About the Artist:  IN PROGRESS.  The name ZZ Top was derived from the band's fondness for blues legend B.B. King.  Their original thought was to call the band Z.Z. King, but they thought it was a little too similar to their idol and they didn't really want to put anyone off by making a comparison.  King was changed to Top, because kings are always at "the top", and the periods were taken out to make it ZZ.  As ZZ Top, they have one of the coolest and most recognizable names in rock.  It really named a style that they and they alone possess.  To this day, you can't confuse ZZ Top with any other artist in image or sound.  They didn't always have that distinct quality.  This was something that the band developed over time and established permanently with 1983s "Eliminator" album.  That album, with the help of its music videos, officially announced the look and the sound that would be ZZ Top from then on.  Everyone knows ZZ Top as the two guys with long beards, hats, and sunglasses, and the drummer with sunglasses and mustache (short beard at most).  They're also recognized by their mascot cars (typically Eliminator or Cadzzilla) and three beautiful girls.  Another popular part of the ZZ Top formula is the fuzzy guitars that spin.  We don't always see these, but they leave an impression.  Then you have the cool ZZ Top moves with the funky hand wave and crazy leg-dancing.  Their moves were actually taught to them by choreographer Paula Abdul, who years later became a singing and dancing superstar.

    Pretty much, ZZ Top became the universal symbol for everything cool that guys liked: hot rods, girls, cool clothes, and groovy blues-rock.  They have a distinct image that most bands do not.  It's this commercial appeal, and consistently great music, that will keep ZZ Top well-liked for all time.  Someone is always going to think these guys are cool.  That's just part of being a man.

Polar Blair's Thoughts on the Artist: 

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Live From Texas (2008, Eagle Rock Entertainment)-  MUST HAVE!  122 minutes.  This is their first-ever live concert on DVD and they give an excellent performance.  This is the ZZ Top we all know, playing the songs we like.  At this time, the trend of ZZ Top is that they're going back to the kind of music they did before the slicked-up 1980s stuff.  That's all good, but thank goodness they still play material from 1983s "Eliminator".  That really is a standout album.  They only do one song from 1985s "Afterburner" which is just as well; that's my least favorite of their albums and the one that is TOO 1980s (I never cared for 80s synthesizer rock).  This DVD really does have a best-of-the-best selection of material.  I only wish that it had some songs from the excellent, 1990 album, "Recycler".  Oh, well, you can't squeeze in everything.  At any rate, this is a must-see concert.  They still have the ZZ Top look and the ZZ Top sound.  I only wish they had the ZZ Top girls!  To me, you can't really see ZZ Top without the girls.  It's an image that's been too deeply engrained by the music videos.  It also would have been nice to see the Eliminator car on stage, but at least they show it on the screens in the background.  The bonus features are cool.  I like how the band tells the story of ZZ Top while playing poker.  That's something new that I don't think any other band has done before.  Their live cover version of Jimi Hendrix' "Foxey Lady" was excellent.  There aren't too many people that can or should cover this song, but ZZ Top has the right style to play a very appropriate version of the rock classic.  On the whole, Live From Texas is a necessary addition to your ZZ Top music collection!