Whether you’re a die hard fan or not, if you’ve ever seen and heard ZZ Top, it’s quite likely that you’ll never forget them! This Texas born and bred, gritty blues band has a look that’s almost as popular as their music!

Long beards and sunglasses, cool guitars and hot cars, will always be trademarks that devoted ZZ Top fans automatically associate with this classic rock band! And, we can’t leave out the sexy women that always show up in their videos!

Since 1969, “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas” has hard rocked their way into music history. ZZ Top holds one very special distinction that separates them from most of the bands of the 60′s and 70′s.

While almost all of the other bands went through member changes on an seemingly regular basis, ZZ Top’s original members have stuck together through thick and thin. And, until September 2006, Bill … Read the rest

At the age of four, John Kay and his family, made a dangerous midnight escape out of post-war East Germany. Growing up with the Armed Forces Radio, John was inspired by artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richard.

Born Joachim Krauledat, he made the decision to make rock and roll his life at the early age of 13. John said, “Considering I was only 13, legally blind, spoke the wrong language and was on the wrong side of the ocean, maybe I was a little optimistic”!

In the face of all those adversities, by the time he turned 14, John was on the other side of the ocean in Toronto, Canada and had his first guitar! His education in the English language was acquired from disc jockeys and music!

He performed acoustic blues while traveling America and performing in bars and coffee houses. In 1965, he met and joined “Sparrow”, … Read the rest

In the list of the many things that’s changed the direction of the world, you’ve got to include The Rolling Stones! Since their invasion into the music industry in 1962, the world has never been the same!

The Stones took various styles of music and magically melted them together into one exciting new sound! They totally extended the sounds of musical instruments into a new galaxy! And, started a “Stone-fever” that even to this day there has been no cure for!

Their first real gig was in 1962 as “The Rollin’ Stones”. The band included Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, Keith Richards, Dick Taylor and Tony Chapman.

In the beginning Jones had set out to produce a Chicago blues style of music. But, Richards and Jagger added a little Chuck Berry style of rock and roll to the mix!

Before long Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman joined the band … Read the rest

The band that evolved into Lynyrd Skynyrd and would prove to be one of the greatest bands in rock and roll history started out as “My Backyard”. Formed by three teenage friends, Ronnie Van Zant (Vocals), Gary Rossington (guitar), Bob Burns (drums) and Allen Collins (guitar), in Jacksonville, Florida.

The trio would practice their southern rock blues anywhere and anytime they could and started getting gigs playing at a lot of clubs and dances. In 1968 the band enters a Battle of the Bands contest and wins.

The winnings are used to recorded “Michelle” and “Need All My Friends” which was released on Shade Tree Records. They then got to appear as the opening band for  some southeast shows for the California based band, Strawberry Alarm Clock.

Before a gig in 1970, Van Zant jokingly introduces the band as Leonard Skinner! Mr. Skinner was the high school gym teacher, he … Read the rest