By Randy Patterson, Boomerocity.com
After more than five decades of delivering Texas blues-rock with signature swagger, ZZ Top is nowhere near ready to hang up their boots – or their beards. The legendary trio is charging full throttle into their 2025 tour, and this fall, they’re bringing their unmistakable brand of “loudness and raucous revelry” to Knoxville. For fans in East Tennessee, this October’s stop promises to be more than a concert. It’s a celebration of longevity, grit, and southern-fried sound from a band that has nothing left to prove – but still plenty left to say.
Billy F. Gibbons, the unmistakable voice and guitar tone behind ZZ Top, sat down for a candid, wide-ranging interview where he dished on the tour, the band’s evolution, and what fans can expect when they roll into Knoxville.
Gibbons didn’t hesitate when asked what the crowd can expect in Knoxville: “More of the same loudness and raucous revelry,” he said with a grin. It’s the kind of show ZZ Top is known for – hard-driving blues, fuzz-drenched guitar licks, and decades of hits like “La Grange,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’.”
Their 2025 tour follows an international run through Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, and Gibbons says things are “streamlined” and as tight as ever. “We’re down to the last element that needs revision,” he joked. “And somebody said, ‘What might that be?’ I said, ‘How do you shorten a mile? We’ve still got to go A to B.’”
ZZ Top suffered a monumental loss in 2021 with the passing of bassist Dusty Hill. But Hill’s wishes were clear: “Give my guitar to Elwood,” Gibbons said, referring to longtime tech Elwood Francis. “He, like the rest of us, got lazy and quit shaving,” Gibbons chuckled, referencing Elwood’s now-impressive beard. “And now he’s joined the fold.”
Francis’ smooth transition onto the stage has been met with almost universal acceptance – something not every legacy act can claim. “A lot of bands catch grief when the original lineup changes,” I told Gibbons. “But I don’t hear that about you guys.” He grinned and responded, “Yeah, they’re still studying the drummer, trying to figure out a guy by the name of Frank Beard that’s clean-shaven.”
And Frank? “His drum set has grown to a size where I can’t even see the guy,” Gibbons laughed. “As long as that backbeat stays with robust stridency, I think we’ll be okay.”
Post-pandemic audiences are different, Gibbons noted. And that’s a good thing. “I think there’s a genuine sense of appreciation when fans come out and get to see a live performance,” he said. The crowd energy has shifted from casual to grateful. After years of isolation, fans aren’t taking live music for granted.
And it’s not just ZZ Top getting the love. Gibbons spoke about his side project – the BFG Band – featuring Texas blues players like keyboardist Mike Flanigan and sometimes drummer Chris Layton of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Double Trouble. “We all feel it – it’s more focused,” he said. “That appreciation is real.”
The conversation veered into the personal, as Gibbons shared his passion for classic cars and custom rides. He recently acquired a 1951 Jeep station wagon, a back-road beauty spotted in Boise, Idaho. “We saw it coming from a distance… no place to turn around,” he recalled. But months later, fate – and a business card on the windshield – brought it into his collection.
Gibbons is as famous for his generosity as he is for his guitar tone. One fan in Chattanooga – ticketless the night before the show – happened to meet Gibbons at a local bar. When the fan explained he couldn’t get into the concert, Gibbons made a call. “You and your friend are in,” he told him. That same fan stood near him at the show, grinning ear to ear. Class like that can’t be faked.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or someone discovering the band through your parents’ vinyl collection, the 2025 tour is a chance to witness living rock-and-roll history. And the Knoxville stop isn’t just another date – it’s a full-blown event. The beards will be long, the guitars loud, and the memories unforgettable. So come October, don’t just hear about it afterward. Get your ticket, throw on some shades, and get ready for a night of Texas-sized boogie in the heart of East Tennessee. As Billy Gibbons might say… have mercy.
Watch the entire interview with Billy F. Gibbons on Boomerocity.com or listen to it on all major podcast platforms.