Heard It on the X (Live 1980)

The song "Heard It on the X" by ZZ Top, featured on their 1980 live album Live In Germany 1980, is a tribute to the powerful Mexican border radio stations, known as "Border Blasters," that influenced the band’s sound. These stations, with call letters starting with "X," like XERF and XERB, broadcasted with massive wattage, often exceeding U.S. limits, reaching listeners across North America. In a 1985 Spin magazine interview, Billy Gibbons explained that these stations had "enormous power," with XERF’s 500,000 watts overpowering U.S. stations like KDRC in Houston. Dusty Hill noted the stations’ eclectic programming, from preachers selling "autographed prayer cloths" to country and blues shows, highlighting their anything-goes nature. Gibbons shared that ZZ Top’s song was played on XERF and XERB after the station owner, an attorney in Del Rio, added a pop music segment, completing a "full circle" moment for the band.

Another piece of trivia comes from fans recalling unique radio versions of the song. A commenter on Songfacts, Jeff from San Jose, described hearing a longer version on KSJO in 1976, with an extended instrumental bridge and effects mimicking an AM transistor radio. This version, never officially released, doubled the song’s length and left fans like Jeff disappointed with the shorter album cut. Social media posts on platforms like Reddit emphasize the song’s connection to the cultural impact of X stations, noting their role in spreading diverse music, including early ZZ Top tracks, across the Southwest in the 1970s.

ZZ Top formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969, with vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard, and bassist-vocalist Dusty Hill, who remained the core lineup until Hill’s death in 2021. Gibbons, previously in the blues-rock band Moving Sidewalks, brought a deep love for blues artists like John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters. After Moving Sidewalks disbanded, Gibbons recruited Hill and Beard, who had played together in American Blues. The trio signed with London Records and released ZZ Top’s First Album in 1971, blending blues, boogie, and hard rock. Their breakthrough came with Tres Hombres (1973), featuring the hit "La Grange," followed by Fandango! (1975), which included "Tush" and "Heard It on the X." Their gritty Texas sound and humorous lyrics, paired with Gibbons and Hill’s iconic beards and sunglasses, made them a standout act by the late 1970s.

You can follow ZZ Top on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans also gather on community platforms like the ZZ Top Fans Facebook group, where enthusiasts share memorabilia, concert stories, and updates. Another fan hub is the ZZ Top Fan Club, offering exclusive content and merchandise for dedicated "Zoo Freaks" vibing to the band’s timeless Texas boogie.