I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide (2019)

The Zoo Crew is spinning the gritty, blues-soaked track "I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide" from ZZ Top’s 2019 album RAW: ‘That Little Ol’ Band From Texas’ Original Soundtrack, and the Zoo Freaks are undoubtedly grooving to its raw energy. This version of the song, recorded at Gruene Hall, Texas’ oldest continually operating dance hall, captures the band in a stripped-down, intimate session that harks back to their early days. The track, originally from their 1979 album Degüello, was inspired by Texas bluesman Joey Long, a friend of frontman Billy Gibbons. As Gibbons shared in an interview with Guitar World, Long always rolled up in a shiny new Cadillac, driven by his wife Barbarella since he lacked a driver’s license. This image of effortless cool—a bluesman in the back, a beautician at the wheel—sparked the song’s swaggering narrative of cruising in style.

Adding to the song’s unique flavor, Gibbons revealed in the same Guitar World interview that he played a custom, half-sized, short-scaled guitar tuned up three steps to G for the lead track, giving it a distinctive bite. He also used a multi-stringed, mandolin-like instrument from Parral, Mexico, gifted by Long, which you can hear as a subtle, close-miked rhythm accompaniment. Another tidbit: this is one of only two ZZ Top songs where Gibbons plays pedal steel guitar, the other being “Somebody Else Been Shaking Your Tree.” The RAW version, recorded live with no overdubs, showcases Dusty Hill’s bass lines with rare clarity, as noted by fans on jpc.de, making it a standout for its unpolished, rootsy vibe. The album, dedicated to the late Dusty Hill, was described by Gibbons and drummer Frank Beard in the liner notes as “a return to our roots,” with no audience, no tour buses—just the trio and their music.

Promoting the RAW release, ZZ Top shared a music video for “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide” on YouTube in July 2022, announced via a post on X, inviting fans to experience the track’s live intensity. The video and album tie into the band’s 2019 Netflix documentary, That Little Ol’ Band From Texas, which captured the Gruene Hall session and earned a Grammy nomination. Fans on Amazon praised the album’s sound quality, with one calling it “like you’re in the room with them,” though some noted minor vinyl pressing issues, like pops on side two, as mentioned on Discogs. This track, with its tales of V-8 Fords, gold teeth, and nationwide swagger, remains a testament to ZZ Top’s ability to blend blues authenticity with rock bravado.

ZZ Top formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969, when Billy Gibbons (born December 16, 1949), a guitarist with a knack for psychedelic rock from his earlier band Moving Sidewalks, teamed up with drummer Frank Beard (born June 11, 1949) and bassist Dusty Hill (born May 19, 1949). Gibbons had scored a local hit with Moving Sidewalks’ “99th Floor,” while Hill and Beard honed their chops in Dallas-based American Blues. The trio clicked instantly during a 1969 audition, as Gibbons recalled their seamless chemistry ensuring decades of collaboration. Managed by Texan Bill Ham, they cut their debut single, “Salt Lick” b/w “Miller’s Farm,” in late 1969 at Robin Hood Brians’ studio in Tyler, Texas. Their first gig as ZZ Top followed in February 1970 at a Knights of Columbus Hall in Beaumont, kicking off a career that would see them evolve from a raw blues-rock trio to global icons with over 30 million records sold, as noted in a 2019 X post.

By 1975, albums like Fandango! and Tejas went gold, and after a hiatus, Gibbons and Hill returned with iconic long beards, cementing their image. Signing with Warner Bros., they unleashed a string of platinum albums through the 1990s, blending their boogie-blues roots with 1980s synth-driven hits like “Legs” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’.” Their 2019 documentary, promoted via X, traced this journey from Houston dives to MTV stardom. Today, ZZ Top’s legacy endures, with Gibbons and Beard continuing to tour post-Hill’s 2021 passing. Connect with them on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans can join discussions on the ZZ Top Fan Club Facebook group or explore tributes on fan sites like ZZ Top Fan Club, keeping the spirit of “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas” alive.