| Metal God of the Month |
| Name: Billy Gibbons Band: ZZTop |
| All ZZ albums are shrouded in legend, but one of the foremost was Rio Grande Mud. For instance, the band had to stop playing "Just Got Paid" live, because the audience would pelt them with loose change! "Apologies to Pearly" also had a story behind it. Billy's legendary '59 Les Paul (described as making the band sound like "four flat tyres on a muddy road" ) was named "Pearly Gates". He used her constantly - except on this cut, which is why he named it "Apologies to Pearly" In 1972, ZZ Top appeared at the University of Houston's football stadium, and drew 38,000 fans to hear the band share the stage with Blue Oyster Cult, the Doobie Brothers, and Savoy Brown. 1973 saw the album that finally made the band stars - Tres Hombres. This time they moved the recording of the album to Ardent Studio's in Memphis (with some work done at their old haunt, Robin Hood Brian's). They also enlisted the help of ace Led Zeppelin engineer (and future Molly Hatchet producer) Terry Manning. Tres Hombres (1973), fast became the boys first gold album thanks to, not only great songs, but extensive touring and radio airplay. Tres Hombres proceeded to sell a million copies and the next two albums Fandango! and Tejas did the same. The album contained the sleazy number which was to become their anthem : "La Grange," ZZ's first to enter the "Cashbox" Top 30, and most recognized song -- it tells the tale of "that shack outside LaGrange," the now closed Gracie's Chicken Farm whorehouse, east of Austin, TX. This number was allegedly based John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillen." Which would lead to problems later in the bands career. Legend has it that Billy would drive all over Texas looking for out-of-the-way brothels to write about! |
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