The music and legacy of ZZ Top has been part of the world’s musical landscape for over 40 years.
On October 11, “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas” is being honored with “A Tribute From Friends,” a high-profile salute from fellow rockers, including Nickelback, Steven Tyler, Wolfmother, Daughtry, Filter and more.
hennemusic was one of the first to break the news about the tribute back in the first week of January (see here).
The album features 11 classic ZZ Top songs interpreted by top-flight artists working in a broad range of musical genres. All of the album’s tracks have been newly recorded specifically for the project. These include Filter’s performance of “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” Grace Potter & The Nocturnals’ take on “Tush,” as well as Wyclef Jean’s “Rough Boy,” “Legs” from Nickelback and Wolfmother’s interpretation of “Cheap Sunglasses.”
The album kicks off with “Sharp Dressed Man,” from The M.O.B., Mick Fleetwood’s ad hoc group that includes fellow Fleetwood Mac founder John McVie as well as Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and guitar great Jonny Lang.
“We’re delighted to honor ZZ Top this way,” said Fleetwood. “Their legacy, like that of the original Fleetwood Mac, is steeped in the blues we all love so much. I know that Steven and Jonny feel as strongly about their legacy as John and I do.”
“A Tribute From Friends” also includes “Waitin’ for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago” by Daughtry, “Got Me Under Pressure” from Duff McKagan’s LOADED and Mastodon’s version of “Just Got Paid.” Coheed & Cambria contributed the anthemic “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers” while country superstar Jamey Johnson’s track is the seminal “La Grange.”
ZZ Top were thrilled with the news that a tribute to their work was in the making.
“When we were told there was going to be a ZZ Top tribute album a while ago and logically asked, ‘Who are we paying tribute to?’,” said the band. “Then we found out that a bunch of great artists were paying tribute to us and we were in disbelief. For the past 40 or so years, all we've done is get out there and crank it and try to have a good time while doing so. To a great extent, we've succeeded since we're still having a good time so that would be reward enough for ‘the same three guys playing the same three chords.’ Now comes “A Tribute From Friends” and we're so delighted that our music resonates with these great musicians whom we so admire.”
ZZ Top have sold more than 50 million albums and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2004. They are recipients of the Texas Cultural Trust’s 2011 Texas Medal of the Art and had previously been named “Official Texas Heroes” by the state's House of Representatives.
ZZ Top
“A Tribute From Friends”
Release date: October 11, 2011
01. “Sharp Dressed Man” – The M.O.B. (Mick Fleetwood, Steven Tyler, Jonny Lang & John McVie)
02. “Gimme All Your Lovin’” – Filter
03. “Tush” – Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
04. “Legs” - Nickelback
05. “Cheap Sunglasses” – Wolfmother
06. “Got Me Under Pressure” – Duff McKagan’s LOADED
07. “Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers” – Coheed & Cambria
08. “Just Got Paid” – Mastodon
09. “Rough Boy” – Wyclef Jean
10. “Waitin’ for the Bus / Jesus Just Left Chicago” – Daughtry
11. “La Grange” – Jamey Johnson
ZZ Top ZZ Top – Sharp Dressed Man (1983)
See also:
Hear new ZZ Top - Flyin’ High
ZZ Top: New album is ‘loud, fast’
ZZ Top debuts new song in space
ZZ Top: Billy Gibbons named Texas State Musician
ZZ Top: new album due in 2011
ZZ Top to receive Texas Medal Of Arts
ZZ Top, Extreme guitarists help launch new Pushking album
Steven Tyler to appear on new ZZ Top tribute album
ZZ Top to record with Rick Rubin
