:

“That Little Ol’ Band From Texas” has been at it for well over a half century delivering rock, blues and boogie on stage and studio to millions of devoted fans. With iconography as distinctive as their sound, ZZ TOP is globally recognized with their beards, hotrod cars, spinning guitars and that magic keychain, all of which transcend geography and language.

It was in 1969 Houston when ZZ TOP coalesced from the core of two rival bands, Billy Gibbons’ Moving Sidewalks and Frank Beard and Dusty Hill’s American Blues. ZZ Top’s 1973 release, Tres Hombres , catapulted them to national attention with the hit “La Grange,” still one of the band’s signature pieces today.  Eliminator , their 1983 album was something of a paradigm shift for ZZ TOP. Their roots blues skew was intact and added to the mix came their hightech-age trappings that soon found a visual outlet with such tracks as “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs” on the nascent MTV. It was one of the record industry’s first albums to have been certified Diamond, far beyond Gold and Platinum, a reflection of sales exceeding 10 million units.

As a touring outfit, they’ve been without peer over the past five decades, having performed before millions of fans over four continents and have been the subject of their own Grammy-nominated documentary titled That Little Ol’ Band From Texas.   The band’s line-up of the bearded Gibbons and Hill and Beard, who ironically is clean shaven, remained intact for more than 50 years.  When Dusty temporarily departed the tour in the summer of 2021, Elwood Francis entered the picture accepting the directive from Dusty to be the perfect choice to stand in on the bass-guitar and now handles the low-end duties for the band for the present as well as into the future.

The elements that keep ZZ TOP fresh, enduring can be summed up in the three words of the band’s internal mantra: “Tone, Taste and Tenacity”. As genuine roots performers, they have few peers. Their influences are both the originators of the form – Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Jimmy Reed, et al – as well as the British blues rockers and Jimi Hendrix who emerged generations before ZZ’s ascendance.

They have sold hundreds of millions of records over the course of their career, have been officially designated as Heroes of The State of Texas, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (by Keith Richards, no less) and have been referenced in countless cartoons and sitcoms. They are true rock icons and, against all odds, they’re really just doing what they’ve always done. ZZ TOP abides!

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com .

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For over 40 years now, ZZ Top have been providing the world with some of the most memorable riffs and beards that Rock and Roll has ever witnessed.

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.

Live reviews

Hirsute Texan blues rockers ZZ Top made a whistle-stop visit to the UK on Wednesday playing a very full looking Wembley Arena. Flanked by a pair of video screens, guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill were, true to form, resplendent in matching outfits, hats, sunglasses and foot-long beards. Nestled behind and between Gibbons and Hill sat drummer Frank Beard - still defiantly beardless - and busy driving the boogie juggernaut along.

Dusty Hill once described their show as "low movement, high impact" and that pretty much nails it. There's no gymnastic leaping, histrionics or undue haste in the band's stage presence and the only the merest hint of any choreography as when Hill and Gibbons adopt an occasional slow, Shadows-esque stroll up to the mics or sway away in unison providing crowd pleasing photo opportunities at the edge of the stage. Instead, there's just a slow and deliberate riffing that pulls you into the groove of each song getting the feet stamping and the head shaking.

After a brief video introduction, the band ambled on and opened with a terrific performance of "You've Got Me Under Pressure". The high octane start continued with "Waitin' For The Bus" and "Jesus Just Left Chicago" before the familiar drum intro heralded the arrival of "Gimme All Your Lovin'" and the cue for the crowd to get all hot and bothered. It's hard to believe that it's over thirty years since "Eliminator" brought ZZ Top to the mainstream with their iconic videos for "Gimme All Your Lovin', "Legs" and "Sharp Dressed Man" which MTV seemed to just play on a loop - back when they actually played music videos if you can imagine such a thing.

"I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" and "Pincushion" reminded us that there's much more to the band than the cluster of hits on "Eliminator", and "I Gotsta Get Paid", the band's reworking of an old rap hit called "25 Lighters" was one of a couple of tracks from their most recent album, 2013's "La Futura". The band paid tribute to Hendrix with a run through of "Foxy Lady" and jammed through another cover, "Catfish Blues". "Cheap Sunglasses" worked the crowd up into a lather before "My Head's in Mississippi", "Chartreuse" and the set closers "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs" where the crowd went singalong crazy.

Returning for the encore, the band were joined by a fourth "hombre" in the form of guitar legend Jeff Beck, who, incredibly, was celebrating his seventy-first birthday. After being presented with a cake and accepting a glass of something bubbly the impossibly young looking Beck graced the stage for the final four songs of the evening starting with a gorgeous run through of the ballad-like "Rough Boy" from the "Afterburner" album, a number Billy Gibbons said Beck had told him was one of his favourites. A cover of "Sixteen Tons" was followed by an epic set-closing double whammy of "La Grange" and, of course, "Tush".

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“It’s time to party with ZZ Top!” It was only 8:45pm, but I had never seen so many inebriated people over 50 in my life. I literally had to catch a few ladies who almost tumbled into the next row while trying to find their seats in the dark. Men were being denied service at the bar and there were piles of puke to be avoided everywhere. The bearded duo arrived just in time though, blazing a path through the nonsense like they’ve been doing for over forty years. The original blues brothers, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill, were the same as they’ve ever been; eternal youth hidden behind hats, beards, and cheap sunglasses. Frank’s pounding kick drum gave EDM shows a run for their money, while Gibbons and Hill burned tracks across the stage.

All the classics were present; “Gimmie All Your Lovin’”, “Got Me Under Pressure”, “Rough Boy”, and “Sharp Dressed Man”, just to name a few. There were some new tracks and a cover or two, but by the time they brought out the fuzzy white guitars for “Legs” (which closed the main set), everyone was amped for more. Returning almost immediately with matching sparkling jackets, they continued with “La Grange”; eventually morphing into the all-too-appropriate “Sloppy Drunk” after some crowd encouragement. “Tush” could have easily been the final spark of the night (a roadie came out to light Gibbon’s joint at that point), but the boys from Texas weren’t done with us yet. The second encore was a victory lap of sorts. It was also the soundtrack to a mass exodus from the venue, causing “Jailhouse Rock” to be heard by many as an echo off the rocks on the way to the parking lots. The whole thing ended just after 10:00pm.

It is unfortunate that the Laid Back Festival had to turn to Groupon and take other price-reducing actions, because it really was a great festival. The food was nothing to celebrate, and the lack of information about the order of appearances and set times was annoying, but overall Gregg Allman curated an amazing day/night of music across a spectrum of genres. Where else are you going to see five Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees share a stage on a Sunday at such an amazing venue? Hopefully next year they will be able to work out some of the kinks and Gregg will be healthy and strong. Aside from that, I’d say the first year of Laid Back in Colorado was a great success in terms of execution, even if it was a financial failure.

see more at http://ilistensoyoudonthaveto.com/2016/09/29/laid-back-festival-red-rocks-09-25-16/

ZZ Top, the legendary American blues rock group with even more legendary beards are known for putting on an impressive live show despite their increasing age. Having formed over forty years ago, the band has accumulated a huge discography and a fan base to match.

The audience packs the venue and excitedly chatter about the prospect of seeing ZZ Top play live. The range of ages is a credit to the band as they have dedicated fans who have followed their career from the beginning and new listeners who appreciate the band's influence on blues rock.

The band proves their reputation and influence is duly deserved as they tear into the opener 'Got Me Under Pressure' with the energy of a band thirty years their junior. Their technical skill is applaudable, admirable and frankly out of this world as they never seem to miss a single note through the complexity of tracks such as 'Pincushion' and 'Chartreuse'. A class act with an immeasurable amount of technical ability and masterful musicians.

This is only the second time I had seen ZZ Top. The other time was in December of 1985 at Maple Leaf Gardens. Seeing them in the Centre in the Square was much better more intimate. You could hear them much better and they were not ten miles away. They walked out with no fan fare and started playing. The old songs of when we were young. The stage was a basic set up. Most of the fans there were 40 plus. Lots of men had the ZZ like beards that they certainly did not start growing last week. The music was not too loud, just right. They played all their hits. The songs from the Eliminator album brought out the biggest response. Many of the younger kids were dancing down near the front stage. Nice atmosphere. Only a few bone heads getting noisy in the crowd. So nice to see these guys again, as they're not getting any younger. No regrets.

ZZ Top performance was amazing.

The venue had some issues. The sound was very imbalanced in the beginning, almost could not hear Billy Gibons voice.

There was some trouble with the crowd too. Some people were fighting over standing versus sitting (it's a rock concert not the symphony, get up and dance I say!). In my opinion the usher was a bit too harsh on the dancing people. He was very rude to the ladies dancing and another guy ( just attending the show) even grabbed the arm of one of them. At that point it was way over the line. The people complaining about the non sitting attendees were very inappropriate (even got in my face), but nothing happened to them.

I am not sure about the finer details, but I do not believe the ushers were well trained in de-escalating conflict.

I've seen ZZ Top in small venues that weren't even sold out and I've seen them at sold out stadiums - they always put on a great show.

They are back to their original format of just Billy, Dusty and Frank on stage (without the women with the long legs) playing all of their old great songs.

I find them best in the smaller venues - Brixton Academy (second time) was outstanding. Milton Keynes Bowl with Bryan Adams as support (the night he went to number one in the UK charts) was memorable for songs that are no longer played (but can be found on YouTube).

I've now taken my son to see them 7 times all across Europe as the UK dates are few and far between now. Even got a personal message from Dusty on my 50th. Have mercy!

Ok.. was I the only one there? I was... started with some wild winds blowing down the river.. I'll never forget.. beards blowing.. hair.. wow!

They played on.. winds het wicked lightning striks straight down.. Man comes out on stage. Tried to tell them storms brewing down that Mississippi River..

But no.. they played.. here for the people.. as we were for them........... I could go on forever.. anyone have a video of this crazy night.. 7 tornadoes comming down that river..

Or anyone know where to get one..

Was telling my daughter about that night.. as I was 4 months carrying her.. kind of like her to see it... #thegirlisawesome

On Tuesday June 6 ZZ Top played Artpark in Lewiston, NY. The weather on that day was drizzling and cold, this did not stop fans from filling the venue. Fans that braved the conditions where not disappointed. Billy Gibbons and the boys played all their greatest hits with all the vigor of a large stadium show.

If ZZ Top is playing in your area, go see these three legends. ZZ Top has been doing it for almost 50 years and hasn't lost a step.

Disappointing! After spending $340 each for VIP tix (not even front row/meet and greet) the show only lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes, probably the shortest concert I have ever attended. The guys seemed a little tired and bored, which is understandable after 50 years together or possibly because they just flew in from England. The sound system wasn't the best either, way too much bass overriding their vocals.

Well, they did not disappoint. After the warm-up act, Tim Montana (who, by the way, fit right in and was worth seeing), ZZ Top came out and were very loud, played all their hits, and were well worth the price of admission. Billy Gibbons even called out our fair city Cheyenne on more than one occasion. They were very entertaining and sounded great after all these years. Great time.

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ZZ Top is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 37 concerts across 8 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top announce 2024 tour with stops in 36 cities: See the list

American classic rock wizards ZZ Top  and  Lynyrd Skynyrd  are uniting for another co-headlined North American tour.

The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour will take over 36 cities across the nation in 2024, both bands unveiled Monday.

The tour kicks off March 8 at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia before making stops throughout the Southeast in the spring. After a more than three-month break between April 20 and Aug. 9, the tour wraps up in Ridgefield, Washington on Sept. 22.

Special guests on the tour are Black Stone Cherry and the Outlaws, the bands announced.

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ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd tour dates, cities

• March 8 − EnMarket Arena − Savannah, GA
• March 9 − Hertz Arena − Estero, FL
• March 14 − Bon Secours Wellness Arena − Greenville, SC
• March 15 − Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center − Knoxville, TN
• March 16 − Colonial Life Arena − Columbia, SC
• March 22 − Brookshire Grocery Arena − Bossier City, LA
• March 23 − Landers Center − Southaven, MS
• March 24 − Macon Amphitheater − Macon, GA
• March 28 − Rupp Arena − Lexington, KY
• March 29 − Greensboro Coliseum − Greensboro, NC
• March 30 − Charleston Coliseum − Charleston, WV
• April 4 − Mississippi Coast Coliseum − Biloxi, MS
• April 5 − Donald L Tucker Civic Center − Tallahassee, FL
• April 6 − Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center  − Huntsville, AL
• April 12 − Ford Center  − Evansville, IN
• April 13 − Vibrant Arena  − Moline, IL
• April 14 − Resch Center  − Green Bay, WI
• April 18 − Simmons Bank Arena  − North Little Rock, AR
• April 19 − Cajundome  − Lafayette, LA
• April 20 − American Bank Center  − Corpus Christi, TX
• Aug. 9 − Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort  − Mount Pleasant, MI
• Aug. 15 − Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview  − Syracuse, NY
• Aug. 16 − Bethel Woods Center for the Arts  − Bethel, NY
• Aug. 17 − Xfinity Center  − Mansfield, MA
• Aug. 22 − Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater  − Wantagh, NY
• Aug. 23 − Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion  − Gilford, NH
• Aug. 24 − The XFINITY Theatre  − Hartford, CT
• Sept. 5 − Ameris Bank Amphitheater  − Alpharetta, GA
• Sept. 7 − Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach  − Virginia Beach, VA
• Sept. 8 − Jiffy Lube Live  − Bristow, VA
• Sept. 12 − Darien Lake Amphitheater  − Darien Center, NY
• Sept. 13 − Pine Knob Music Theatre  − Clarkston, MI
• Sept. 14 − Ruoff Music Center  − Noblesville, IN
• Sept. 19 − Toyota Pavilion at Concord  − Concord, CA
• Sept. 21 − White River Amphitheater  − Auburn, WA
• Sept. 22 − RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater  − Ridgefield, WA

A nipple bra? When Kim Kardashian's nipple bra dropped, some people laughed. Breast cancer patients rejoiced.

ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd tour presale code, ticket info

Presale opened Tuesday with code SKYNYRD50, Lynyrd Skynyrd announced.

Tickets will be available starting Friday at 10 a.m. ET. More information can be found on the bands' websites.

What to know about ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd

ZZ Top, a blues rock band from Texas known for hit songs including "Legs" and "Sharp Dressed Man" while Southern rock Lynyrd Skynyrd's setlist staples often include "Free Bird," "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Simple Man."

The late Gary Rossington, a guitarist who died in March , formed Lynyrd Skynyrd with the late Ronnie Van Zant, Allen Collins, Larry Junstrom and Bob Burns in 1964. Van Zant died in a 1977 plane crash along with guitarist Steve Gaines and backup singer Cassie Gaines.

ZZ Top lead singer and guitarist Billy Gibbons, formed the band in Houston in 1969 with drummer Frank Beard and bassist and vocalist Dusty Hill, who died in 2021. 

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top Kick Off 2024 Tour with Powerful Setlist

via AIE TUBE / YouTube

Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top recently launched the second leg of their highly anticipated co-headlining Sharp Dressed Simple Man tour. The tour took off in style at Savannah, Georgia’s Enmarket Arena, where both bands delivered exhilarating performances. Fans were treated to an impressive lineup of classic hits, and the energy in the arena was electric.

Rocking Through the Skynyrd Legacy

Lynyrd Skynyrd, known for their Southern rock sound, showcased a 15-song set that took fans on a journey through their iconic albums, including (Pronounced ‘Leh-‘nerd ‘Skin-‘nerd), Second Helping, and Street Survivors. The band wasted no time, opening their set with the rousing “Workin’ for MCA” and “Skynyrd Nation.” They then proceeded to thrill the crowd with beloved hits such as “What’s Your Name,” “That Smell,” “Tuesday’s Gone,” and “Simple Man.” The performance reached its climax with the immortal one-two punch of “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird.”

According to the band, their setlist is a tribute to their legacy and the songs that have resonated with their fans throughout the years. Lead guitarist Rickey Medlocke spoke about their emotional connection to the music, saying, “We do a tribute every night to Gary, to the song ‘Tuesday’s Gone,’ and I can’t even look at the video.” This heartfelt homage serves as a reminder of the late guitarist Gary Rossington’s impact on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s music.

ZZ Top’s Unforgettable Performance

ZZ Top, the blues-infused rock icons, delivered a powerhouse performance of their own. Their 16-song setlist showcased their trademark hits from the albums Eliminator and Tres Hombres, igniting nostalgia among their fans. The crowd couldn’t help but groove to the infectious beats of “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Got Me Under Pressure,” and “Sharp Dressed Man.” Classic tracks like “Jesus Just Left Chicago” and “Waitin’ for the Bus” transported the audience to the heyday of ZZ Top’s career. The set concluded with a thrilling rendition of their renowned hit “La Grange.”

In addition to their own hits, ZZ Top included a few surprises in their setlist. They delighted the crowd with covers of Sam & Dave’s “I Thank You” and Merle Travis’ “Sixteen Tons.” These unexpected choices showcased the band’s versatility and ability to put their unique spin on beloved classics.

The co-headlining tour, titled the Sharp Dressed Simple Man tour, commenced last July, with this leg consisting of 36 shows spanning from Savannah to Ridgefield, Washington in September. Both Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top have faced significant hardships in recent years. ZZ Top mourned the loss of their bassist and vocalist Dusty Hill in 2021, with the band’s longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis stepping in to carry on the legacy. Meanwhile, Lynyrd Skynyrd bid farewell to their last original member, guitarist Gary Rossington, in 2023. Despite these challenges, both bands have persevered and continue to captivate audiences with their unwavering dedication to their music.

Looking ahead, fans can anticipate an “all-star Skynyrd record” featuring Rossington, as teased by guitarist Rickey Medlocke. The album aims to pay homage to the band’s legacy while embracing new opportunities. With the tour in full swing and the promise of exciting future projects, Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top are ensuring that their music lives on and continues to resonate with generations of fans.

ZZ Top also at Hertz Arena pic.twitter.com/seQ4jMPOXA — Richard Torricelli (@RichardTorrice1) March 10, 2024

Lynyrd Skynyrd Setlist at Enmarket Arena, Savannah:

“Workin’ for MCA” “Skynyrd Nation” “What’s Your Name” “That Smell” “I Know a Little” “Whiskey Rock-a-Roller” “Saturday Night Special” “The Ballad of Curtis Loew” “Tuesday’s Gone” “Gimme Back My Bullets” “Simple Man” “Gimme Three Steps” “Call Me the Breeze” “Sweet Home Alabama” “Free Bird”

ZZ Top Setlist at Enmarket Arena, Savannah:

“Got Me Under Pressure” “I Thank You” “Waitin’ for the Bus” “Jesus Just Left Chicago” “Gimme All Your Lovin'” “Pearl Necklace” “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide” “I Gotsta Get Paid” “My Head’s in Mississippi” “Sixteen Tons” “Just Got Paid” “Sharp Dressed Man” “Legs” “Brown Sugar” “Tube Snake Boogie” “La Grange”

More Lynyrd Skynyrd/ ZZ Top at Hertz pic.twitter.com/O6Cn1beT0h — Richard Torricelli (@RichardTorrice1) March 10, 2024

Both Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top continue to prove that their music stands the test of time. Fans eagerly await their upcoming performances and the release of new material, as these legendary bands demonstrate their resilience and commitment to rocking the stage.

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Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top Announce Co-Headlining Sharp Dressed Simple Man 2024 Tour — See the Dates!

"Skynyrd Nation!! We heard ya! We're bringing the Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour with @ZZTop to a city near you in 2024," wrote the band on Monday

 R. Diamond/Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty

Southern rock legends Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top are teaming up!

After touring together last year, the two bands announced The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour 2024 on Monday, unveiling 36 concerts set to take place from March through September of the upcoming new year.

"Skynyrd Nation!! We heard ya! We're bringing the Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour with @ZZTop to a city near you in 2024," wrote the "Sweet Home Alabama" group on X (formerly Twitter). "We can’t wait to celebrate 50 Years of Skynyrd with you!"

Currently featuring a lineup of Rickey Medlocke, Johnny Van Zant, Michael Cartellone, Mark Matejka, Peter Keys and Keith Christopher, Lynyrd Skynyrd was originally formed in 1969. The group released its first album (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) in 1973, so this past year has marked the 50-year anniversary of its official debut.

The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour 2024 kicks off March 8, 2024, in Savannah, Georgia, before the two bands play shows across North America and wrap the run on Sept. 22, 2024, in Ridgefield, Washington.

Throughout the tour, Black Stone Cherry will appear as opening act from March 8 through April 20, while The Outlaws will support the shows from Aug. 15 through Sept. 22.

Tickets for the concerts are available on presale from Oct. 31 at 10 a.m. local time through Nov. 2 at 10 p.m. local time. General on-sale tickets become available at 10 a.m. local time on Nov. 3. More information regarding tickets is available on Lynyrd Skynyrd's website .

See Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top's 2024 dates for The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour below.

March 8 – Savannah, GA - Enmarket Arena

March 9 – Estero, FL - Hertz Arena

March 14 – Greenville, SC - Bon Secours Wellness Arena

March 15 – Knoxville, TN - Thompson-Boiling Arena at Food City Ctr.

March 16 – Columbia, SC - Colonial Life Arena *

March 22 – Bossier City, LA - Brookshire Grocery Arena

March 23 – Southhaven, MS - Landers Center

March 24 – Macon, GA - Macon Amphitheater

March 28 – Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena

March 29 – Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum

March 30 – Charleston, WV - Charleston Coliseum

April 04 – Biloxi, MS - Mississippi Coast Coliseum

April 05 – Tallahassee, FL - Donald L. Tucker Civic Center

April 06 – Huntsville, AL - Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center

April 12 – Evansville, IN - Ford Center

April 13 – Moline, IL - Vibrant Arena

April 14 – Green Bay, WI - Resch Center

April 18 – North Little Rock, AR - Simmons Bank Arena

April 19 – Lafayette, LA - Cajundome

April 20 – Corpus Christi, TX - American Bank Center

August 09 – Mount Pleasant, MI - Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort

August 15 – Syracuse, NY - Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview

August 16 – Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts

August 17 – Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center

August 22 – Wantagh, NY - Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

August 23 – Gilford, NH - Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion

August 24 – Hartford, CT - The Xfinity Theatre

September 05 – Alpharetta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheater

September 07 – Virginia Beach, VA - Veterans United Home Loans Amph. at Virginia Beach

September 08 – Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live

September 12 – Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Amphitheater

September 13 – Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre

September 14 – Noblesville, IN - Ruoff Music Center

September 19 – Concord, CA - Toyota Pavilion at Concord

September 21 – Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre

September 22 – Ridgefield, WA - RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

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ZZ Top Concert Setlists & Tour Dates

Upcoming shows.

• Date and Venue Doors Scheduled
• Jun 29 2024 Tons of Rock 2024 Oslo, Norway Add time Add time Add times
• Jul 01 2024 Tivoli Friheden Aarhus, Denmark  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Jul 02 2024 Freilichtbühne Peißnitz Halle, Germany Add time Add time Add times
• Jul 03 2024 Burg Clam Klam, Austria Add time Add time Add times
• Jul 05 2024 KUNST!Rasen 2024 Bonn, Germany Add time Add time Add times
• Jul 06 2024 Citadel Music Festival 2024 Berlin, Germany Add time Add time Add times
• Jul 08 2024 AFAS Live Amsterdam, Netherlands  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Jul 09 2024 Le Zénith Paris, France Add time Add time Add times
• Jul 11 2024 OVO Arena Wembley London, England  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Jul 13 2024 Autostadt Sommerfestival 2024 Wolfsburg, Germany Add time Add time Add times
• Jul 14 2024 Tollwood Sommerfestival 2024 Munich, Germany Add time Add time Add times
• Aug 15 2024 Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview Syracuse, NY, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Aug 16 2024 Bethel Woods Center for the Arts Bethel, NY, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Aug 17 2024 Xfinity Center Mansfield, MA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Aug 22 2024 Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater Wantagh, NY, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Aug 23 2024 Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook Gilford, NH, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Aug 24 2024 XFINITY Theatre Hartford, CT, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Aug 29 2024 Ravinia Festival 2024 Highland Park, IL, USA  –  Find tickets Doors 5:00 PM  –  Add time Tickets 5:00 PM Add time
• Aug 30 2024 Treasure Island Amphitheater Welch, MN, USA  –  Find tickets Doors 7:00 PM  –  Add time Tickets 7:00 PM Add time
• Aug 31 2024 Spirit Lake Casino & Resort Saint Michael, ND, USA Add time Add time Add times
• Sep 05 2024 Ameris Bank Amphitheatre Alpharetta, GA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 07 2024 Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach Virginia Beach, VA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 08 2024 Jiffy Lube Live Bristow, VA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 12 2024 Darien Lake Performing Arts Center Darien Center, NY, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 13 2024 Pine Knob Music Theatre Clarkston, MI, USA  –  Find tickets Doors 5:00 PM  –  Add time Tickets 5:00 PM Add time
• Sep 14 2024 Ruoff Music Center Noblesville, IN, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 19 2024 Toyota Pavilion at Concord Concord, CA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 21 2024 White River Amphitheatre Auburn, WA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 22 2024 RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater Ridgefield, WA, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 26 2024 Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre West Valley City, UT, USA  –  Find tickets Add time Tickets Add time Add times
• Sep 27 2024 Blue Arena Loveland, CO, USA Doors 5:30 PM  –  Add time 5:30 PM Add time
• Sep 28 2024 Sunset Amphitheater Colorado Springs, CO, USA  –  Find tickets Doors 5:30 PM  –  Add time Tickets 5:30 PM Add time

ZZ Top at BeachLife Festival 2024

• Got Me Under Pressure
• I Thank You
• Waitin' for the Bus
• Jesus Just Left Chicago
• Gimme All Your Lovin'
• My Head's in Mississippi
• I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
• Sixteen Tons
• Just Got Paid
• Sharp Dressed Man
• Brown Sugar
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ZZ Top at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, NV, USA

• Pearl Necklace
• Viva Las Vegas

ZZ Top at The Venue at Thunder Valley, Lincoln, CA, USA

• I Gotsta Get Paid

ZZ Top at Silver Legacy Casino, Reno, NV, USA

Zz top at vina robles amphitheatre, paso robles, ca, usa, zz top at harrah's resort southern california, valley center, ca, usa.

• Tube Snake Boogie

ZZ Top at Findlay Toyota Center, Prescott Valley, AZ, USA

Zz top at american bank center arena, corpus christi, tx, usa, zz top at cajundome, lafayette, la, usa, zz top at simmons bank arena, north little rock, ar, usa.

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Most played songs

• La Grange ( 1757 )
• Jesus Just Left Chicago ( 1657 )
• Waitin' for the Bus ( 1641 )
• Sharp Dressed Man ( 1626 )
• Gimme All Your Lovin' ( 1606 )

More ZZ Top statistics

3 Mile Island 38 Special The 413s 42 Decibel 9sundays The Aaron Randall Band Lee Aaron Acoustic Millenium Band Adequate Aerosmith Alasin Alcatrazz Alkaline Trio All Kinds of Blues All Mighty Senators Will Allinson The Allman Brothers Band Alvvays Amplified Andere Koek! Ed Anderson Andrew & Company The Angels Full of Anger Angra Michael Anthony Anthrax Aqueous Kenny Aronoff Ashmore AskMeHow The Association Axel Rudi Pell Azra Backyard Tire Fire Bacon Fat Bad Ass Romance Bad Marriage Bagheera Baker’s Breeze Frankie Ballard Band Four! Karen Lussier Band Banff Bang Tango Barenaked Ladies Jennifer Batten The Beards Joel Beaver Jeff Beck

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Artists covered

The Alabama State Troupers Chuck Berry Brooks & Dunn Willie Brown Robert Burns Johnny Cash The Coasters Creedence Clearwater Revival The Spencer Davis Group Willie Dixon Lee Dorsey Fleetwood Mac Funkadelic Billy Gibbons and The BFG’s William Christopher Handy The Jimi Hendrix Experience Son House Howlin’ Wolf Alan Jackson Elton John & Kiki Dee Robert Johnson Merle Kilgore B.B. King Freddie King The Leaves Smiley Lewis Little Walter and His Jukes John D. Loudermilk John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers Jimmy McGriff Muddy Waters St. Louis Jimmy Oden Pandora’s Box Robert Parker Johnny Paycheck Pinetop Perkins Robert Petway Elvis Presley Jimmie Rodgers Johnny Russell Sam & Dave Ray Sharpe Aaron ‘Pinetop’ Sparks Stryper Merle Travis Dinah Washington Sonny Boy Williamson Chuck Willis

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Gigs seen live by

10,398 people have seen ZZ Top live.

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ZZ Top Will Carry On After Dusty Hill’s Death, Billy Gibbons Says

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

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Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top has affirmed that the band will soldier on after the death this week of founding bassist Dusty Hill , asserting that it was his wish to “let the show go on.”

Gibbons texted the statement to SiriusXM “Trunk Nation” host Eddie Trunk, who passed the sentiments along via Twitter.

Gibbons said, per Trunk: “As Dusty said upon his departure, ‘Let the show go on!’ And… with respect, we’ll do well to get beyond this and honor his wishes.”

Added the guitarist in his text to the satellite radio host, “Dusty emphatically grabbed my arm and said, ‘Give Elwood the bottom end and take it to the Top.’ He meant it, amigo. He really did.”

A spokesperson confirmed the band’s plan to carry on to Variety .

The “Elwood” in Hill’s reported quote is guitar technician Elwood Francis, who has been playing bass in Hill’s absence. The group’s most recent show with Francis filling in for the ailing Hill was July 25 in Kentucky, in a tour that had only kicked off July 16, with Hill on board as usual at the time.

Received this just now via text from @BillyFGibbons regarding passing of Dusty Hill @ZZTop . Billy told me okay to share w/fans: As Dusty said upon his departure, “ Let the show go on!”.and…with respect, we’ll do well to get beyond this and honor his wishes. — Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) July 28, 2021

Gibbons and the other remaining founding member of the trio, drummer Frank Beard, had announced Hill’s death on Wednesday. “We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX,” they said then in a statement. “We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top,’ We will forever be connected to that ‘Blues Shuffle in C.’ You will be missed greatly, amigo.”

Popular on Variety

The group had continued the tour after Hill was forced to leave right after it kicked off. The bassist played their July 18 show at Louisville’s Iroquois Amphitheatre, then canceled a show in Evansville July 21 before resuming on July 23 in the Chicago area without Hill.

Although Wednesday night’s show was canceled, the band is currently still slated to resume the tour with a Friday night show in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The outing is set to run through Dec. 22 in the U.S. and head into Canada next year. A list of show dates can be found here .

On July 23, five days before announcing Hill’s death, the other two members had addressed his absence, after concertgoers on the first few dates of the tour grew worried about his status. At the time, they ascribed his being MIA to a “hip” issue. “The members of ZZ Top, Billy, and Frank, would like to share that Dusty, their fearless bass player, is on a short detour back to Texas, to address a hip issue. They await a speedy recovery and have him back pronto. Per Dusty’s request ‘The show must go on!’ With that directive, ZZ Top has put the services of Mr. Elwood Francis, their trusted guitar tech of the past two decades, into play with his slide guitar, bass guitar and harmonica playing in full swing.”

No cause of death for Hill has been revealed.

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ZZ Top Bassist Explains Why He Played Giant 17-String Bass Onstage

ZZ Top bassist Elwood Francis has now explained why he whipped out a massive 17-string bass guitar onstage with the long-running classic rock band last week.

Francis, formerly a stage technician for ZZ Top, joined the group as their new bass player last year after the death of longtime ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill .

Last Saturday (Nov. 5), when ZZ Top played the Mark C. Smith Concert Hall at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama, Francis momentarily swapped his regular bass for the bright yellow 17-string bass, as shown in fan-captured footage. The video subsequently went viral  thanks to the visual spectacle of the big bass — that's a lot of strings!

Watch the video down toward the bottom of this post.

But what was the reason for debuting the imposing 17-string instrument onstage last week? As it turns out, the members of ZZ Top were having a bit of a laugh after Francis happened upon the bass during a late-night internet search.

"I was doing night internet searching [and] turned up a picture of this crazy 17-string bass," Francis told UCR  on Nov. 10. "I sent a picture to [ZZ Top guitarist-vocalist] Billy [Gibbons] and we laughed about it and made some jokes about actually trying to use it."

He added, "A few weeks later, after I had forgotten about it, Billy shows up with [the 17-string bass]."

Francis called it "one of those 'hold my beer' moments."

He unveiled the 17-string bass during a performance of "Got Me Under Pressure" from ZZ Top's  Eliminator . It's the same album that contains the ZZ Top hits "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs."  Get ZZ Top concert tickets here.

ZZ Top, "Got Me Under Pressure" (Live With 17-String Bass Guitar; Nov. 5, 2022)

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ZZ TOP ANNOUNCE FIRST EUROPEAN TOUR IN FIVE YEARS

For the first time since 2019, ZZ Top is set to play a slate of tour dates in Europe and the UK. The trio, famously known as “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas,” have concert and festival dates in nine countries starting June 28th at the Dalhall Festival in Rattvik, Sweden. Over the course of the three weeks that follow, the band will make tour stops in Norway, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, France, UK, and Switzerland. They’ll be playing a total of five dates in Germany with a stop at London’s OVO Arena Wembly as well as Le Zenith at Parc La Villette in Paris. Tickets will go on sale on December 15, 2023, at 10 AM.

Since the founding of ZZ Top on the last day of 1969, they have gone on to become one of the top concert and recording attractions in the world, highlighted by a string of hit records including their 1973 breakthrough “La Grange” as well as “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs” and many more. Their album catalog including Tres Hombres, Deguello, Eliminator and others has sold more than 60 million units worldwide and their status as a top tier in-person attraction remains undiminished. ZZ Top’s concert audiences are typically multi-generational, reflecting their enduring role as blues rock standard bearers for more than half a century. Their ability to seamlessly blend grungy guitar-based blues with synth-pop solidified their place as rock icons as has their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by none other than Keith Richards.

In 2021, ZZ TOP faced a significant loss with the passing of Dusty Hill. At his urging, Elwood Francis stepped up to fill the void, bringing exceptional musicianship and coincidental facial hair, making him a worthy successor to the legendary bassist. Fronted by the legendary Billy F Gibbons and underpinned by rhythmic force of Frank Beard (a/k/a “The Man With No Beard”) with Elwood on bass for the past few years, the group continues to redefine their sonic approach.

ZZ TOP’s latest album, RAW, released in July 2022, pays homage to their roots, and serves as a poignant tribute to the late Dusty Hill. The album, recorded at the historic Gruene Hall in Texas, captures the essence of the band’s 2019 Grammy-nominated documentary, ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band From Texas. Fans can expect a journey through their career-spanning tunes, marking a significant return to their musical origins.

Billy Gibbons commented on the tour announcement, “It’s been a while since we’ve been able to check in with our European fans, so it goes without saying that we’re excited about coming back this summer. We’re looking forward to a good time and that goes for both those in the audience and on stage.”

ZZ Top Summer 2024 Tour dates

28-Jun Friday Rattvik, Sweden Dalhaxlla Festival

29-Jun Saturday Oslo, Norway Tons of Rock Festival

01-Jul Monday Arhus, Denmark Tivoli

02-Jul Tuesday Halle, Germany Peissnitzinsel

03-Jul Wednesday Sperken, Austria Castle Clam

05-Jul Friday Bonn, Germany Kunst!rasen

06-Jul Saturday Berlin Germany Zitadelle

08-Jul Monday Amsterdam, Holland AFAS Live

09-Jul Tuesday Paris, France Zenith Paris - La Villette

11-Jul Thursday London UK OVO Arena Wembley

14-Jul Sunday Munich, Germany Tollwood Festival

16-Jul Tuesday Sion, Switzerland Sion Festival

ZZ Top concert at Rupp will be homecoming for one band member with Kentucky ties

F or decades — five and change, to be exact — ZZ Top was the self-proclaimed “Little Ol’ Band from Texas,” a trio of Lone Star blues and boogie misfits with an M.O. that Billy F. Gibbons, the band’s guitar-slinging chieftain, proudly recited during concerts — “Same three guys, same three chords.”

Until it wasn’t. When Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard — ZZ Top’s lineup since 1969 — returned to the road after a COVID 19-dictated hiatus, all was not well. Hill left the tour following a July 18, 2021, concert in Louisville with what was reported as a hip injury.

To stay in motion, the Texas trio went in for a Kentucky tune-up. Enter Hazard native and longtime Lexingtonian Elwood Francis. Actually, Francis was already there, having served as the band’s guitar tech for the past 30 years. He knew the workings of the band, knew its music and with a past rooted as much in Bluegrass-brewed punk rock as Texas blues, he knew his way around a stage. Shoot, he even had a beard, a seeming prerequisite for front-line duty in ZZ Top.

“When Dusty got sick, I was thrown into it,” Francis said. “But I was just covering for Dusty. For the first couple of gigs, I was so nervous it was ridiculous. I didn’t have time to think about it. It was just, ‘Get it done.’ But it was me helping out, you know? I was like, ‘Sure, man. I can do this. I can help you.’ And then Dusty passed. And then it was different.”

Dusty Hill, legendary ZZ Top bassist, dies at 72. ‘You will be missed greatly’

Ten days later, Hill died. Suddenly, what was to have been a substitute role in a longstanding band famous for its camaraderie and consistency took an unexpectedly permanent turn. In short, ZZ Top’s Texas-meets-Kentucky connection was now cemented.

“It was really weird,” Francis said. “It still freaks me out some, because I do think of ZZ Top as ‘those three guys.’ I mean, this is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band spanning over 50 years. To be the person to come in and be the only personnel change ... and not only that, to be picked to be that guy ... that still blows me away.

“There was no audition or anything. It was, ‘Can you do this?’ In fact, that’s exactly how they put it to me when everything happened. It was, ‘Tell me that you cannot play Dusty’s parts.’ I was like, ‘Well, I can’t say that. I can probably play them.’ Then it was, ‘Okay then. We’re going to do it.’ I’m like, ‘Oh-kay. I guess we are.’ And we did.”

Punked in Lexington

Francis moved with his family from Hazard to Lexington when he was 6. Following graduation from Henry Clay High School, he became immersed in the city’s fertile punk and post-punk scene, although much of his musical education came from diving into his mother’s record collection.

“In my mom’s records were Elvis and Bo Diddley. We even listened to Bobby Vinton. We would listen to all of that stuff. But then I got into Frank Zappa at a young age and I’m still right there. I’m still very huge into Zappa. And the whole punk rock movement, that was good for my age, because it broke when I was 15. I was already playing guitar but I wasn’t even thinking about playing in a band, ever, until I heard punk rock.”

And, yes, among the sounds he absorbed in his youth was ZZ Top, whose early ’70s albums (“Rio Grande Mud,” the breakthrough “Tres Hombres” and “Fandango”) defined a Texas trio brand of Southern soaked rock, soul and blues. By the time he and friends from the sound and lighting company Showco attended a ZZ Top performance at Rupp Arena in February 1991, the band was still relishing in a ’80s-era renaissance aided by a series of synth-charged singles (“Legs,” “Sharp Dressed Man”) and accompanying music videos where the matching chest-length beards of Gibbons and Hill served as some of the most distinctive fashion accessories of the MTV-era.

“I knew those guys from Showco when I broke into the business,” Francis recalled. “Not long after that, I was told Billy was looking for a guitar tech. He had had the same guitar tech his entire career, so I was the second guy. When I came in, ZZ Top had already been a band for 17 years and I was replacing the only tech they ever had, so I was freaking out. But Billy just called me up, asked a few questions. Didn’t talk about guitars too much. Talked about my accent. He really liked my accent. Talked about Kentucky and said, ‘Well, can you come down here and meet us?’ I was like, ‘Yeah. Sure.’ And I went down there (to Houston) three days later and I never really left.

“It was strange at first because they’re larger than life characters. Absolutely larger than life. And from a guitarist standpoint, my gosh, man, I’d go down there, and Billy’s got the best guitars in the world and some of the craziest custom guitars. It was like, ‘How could you not have a good time?’ We just clicked, you know? I understood he does things differently than other people, so I just learned his way of doing it and we don’t really venture from that. There is a process, but we don’t even talk about it at this point. It’s non-verbal. We know what we have to do and we do it.”

Bringing it all back home to Kentucky

Now comes the homecoming. Not only will ZZ Top’s March 28 Rupp show at Rupp Arena with Lynyrd Skynyrd be Francis’ first Lexington show since going from backstage tech to onstage bassist, it will serve as the trio’s first local performance since the 1991 concert its newest member attended as a patron.

New Lexington distillery makes Lynyrd Skynyrd whiskey; the band will be there to toast it

ZZ Top has played almost every imaginable regional locale over the last decade or so, but it hasn’t hit Lexington in over 33 years (Gibbons, however, performed with a side-project band at the Opera House in 2016.)

“I will be a bundle of nerves,” Francis said of the upcoming Rupp outing. “But I’m still a nervous wreck most of the time. When I stop and think about it, I’m like, ‘Man, I can’t believe I’m doing this.’ It still hits me. It still feels new. But I still miss Dusty.

“These hometown gigs are rough. They’re really rough, but I’m excited for my kids. This is probably more exciting for them than it is for me. It will be pretty wild.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top and Black Stone Cherry

When: March 28, 8 p.m.

Where: Rupp Arena, 430 W. Vine

Tickets: $56-$251 through ticketmaster.com .

©2024 Lexington Herald-Leader. Visit kentucky.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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