Z.Z. Top

Z.Z. Top is a blues rock band established in the seventies. They are best known for their long beards and always wearing sunglasses, even during night concerts. Their name was inspired by blues legend B.B. King. Their early work was genuine blues, especially La Grange, but as time progressed they adopted a more generic hard rock or synth-based style. This received criticism from fans. Regardless, many of their hits have become classic rock staples. Z.Z. Top has garnered many hit singles and bestselling albums. Some of their songs take roots in older musicians such as Elvis Presley. They were once asked to shave their beards for a promotion, but they rejected, claiming "they would look too ugly without them". They appear in the graphic adventure game Space Quest playing their hit Sharp Dressed Man, although this was removed in the game's remake after a lawsuit. Z.Z. Top provided the song Doubleback for the film Back to the Future: Part III. The group was a part of a revival of interest in blues rock in the late eighties led by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Z.Z. Top has collaborated with Jeff Beck. There was once a sketch on the iconic PBS childrens program Sesame Street which featured muppets resembling ZZ Top. Their members are Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard. Frank, ironically, is the only one without a beard.