Image Deceives

Rip It Up, Issue 89, 1 December 1984, Page 25

Image Deceives

Newcastle City Hall Fewer times can the expression “You can’t judge a book by its cover” have been more appropriate than in the case of this American band. ZZ Top pronounced (zee-zee tarp), with the long wispy beards looking like crimped false pieces, look like real hicks from the backwoods. K But once this Texan trio strike up the music, images become irrelevant. No, more than that, their appearance becomes almost an integral part of the sound. Guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill, who share the vocals, and drummer Frank Beard, belt out an inspired brand of rock ’n’ roll that has brought them huge album sales in America, as well as a cult following in this country, especially among fellow musicians. Cult or not, they proved last night just why they can sell, out their short and all-too-frequent tour of Britain. If you saw their fine performance on last week’s The Tube, then you should have heard them at the City Hall, they were even better. Their powerful playing sparkled with invention, sparked in no small measure, I’m sure, by the rapturous audience. It all added up to an electrifying experience of the best in modern day interpretation of old-time rock "n’ roll. PETER KINGHORN