ZZ Top is still Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard. By Brock Radke( contact)
Wednesday, April 18, 2018|2 a.m.
It’s hard to think anyone would mistake the members of ZZ Top for anyone aside from ZZ Top, however that’s what took place the very first time the band visited Las Vegas.
“All I knew of Las Vegas was what we saw on films and TELEVISION, so all of us headed out and rented tuxedos because that’s what I thought you ‘d use when you head out in the evening. We were Frank [Sinatra] and the kids,” describes Dusty Hill. “And everyone kept aiming to buy drinks from me. We were the only people in tuxedos.”
Regardless of that preliminary experience, the bass gamer for the iconic Texas blues and boogie-rock outfit still loves Las Vegas. ZZ Top shot a remarkable music video for its cover of “Viva Las Vegas” on Fremont Street years prior to its illuminated canopy was set up, and the band has been known to play other Elvis tunes throughout performance encores.
Absolutely expect some Elvis if you have a look at ZZ Top’s five-show perform at the Venetian starting this weekend.
“I’m a fan of Las Vegas and constantly have actually been, on lots of levels,” states Hill, who will commemorate 50 years together as a band with guitarist Billy Gibbons and drummer Frank Beard next year. “Vegas to me is a location like Hollywood or New York where you can walk and people recognize you but it resembles, hey, that’s cool, and after that we happen with our lives. You’re not just there to see me onstage, you exist to play and have a good time.”
With its numerous hits– from 1973’s “La Grange” to 1983’s “Legs”– and equally recognizable look of beards, hats and guitars, ZZ Top is a natural choice for a Vegas mini-residency, however Hill states this is the first time the band has actually done a run like this anywhere.
“We’ve been wanting to try this for a while, even prior to it ended up being the thing to do,” he states. “To have more than one day in any town is various for us. We’re continuously.”
However making a longer stop in Vegas isn’t out of the concern. Hill has spoken with his buddies in Brooks & & Dunn about their residency at the Colosseum (co-headlining with Reba McEntire) and it seems like he can see ZZ Top exploring such an option. “I do not know if I want to change my name to Celine but we would not just do this without an eye towards the future. This is kind of an experience for us but one we’ve been wanting to do. We’ll see how it goes.”
By design, the band’s typically busy tour schedule is a little lighter in 2018. There are big plans for next year’s anniversary as ZZ Top is extremely proud of its longevity.
“We are unique due to the fact that we’re the same 3 men, and as Billy states, playing the same 3 chords,” Hill says. “We got a couple of things going on, a documentary we’re dealing with, some music things we’re dealing with, doing Vegas this year and popping around the country a little bit for the summer season. Exactly what we’re constructing and preparing for next year is quite comprehensive. The 50th only comes as soon as.”
ZZ Top carries out at 8 p.m. April 20, 21, 25, 27 and 28 at the Venetian Theatre (3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South, 702-414-1000) and more details can be found at venetian.com.