ZZ Top - what's with their name (revisited)?

[homesick345]

A recent thread gave all sorts of reasons behind the ZZ Top name, mainly, by the band's account, it was a "hommage" to BB King

I find it way more likely that Gibbons & bandmates, "borrowed" from Texas blues & soul singer name, Z.Z. Hill

It is almost obvious

But - hey, it is just my opinion....(I find it impossible to believe that ZZ Top doesn't come from this forgotten Texan predecessor).

 

[Post Toastie]

Z Z Hilltop

 

[bb wolf]

ZigZag Tops

Rolling papers. Zig Zag and Tops brand.

 

[Mjark]

Rolling papers. Zig Zag and Tops brand.

That seems more likely to me.

 

[Larry F]

Rolling papers. Zig Zag and Tops brand.

Oh, yeah. This at least plays into the name. Remember that titles of artistic entities often have multiple references.

 

[Stringbanger]

That seems more likely to me.

Ditto.

 

[beach bob]

Seems more incidental, the similarity between ZZ Hill's name, and ZZ Top.

A cursory check of Mr. Hill shows he had minimal artistic success (one song at chart position 100 in 1964) by the time ZZ Top formed in 1969. Hill's next recordings were in 1971; by then, ZZ Top had finalized their personnel changes to Billy, Frank and Dusty, and had put out their first album. Of course, a guy doing blues / soul / R&B makes his bones in the clubs... Dallas was where ZZ Hill started his career, vs. ZZ Top forming in Houston. Gibbons et all probably *knew of* ZZ Hill, but absent any strong influence claimed by ZZ Top as regards ZZ Hill, it's likely just a coincidence.

While trad blues most definitely informs the Top, I'm not so sure they would have so honored what was just another journeyman blues guy in the late 60s, by aping the guy's name.

I'm with the ZigZag / Top rolling papers concept. Moving Sidewalks came from a psychedelic rock sound... Billy and Jimi Hendrix were pals. Billy & co. came at music from a freakier place than ZZ Hill.

 

[homesick345]

Seems more incidental, the similarity between ZZ Hill's name, and ZZ Top.

A cursory check of Mr. Hill shows he had minimal artistic success (one song at chart position 100 in 1964) by the time ZZ Top formed in 1969. Hill's next recordings were in 1971, the year ZZ Top had finalized their personnel changes to Billy, Frank and Dusty, and put out their first album. Of course, a guy doing blues / soul / R&B makes his bones in the clubs... Dallas was where ZZ Hill started his career, vs. ZZ Top forming in Houston. Gibbons et all probably *knew of* ZZ Hill, but absent any strong influence claimed by ZZ Top as regards ZZ Hill, it's likely just a coincidence.

While trad blues most definitely informs the Top, I'm not so sure they would have so honored what was just another journeyman blues guy in the late 60s, by aping the guy's name.

I'm with the ZigZag / Top rolling papers concept. Moving Sidewalks came from a psychedelic rock sound... Billy and Jimi Hendrix were pals. Billy & co. came at music from a freakier place than ZZ Hill.

Well they could have found the name totally cool. Using a variation is even easier if the artist is obscure (or not THAT famous). I'm cool with that. I don't buy the rolling paper nor the BB King story.

White rockers influenced by Bluesmen (famous & less famous)? THat's the history of rock (nothing to be ashamed of).

 

[telex76]

I'd have to think they knew where their name came from.

 

[Chud]

Didn't we already decide in the last thread that we'd believe Billy's explanation for the name? Maybe I missed a memo or something.

 

[blowtorch]

I read this book, years back

Sharp Dressed Men: ZZ Top Behind the Scenes from Blues to Boogie to Beards: David Blayney: 9780786880058: Amazon.com: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51StJqLvLTL.@@AMEPARAM@@51StJqLvLTL

And it stated that it was a ZZ Hill reference

 

[beach bob]

Well they could have found the name totally cool. Using a variation is even easier if the artist is obscure (or not THAT famous). I'm cool with that. I don't buy the rolling paper nor the BB King story.

As the man said, it's a fool that looks for logic in the chambers of the human heart ... and I was trying to logic it out. Not always the best approach

I read this book, years back

And it stated that it was a ZZ Hill reference

Well there ya go.

I didn't read all of the other ZZ thread. What was the conclusion there?

 

[homesick345]

..And it stated that it was a ZZ Hill reference

Thank you

 

[Brokenpick]

....And Mr. G ALWAYS plays with 7s on his guitars..... and.............

Hey.... a little mystery in life is a good thing.
You have to accept that you just might not ever really know some stuff for sure.
Go practice.

 

[homesick345]

....And Mr. G ALWAYS plays with 7s on his guitars..... and.............

Hey.... a little mystery in life is a good thing.
You have to accept that you just might not ever really know some stuff for sure.
Go practice.

Sure - we can practice together if you want

 

[Paleolith54]

This is what I thought back in the day, though I can't cite a source for why I thought that.

The rolling paper explanation...

 

[Flash1909]

Amazing performance !
and I first saw them in '77 maybe '76
but they were on here

Pearly Gates 59 LP I think

 

[perttime]

I didn't read all of the other ZZ thread. What was the conclusion there?

That it should be pronounced "zee zee" and not "zed zed". There was some disagreement about why...

 

[Bendyha]

Marketing - ZZ puts you right at the end of the rack, easiest band to find in any record shop. Depending on how the stackings done, the cover on the end is visable from a distance. Same reason there are bands called AA and even AAA.

 

[Diamond Dave]

I thought ZZ Top was the name of their high school gym teacher.