ZZ Top Brown Sugar Live

[@crowhaven200]

Saw them early 1971 in Albuquerque, UNM student union ballroom. Maybe 50 -75 people in a small gym (ballroom). We sat on the floor. We had no clue who they were. No Beard, levis and western shirt, I will never forget it.

[@jackwillson8099]

Now u know why jimi hendrix, Jeff beck ,Eric Clapton, had respect and fear for this man one of the most dangerous Six Strings player on the Earth,love you billy

[@olafwolgast3127]

First saw them in 83. (I think their second or third major Tour in Europe. ) Everybody knew who they were. And they kicked ass as well. One of the greatest Bands on the Planet (still are)!

[@TheVeteransNetwork]

I saw these guys numerous times over the decades. But best was 1972 at some fair in northern Louisiana when I was a stunt driver for a live show that toured. We actually opened for them, and when we were loading out, I looked at these dudes onstage and thought, man, these dudes are some boogie bad ass shit. Songs like this, pre-beards. Lord have mercy! I was 3 years out of Vietnam and this was what I needed to heal, good damn Texas shit. PJ the Vet

[@joetamm]

TheVeteransNetwork A big salute to you sir, I never really under stood the Viet Nam war until I watched the Viet Nam HD Discovery Channel three part series. You and all Vets have my utmost respect and admiration. (I'm a 38 year veteran cop and I've seen my share, but it probably pales compared to what most of you have been through)

[@KCBarr1]

+TheVeteransNetwork You've got my respect neighbor.

[@boomboomerton7394]

Great story and Thank You for your sacrifice and dedication to this great nation that has produced the best modern musicians in the world. Thank you for what you do for veterans such as yourself because yall fill in the holes our government leaves for our heroes. My dad is a Vietnam War veteran and my uncle was a Vietnam vet who died from cancer linked to Agent Orange he was exposed to during his 2 tours of combat. God bless you and your family and I love the story...I love hearing people's experience that relates to music.

[@johnkarpierz5533]

Rhine stones and Jeans, All AMERICAN!!!!!!

[@BBell777]

Great story

[@JLDB1987]

Billy is a true, legit GOAT. Never anyone like him!

[@TheBassfresh]

saw them in 71 nobody knew who they were...they stunned me.

[@countrymusicbydode9280]

Very cool man 🤠🍺👍 Hey from scotland

[@Silaxian]

He hasn't played this way in so long that I had forgotten what me made think he was ever good in the first place. Thanks for this refresher, now I remember.

[@shawnbailey7827]

Is there any examples of him not playing good? NO!😊

[@yvyneath]

You me after their early years he started to play intentionally slow and conventional?

[@fredfloyd68]

These Texas longhorns were good even before they were famous..They sure entertained the masses still doin it...ZZ Tops....

[@jonwilliams2826]

I saw them in Liberty Hall in 69 sitting about 6 ft. from the stage eating red beans and rice, washing it down with Lonestar Longneck. That's the way to see them.

[@johnkarpierz5533]

LMAO

[@genebingle1754]

Jon Williams awesome

[@c.e.anderson558]

First 4 albums for me. Blue Jean Blues 4ever

[@klmullins65]

I wish some old footage of ZZ from the 70s would pop up on YT....they were tighter than a wound-up rubber band then!!

[@jperryfan]

+klmullins65 Amazing how there is footage of just about everyone except pre 1976 ZZ Top. How is that possible I think it's sitting in a vault somewhere

[@klmullins65]

jperryfan I think you're right...ZZ Top were pretty big by '75, surely somebody got em on film! Shoot, where's the pre 1980 footage??

[@jperryfan]

+klmullins65 Also a lot of early video was shot off projection screens. The Summit in Houston did Queen, Aerosmith, and a lot of others. Being from the Houston area I find it hard to believe none was shot unless Bill Ham who was like Gol. parker put the kibosh on shooting ZZ. What a shame,

[@klmullins65]

jperryfan The Capitol Theater in Passaic, NJ has alot of great mid 70s to early 80s concerts that were filmed on video, here on YT

[@brucev5693]

Check out Chevrolet live..awesome footage

[@UncleSlayton57]

Thanks for the post. My first concert in '73, was Rory Gallagher (RIP) opening for these guys about 6 months before the Ters Hombres release. Standing 15 feet from Rory and Billy left a lifelong impression. This should be in the dictionary as an illustration of ironic: "In this day of homogenized rock, synthesized music, retakes, overdubbing, multi, multi-tracking, an honest recording by accomplished musicians is a rewarding pleasure. Z Z TOP'S FIRST ALBUM is just such a recording. This is the way blues-rock is meant to be played: openly, honestly, and spontaneously. It takes an experienced sensitive group such as Z Z TOP to capture the abstract blues from within and combine it with the ability to feel and play good hard rock without losing their communication." - Producer Bill Ham on the back of the cover of the 1st LP in 1970.

[@WauliPaulnuts]

Yep, saw em open for Alice Cooper during Tres Hombres Tour in Greensboro NC...

[@arnoldplanken2017]

man... Rory Gallagher AND ZZ top on one night.... Now i've been sharing dinner and watching Maceo Parker blow away the whole crowd at age 72 from the monitor engineering position, shook hands with Ronnie Wood during a Stones gig, had Ozzy Osbourne throw a full bucket of water specificly at me (yeah, front row smoking a big cuban cigar at the first Black Sabbath reunion... i was asking for it :P), hung out with Jeff Beck and his band and shared rigged ciggy's backstage at the Amsterdam Paradiso with the Black Crowes... But that surely doesn't top what you experienced ;) :P

[@Tina-di4lx]

This is my favourite of all the recordings I’ve ever heard and I’ve listen to lots of ZZ TOP. The enthusiasm is palpable. You can just feel the fun. It’s even a little distorted but better than studio recordings. They where very good live. Saw ZZ in Calgary in 1975. They where at their peak. Having fun and Billy was in his prime.

[@karinsamoviski4830]

zz top's first album is one of only a few albums that i can remember right where i was when i first heard it and who i was with. 9th or 10th grade. early zz is monstrous !!........

[@dchinva]

This is great Joe!! I saw ZZ Top five or six times by 1980. To me, their best music came before that Eliminator crap. They ruled in the mid-'70s!

[@1962egl]

No doubt about that. I still pretty much only listen to their first five albums. When Billy just plugged his Les Paul straight into an amp.

[@TheVeteransNetwork]

Peter Green, early Fleetwood Mac, Get it. Gibbons was the baddest Texas had to offer in 70;s. Love the pics, Pre-beards and eventual commercialization, when boogie was just damn boogie for the sake of damn boogie. Best ZZ slide show ever put together! Joe the Vet

[@mariannefromtexas4293]

I sure enjoyed the photos. I've loved ZZ Top since I was 12 years old living in MO. I moved to Texas in '77 knowing I would get to see those Texas boys live some day. Finally saw them a few years back at the Houston Rodeo. I wasn't disapointed, they are true Texas boys grizzled to the bone.

[@davehaynes8878]

I saw ZZ Top in Calgary Canada 1975. They were awesome. This is my favourite version of brown sugar. Better than the album.

[@davehaynes8878]

I love the way he makes his guitar chug like a train towards the end the song. What a fun version

[@lennyluzitano8920]

I love this band...still feeling sad about Dusty Hill's passing.. I know I always will miss his happy face.. Love him so much...God giveth.. God taketh away..may we meet again..in Jesus name Amen..

[@matthewervvin]

Thanks for posting. I wish some more of this pre-sunglasses stuff would pop up. It's the best Top IMO.

[@sarge9733]

I agree. I found ZZ Top thanks to Eliminator and Afterburner when I was 14 or 15, and had no interest in anything before their production overload commercial revolution.... but now I'm in my 40's and own the whole back catalogue, I LOVE the early roots of pure band musicianship and camaraderie these guys had. They were AWESOME...

[@dickgraham1202]

these guys have been crankin' it up for oh so long.........and STILL ROCK!!! BOOGIE CHILDREN.........

[@simmonsallisongroup6295]

Billy G,,, ahhhh that tone and touch! Soooooo sweet, like the rest, wish I could find more vintage live on YT.

[@That70sGuitarist]

These guys changed my religion way back in the early 1970's, and I ain't got no regrets, either.

[@southamericanredneck9471]

I hope that you are en New Orleans, because Jesus just left Chicago.

[@StandenOuden]

yeah agree, Gibbons just smokes! Awesome capture. Thanks for uploading.

[@LordByron444]

This is simply Bad Ass Billy... Love this!

[@tonydeaton2890]

Back in the day, there weren't many bands in the rock arena that could hang with ZZ Top.

[@aland8205]

ZZ TOP IN LARGO MD IN 74.. STRAIGHT UP BEST CONCERT IVE EVER BEEN TO....ALAN D.

[@hunterwest54]

Probably the best American Rock N Roll band in all honesty...every album just perfect.. Thank God for ZZ Top!!! ✌🖤🤘😎

[@cheezmistr]

Been a Top fan for decades. Never seen 90% of these shots. Photos of Billy without a beard are rare. Best live jam too.

[@claptongroupie]

You said if you're a guitar player..well I'm not but you couldn't find anyone that appreciates good guitar playing more than me..I felt reborn :-)

[@beatvampire]

gasp that was a beautiful presentation well done loved it made my friday night at home

[@5_mpg_fe_]

Thank you for sharing this. It sounds to me like the influence from Jimi was still very fresh at this time. Billy is literally my guitar hero. Thanks again.

[@drockkclapton]

I'm so glad caught me immediately. I'm 28. Thanks for making me feel young guys. ; )

[@jimmiekeeling925]

Their first 5 albums...my favorite Tejas was the only album they ever did that style,just that one album, first tour , and first time I ever saw them....awesome

[@buster5211]

thank you Mr Joe thank you thankyou thankyou thankyou!!

[@MrDavie777]

I love this recording, listening to it regularly for quite awhile. I think you also put up little sister from same era. Wonderful time for Billy and ZZ. I love the Train Trill in the later part of the music. Amazing guy. I recently read at Chicago Music that Bill didn't use Pearly gates live, only replicas. Pearly was used in studio. The guy at Chicago plays one of the 500 replica Gibbon 59 Strats that Gibson produced. Check it out. Thanks for posting all the photo's too. your friend Dave.

[@gimli615]

This was special thankyou ZZ top and Billy are magic

[@mrxlh]

Oooh a little cream I’m so glad in the break!!!

[@Innerspace100]

Man, they were on fire back then! This is how this band REALLY should be remembered, and not by the nonsence they came up with in the eighties and later.

[@ronarceneaux858]

Saw them in ‘69 in Groves, Tx at the Towne House…a teen club…1st gig as ZZTop was in Beaumont, Tx …about 15 miles up the road…they came through once a month, sometimes more, building their base…it was a magic time…RIP Dusty Hill…

[@jonwilliams2826]

Saw them in Beaumont with Janice Joplin 68 , also Johnny Winters On the bill. Needless say it was incredible.

[@obscurebandfan]

I wish good rock artists would still come to the golden triangle.

[@jonwilliams2826]

I live in Houston(a pretty big city) and we still found the need to drive down to the Golden Triangle for certain shows.I saw Johnny Winters,Janis Joplin,ZZTop,Steve Miller Band,Blackfoot and probably a few I can't remember. The last time I was in that area I was a guest of Beaumont USP and I used to listen to a radio station called Big Dog and it sounded like the rock scene was still pretty strong. Of course, that was late 90's to early 2000's.

[@russelrod6987]

Just don't get any better huh? !!!!

[@BlakMayo44]

Damn why couldn't I be born 40 years earlier? I want the old ZZ Top.

[@bdorosz]

Awesome song and great pics..thanks for sharing..ZZ Top kicks ASS!!

[@drandall1776]

Just thought I'd mention: first saw ZZ in Harlingen, Texas, Summer, 1970. Tickets were a (then) staggering $5.00. . .Have seen them several times since right here in Austin,TX. . .before and with the beards ! ! !

[@flashpointe]

If you could do that why would you ever change? Hearing Fandango when I was a kid was a life changing event. Thanks for the music & pictures, made my night.

[@RanchHandCowboy]

Cool old pics. Thanks

[@ElijahEverhart28Nvbr]

TO WHOMEVER POSTED THIS!!! THANK YOU! PLAIN AND SIMPLE!!

[@davehaynes8878]

Saw them in Calgary Alberta 1977. We knew who they were by then. Really fun part of my life.

[@johnpaflas3482]

Thanks for posting this! From a huge Billy G and Greeny fan.

[@colorado4691]

One of my favorites. I love this version . Thanks ....Cisco

[@towhee89]

Fort Worth Feb 1972, one of my fav zz bootlegs ever

[@i.c.y.]

can't thank you enough for this version joe... thank you :))

[@dragaustin]

ZZ Is Always Great, But This Is Some ZZ At There Best.... Great Photos..... Thanks For Posting.....

[@BooBooJonez]

Very nice intro... Reverend Willie G is one of the most talented blues players of all time. I've seen that lil ol band from Texas 6 times... Early 70's first time. Love em. Great vid toejamm

[@ΚαλοςΦιλος-μ3ξ]

How cool would have been if this was filmed.Amazing perfomance!!!

[@davidhaynes3126]

This is my favourite recording of brown sugar. Better than the LP.

[@joetamm]

Absolutely !

[@davidhaynes3126]

@@joetamm do you know about more of this particular gig ? More of this show on KZbin ?

[@davidhaynes3126]

@@joetamm I saw ZZ TOP with ♥️ Heart in Calgary Canada 1975 ZZ top was amazing. In their prime.

[@joetamm]

@@davidhaynes3126 I only kn ow it was a well known Fort Worth show, I put up a few of the songs from that concert on my channel.

[@davidhaynes3126]

@@joetamm nice

[@francisjohnharrison]

Love My Brothers For Sure , Listened & Heard all in Nam , My Brothers Love You !!!

[@malcolmberg1356]

I love the Duane Allman groove the last thirty seconds

[@directech]

It's a crime that Billy doesn't play this way anymore...

[@Ram44]

One of the biggest mysteries of all time... Where are the official ZZ Top live albums from the early 70's through 1977? At least give us the rest of the Warehouse show(s) from 1974!!!

[@joetamm]

Billy got his hats at Gary's Hats in Houston on Louisiana St., they're not there any more, they're now The Hat Store at 5587 Richmond Ave.

[@RicardoGrilli]

Goddamn Billy is throwing down on this one. Thanks for posting

[@edwardperez4944]

Thats taking the roof off of that place!!!!!

[@sYnerGyZniGmA]

wow cool old photos of the band

[@ruggedchick09]

I LOVE THESE GUYS ^ ^.

[@touch2change489]

great pictures thank you!!!

[@muzikkraz]

"My friends all told me"... When I first heard this song way back in '71 I thought ole Billy was singing, "My grandma told me..." Either way, this song still rocks...HARD!

[@billtaylor4897]

Woo Wee... Saw'm at the Charleston Civic Center back in 71-72. Nothin' but fun...

[@BurgerMan1979]

Great collection of photos!!!

[@Suuperman5461]

Great pics, thanks for posting

[@jaimedolcesinnersole]

incredible playing..thanks for posting it!.peace,J

[@genebingle1754]

Ya thanks for uploading, that’s some great old pics of them too wow those guys were cool. Shit, still are...

[@unabonger777]

love that ending

[@danrease7505]

Thanks Joe for posting this early Top! I believe we traded some killer photos for some copies of your boots several years ago. If I recall you lived in the Panhandle or Georgia at the time. I’d never knew any early ZZ Top existed until that time. Thanks again I hope you remember this as well!

[@joetamm]

Thanks Dan, yes I remember you, hope you're well.

[@simmonsallisongroup6295]

This just kills

[@Phangmaster]

That riff at 6:04 is sublime.

[@neilstrawberry]

I’m so glad! By Cream

[@sorenlarsen56]

9:07 Billy playing the Riff that later became Rough Boy...

[@sarge9733]

Awesome spot. VERY similar on a song that if at the time you played the two originals to someone who didn't know better, would never think was from the same artist. Exactly the same tone and melody structure. I bet Billy didn't even remember that when he wrote it, but it was in there somewhere from an ad-lib he had played 13 years earlier before he'd even heard of a drum machine to replace Frank!

[@stephenglauser3826]

Good stuff! Happy Birthday Billy!

[@Frankincensedjb123]

This is serious kick ass ZZ. Blow your top!

[@harlenburke8535]

Got him to play this in Madison, Wisconsin in '75 came up from Navy ET 'A' school drunken sailor right down front......

[@mrwizard62]

Wow! This really is awesome.Billy Fuggin' Gibbons! Hendrix was right about him!

[@davehaynes8878]

Love the chugalugging around 6:50 mark. Just gets better right to the end.

[@MarcusDunne-nd5hc]

Great song by them who I saw live

[@josephlynch4940]

Joe Tammaro, TANX for this tasty Tunage! WHoooooooooooooooooooooo!;D*nice pics, sir!:)*

[@impala327]

this is about the sickest Marshall Super Lead tone ever.

[@michaelpatterson5827]

vintage and awesome

[@oldguy3074]

Joe the pic make it a great piece of rock history >\......

[@corywright6376]

Allentown 1973 ,we thought they were country,naah hell no,they were the warm up band for the warm up band,THE GREATEST Band ever

[@RoyRoy-re6kg]

The Venue of this performance is unknown? ZZ came to San Antonio late summer of 1972 after their first american tour... They Killed as usual!! Very exciting show when I was 16. with Michael Hermanson

[@nogzamjules]

There's a bit of 'I'm So Glad' by Cream woven in just before the 7 minute mark. Would love to have seen ZZ in those days...have only caught them once, in London about six or seven years ago, and it was the best thing I've ever seen. Three guys, a drum riser, some instruments, a couple of hats. Not a lot else. Hope the new album is the return to the old stuff Billy's been hinting at.

[@mainerd72]

I love the lick @ 7:10!!! Thanks for uploading these. C U @ The LPF Joe

[@jperryfan]

Like how Billy goes into I'm So Glad by Cream

[@mitchjones5728]

who caes they still rock

[@jperryfan]

Wish there was video of this tour and especially this song from that tour

[@cesarquerales1145]

Rest In Peace and Love Dusty.

[@ngrillot54]

at 4:48-- ... THAT IS MY PHOTO... thank you very much

[@MarkThomasMusic]

ive never heard this. thank u for posting this! love that ol grimy @ss tone!

[@icuabc1235]

7:51,, Hey Peter, you know that new sound you was looking for? Well listen to this.

[@cover557]

70'S WAREHOUSE NEW ORLEANS AND ALSO CITY PARK STADIUM WHERE THE BEATLES PLAYED ZZ TOP GREAT BACK THEN

[@sarge9733]

In hindsight, it's ridiculous that it's 'Sleeping Bag' that eventually brought me here. There will still be people who don't realise what sheer master musicians Billy, Frank and Dusty were from the offset.

[@jperryfan]

Listened to this at least 10 times . Got to find a way to hook up my PC to a PA system or some killer Bose speakers. Actually a PA would be the way!