<P> ZZ Top was managed by Bill Ham, a Waxahachie, Texas native who had befriended Gibbons a year earlier . They released their first single, "Salt Lick", in 1969, and the B - side contained the song "Miller's Farm". Both songs were credited to Gibbons . Immediately after the recording of "Salt Lick", Greig was replaced by bassist Billy Ethridge, a band - mate of Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Mitchell was replaced by Frank Beard of the American Blues . Due to lack of interest from U.S. record companies, ZZ Top accepted a record deal from London Records . Unwilling to sign a recording contract, Ethridge quit the band and Dusty Hill was selected as his replacement . After Hill moved from Dallas to Houston, ZZ Top signed with London in 1970 . They performed their first concert together at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Beaumont on February 10 . </P> <P> In addition to assuming the role as the band's leader, Gibbons became the main lyricist and musical arranger . With the assistance of Ham and engineer Robin Hood Brians, ZZ Top's First Album (1971) was released and exhibited the band's humour, with "barrelhouse" rhythms, distorted guitars, double entendres, and innuendo . The music and songs reflected ZZ Top's blues influences . Following their debut album, the band released Rio Grande Mud (1972), which failed commercially and the promotional tour consisted of mostly empty auditoriums . </P> <P> ZZ Top released Tres Hombres in 1973 . The album's sound was the result of the propulsive support provided by Hill and Beard, and Gibbons' "growling" guitar tone . Dan Erlewine wrote that the album "brought ZZ Top their first Top Ten record, making them stars in the process". The album included the boogie - driven "La Grange" (written about the Chicken Ranch, a notorious brothel in La Grange, Texas, that also inspired the musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas). On the subsequent tour, the band performed sold - out concerts in the US . ZZ Top recorded the live tracks for their 1975 album, Fandango!, during this tour . Fandango! was a top - ten album; its single "Tush" peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 . Tejas, released in 1976, was not as successful or as positively received as their previous efforts, although the album went to no . 17 on the Billboard 200 . ZZ Top continued the Worldwide Texas Tour in support of Tejas, though they had been touring for seven years . The band then went on what was supposed to be a 90 - day break from public appearances . Gibbons traveled to Europe, Beard went to Jamaica, and Hill went to Mexico . The break extended to two years, during which Gibbons and Hill grew chest - length beards . </P> <P> In 1979, ZZ Top signed with Warner Bros. Records and released the album Degüello . While the album went platinum, it only reached no . 24 on the Billboard chart . The album produced two popular singles: "I Thank You", a cover of a song recorded by Sam & Dave, and "Cheap Sunglasses". The band remained a popular concert attraction and toured in support of Degüello . In April 1980, ZZ Top made their first appearance in Europe, performing for the German music television show Rockpalast . Their next album, El Loco, was released in October 1981, and featured the singles "Tube Snake Boogie", "Pearl Necklace", and "Leila". </P>

Where are the members of zz top from