Talk:ZZ Top

Leade section

The leade section of this article sounds strange and very different from almost all other leades of musicians. Specifically this part:

ZZ Top has been praised by critics and fellow musicians alike for their technical mastery. Of the group, music writer Cub Koda said "As genuine roots musicians, they have few peers; Gibbons is one of America's finest blues guitarists working in the arena rock idiom [...] while Hill and Beard provide the ultimate rhythm section support."

Aisteco (talk) 02:07, 5 August 2015 (UTC)

It's strange alright, especially: who the hell is cub coda and what does he have to do with anything that anyone cares about? That was probably written in by Cub Coda (whoever that is). — Preceding unsigned comment added by Texasman444 (talk • contribs) 15:31, 15 February 2019 (UTC)

Harold Strohmann on drums

With regard to these edits, they need to be reliably sourced - which currently there aren't. A google search for "Harold Strohmann ZZ Top" brings back zero results, and the link to a picture proves nothing at all.

Please provide reliable sourcing before re-adding this detail - simply "knowing" the data is not enough - it needs to have been reported elsewhere. Chaheel Riens (talk) 15:13, 15 November 2017 (UTC)

Even a search for "Harold Strohmann" + "drum" gives a grand total of 5 results? Careful, Chaheel Riens.... you might get booed off the Talk page and then you'll have to quit. Martinevans123 (talk) 15:19, 15 November 2017 (UTC)

Quit? Never! Chaheel Riens (talk) 17:56, 15 November 2017 (UTC)

Pronunciation

In British English it would be "Zed Zed Top" (see note above about the Alan Ayckbourn play Comic Potential). But I don't see any easy or elegant way of giving the normal American English pronunciation. Martinevans123 (talk) 21:52, 2 November 2019 (UTC)

not sure I'd point it out, just seem hilarious to think of DJs and the general population in the UK mispronouncing their name...

"ZZ Top" is a proper noun, so it's pronounced only how ZZ Top themselves decide. It's only words/letters that aren't proper nouns that are pronounced in their local dialect. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.20.71.135 (talk) 03:33, 9 August 2020 (UTC)

The general population of the UK have never pronounced this name as 'zed zed top'. They pronounce it like Americans, they're not idiots (mostly). The different characterisations of the letter 'Z' do cause problems elsewhere though. The pun of World War Z sounding like 'World War Three' doesn't work in British English, where it is indeed pronounced as 'World War Zed'. --Ef80 (talk) 18:29, 10 June 2024 (UTC)

The ZZ Top Beard

Something should be said about their iconic beards. Presario2200 (talk) 13:18, 12 March 2020 (UTC)

Attribution

Text and references copied from Dusty Hill to ZZ Top, See former article's history for a list of contributors. 7&6=thirteen (☎) 15:47, 29 July 2021 (UTC)

Elwood Francis

Elwood is 'NOT' a touring member. He is officially the new bass player for ZZ Top. If proof is required, you can find it here. Now kindly restore my changes to the correct information, please.

No1ZZTopfan 19:35, 30 July 2021 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by No1ZZTopfan (talk • contribs) 19:35, 30 July 2021 (UTC)

Tend to agree, even if that source says " filling in". The quite from Gibbons seems to make it pretty clear. Martinevans123 (talk) 19:43, 30 July 2021 (UTC)

Tend to disagree at this moment. “Seeming” to make it “pretty clear” is not the same as making it clear. Nowhere in the source article is a flat statement made that Elwood has been made a member of the band. That’s a very specific and legal deal. Filling in does not a member make. The article should specify this important difference. I do agree that at some point fairly soon it very well may become official, but until it is official the article should certainly not list him as a member. If I missed something specifically stating Elwood is now an official member in that article, please enlighten me with the quote. 73.69.251.97 (talk) 22:44, 14 September 2021 (UTC)

References

1980 Rockpalast concert

YouTube is literally awash with clips from the 1980 Rockpalast concert, which was later issued on the DVD Double Down Live: 1980 & 2008. Likewise music media platforms on the web are awash with downloadable sound files of the same. It shouldn't be too hard to find an acceptable source that this concert actually took place? Martinevans123 (talk) 15:00, 12 October 2021 (UTC)

other appearances

ZZ top appeared in in a W.A.S.P video: ”Blind in Texas”. 92.32.89.28 (talk) 17:25, 28 October 2022 (UTC)

"Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour" listed at Redirects for discussion

The redirect Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour has been listed at redirects for discussion to determine whether its use and function meets the redirect guidelines. Readers of this page are welcome to comment on this redirect at Wikipedia:Redirects for discussion/Log/2023 February 28 § Aerosmith/ZZ Top Tour until a consensus is reached. 2600:1700:9BF3:220:34F4:792E:B1E7:2AB0 (talk) 05:59, 28 February 2023 (UTC)

Grammatical number of "ZZ Top"

ZZ Top has released 15 studio albums and sold an estimated 50 million records worldwide. They have won three MTV Video Music Awards

I believe, or at least I have seen it mentioned, that, in AmE, bands are treated as grammatically singular; so, whereas in BrE we would say "ZZ Top have released", in AmE it is "has released". Even so, is it not illogical, or disruptive to reading, to follow "ZZ Top has" with "They have"? 2A00:23C8:7B09:FA01:65DF:3F82:5C40:BD43 (talk) 23:15, 9 February 2024 (UTC)

Tend to agree. No one would want to call band them "it", I guess. Martinevans123 (talk) 23:40, 9 February 2024 (UTC)

Error

The first show where their tech played wasn't Illinois it was Corbin Kentucky, I was there, Dusty weny home at the Corbin show. 2603:6013:9540:8720:B149:4002:295B:F13E (talk) 08:50, 2 August 2025 (UTC)

Changes to Current Members

First and foremost. A moment of silence for the passing of Frank Beard. He will be truly missed. RIP.

Second, having not been an active member of so long, I had forgotten most of the rules on editing a page. Lots has changed and I will do better from here on out.

Lastly. The changes I wanted to make involved the new drummer Michael Monahan making the necessary adjustments now that he is officially ZZ Top's current drummer. Although he took over way back in late November of '25 and has done an outstanding job since then, I believe its now a good time to update ZZ Top's page and possibly create a new page (if one hasn't been made) for him. As you can see I've added the only known official link I could find that tells a little about Michael. If there are others, I'm sure that would be some good information for his page. Thanks. No1ZZTopfann (talk) 03:22, 9 September 2026 (UTC)

Right, so we love Monahan for his drumming. But where is the official announcement that he has graduated from touring drummer to full band member? His Facebook page doesn't do it. See USERG. Binksternet (talk) 03:37, 9 September 2026 (UTC)

There are several links out there including this one. Michael Monahan. There is also a small video clip from a fan who recorded Billy announcing him as the new man in town. Let me know if this is good enough. Thanks. No1ZZTopfann (talk) 03:58, 9 September 2026 (UTC)

Nothing new there. Those links are not enough to move Monahan from touring drummer to full band member. Binksternet (talk) 04:06, 9 September 2026 (UTC)

What about this link from Ulitmate Classic Rock & Culture? Or this one from Texas Monthly? Would those count?

Billy explicitly identifies Michael Monahan as part of the new active lineup alongside himself and Elwood Francis. Keeping Monahan labeled under 'Touring musicians' is factually incorrect since Frank cannot return, and Billy has defined Monahan as the drummer moving forward with the group. Just sayin, sir. No1ZZTopfann (talk) 14:04, 9 September 2026 (UTC)

A musician can be in the active band lineup without being a full band member.

The closest you get with your links is Classic Rock saying "Hill and Beard were each involved in selecting the men who would eventually replace them. In both cases, the lineup change was intended to be temporary, but became permanent following the respective rockers' deaths." The "became permanent" part is the strongest argument I've seen so far. But Gibbons has never said explicitly that Monahan is now a full band member. Binksternet (talk) 15:21, 9 September 2026 (UTC)

After doing some outside research and talking to others, mainly about how things of drastically changed over the years and has been confirmed by others, Wikipedia has been labeled as the worst place to find any truth to what is posted. I therefor request this entire post be removed and my account terminated. No1ZZTopfann (talk) 17:33, 9 September 2026 (UTC)