ZZ Top have been captivating audiences since 1969 – but many fans are only just discovering the true meaning behind the band’s name, and it’s blowing their minds
Members of the US rock band ZZ Top, Dusty Hill (L) and Billy Gibbons perform on stage during the Hellfest Heavy Music Festival
ZZ Top’s music has been electrifying crowds since 1969 – yet countless fans still have no idea how the band got their legendary name.
The American rock band – featuring Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard, and Dusty Hill for an impressive 51-year stretch until Hill’s passing in 2021 – are celebrated for their distinctive sonic signature.
Chart-toppers including La Grange, Legs, I Gotsta Get Paid, Gimme All Your Lovin’, Jesus Just Left Chicago, Got Me Under Pressure, and Sharp Dressed Man have cemented their place in rock history. But how did the group get its famous name?
According to American Songwriter, the legendary rock trio drew inspiration for their name from musical giants like B.B King and Z.Z Hill.
An official statement on their website explains: “Guitar player, singer and songwriter William Gibbons founded ZZ Top in late 1969. Before Gibbons brought in Hill and Beard (an ironic last name given ZZ Top’s affiliation with chest-length beads belonging to Hill and Gibbons), the guitar player brought in bassist Lanier Greig and drummer Dan Mitchell.
“Even before that, however, Gibbons had been studying bands and the music business. By 18, he formed the group Moving Sidewalks. That band produced the hit single ’99th Floore,’ and led to Gibbons befriending the legend Jimi Hendrix.”
“Moving Sidewalks even opened for the Jimi Hendrix Experience during Hendrix’s first American tour as a headliner. Gibbons has said during live performances that Hendrix even taught him how to play guitar when Gibbons was ‘about 17’ in Dallas, Texas.”
When searching for a band name, Gibbons observed how numerous successful musicians used two initials for their branding – like B.B King. He then began crafting memorable monikers that fans could easily recall.
The statement continues: “Gibbons named the band that would make him famous, himself. At first, he combined the two names of his heroes and came up with: Z.Z. King.
“But he realised that the name was too similar to the blues player’s original name. On second thought, Gibbons decided that a ‘king is going to the top.’ So, he landed finally on ZZ Top. The rest is history.”
Weighing in on Quora, one user explained: “The legend goes that back in the day, there were two nationally marketed brands of cigarette rolling papers, being ZigZag’ and ‘Tops.’
“These rolling papers were almost exclusively used for rolling joints, doobies, and blunts. The iconic Texas band is said to have taken the name ZZ Top in honor of those products.
“The alternate story is that Gibbons particularly noticed B.B. King and Z. Z. Hill and thought of combining the two into ‘ZZ King’, but considered it too similar to the original name.
“He then figured that ‘king is at the top’ which gave him the idea of naming the band ‘ZZ Top’.”
Another fan added: “Billy Gibbons particularly noticed B.B. King and Z.Z. Hill and thought of combing the two into Z.Z.
“King, but considered it too similar to the original name. He then figured that ‘King is at the top’, which gave him the idea of naming the band ‘ZZ Top’.
“ZZ Hill is an American singer. His name is Arzell J. Hill and is known as ZZ Hill. What the ZZ stands for I can not find out, but it looks as though it came from his first name Arzell.”
Well, you learn something new every day!
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
