The ZZ Top Files I: Austin, TX., 10/09/2013
Presenting the first installment of the background notes for my 2013 Austin Chronicle cover story on the Lil’ Ol’ Band From Texas, which are a good read in and of themselves.
ZZ Top’s secret weapon, in silhouette: Dusty Hill, 1949-2021
March, 2013: The Moving Sidewalks – Billy F. Gibbons’ old garage/psych outfit, responsible for the oft-covered chestnut “99th Floor” – reunited after a 44 year absence to play two shows, one at Manhattan’s B.B. King’s Blues Club & Grill, and the second at what used to be called Austin Psych Fest. (It’s now Levitation, in case you didn't know.) A Gibbons interview for a 500 word Austin Chronicle piece went so well, the master of pinch harmonics declared he would talk to me anytime.
“How about a ZZ Top piece, then?” I grinned.
Six months later, a wild adventure crossing three state lines ensued, orchestrated by Gibbons to provide ample color for the article, the cover story for the final Austin Chronicle issue of the year. The setting was a tour of theaters, promoting ZZ Top’s Rick Rubin-produced La Futura album. We didn’t even sit for an interview until the final date of the excursion, at San Antonio’s Alamodome, Dec. 7th, 2013. And then Gibbons still dragged me along on a surrealistic tear through San Antonio the following day, which made A Hard Day’s Night look like an episode of The Lawrence Welk Show!
Then-Austin-Chronicle-music-editor Raoul Hernandez requested comprehensive notes alongside the interview transcripts with Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard (“FRANK TALKED?!” his bandmates yelped, scraping their beards off the floor as I shrugged that he gave me 15 minutes), and late bassist Dusty Hill. Pouring over our copious source material, Raoul and I boiled down what was easily 10,000 words to a tidier 5874 words. But over the years, I couldn’t help thinking those notes would have made a great article in and of themselves….
Our tale opens Oct. 9, 2013, at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. Raoul reviewed the gig for the Chronicle, chiding me via text message when he saw me at Elwood Francis’ workbench. (RAOUL: Why aren’t you taking notes? TIM: I’m not the one writing the review – take your own damned notes!) Here’s what happened behind the scenes.