Rough Boy

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Rough Boy" by ZZ Top from their 1985 album Afterburner, and Zoo Freaks, you're in for some juicy trivia about this track! Unlike the high-energy, synth-driven songs on Afterburner, "Rough Boy" is a slow, soulful power ballad, showcasing a softer side of the Texas trio. In a 1985 interview with Spin magazine, Billy Gibbons explained that the song's lush sound was crafted to fit the band's rough-and-tumble image, with the "Rough Boy" character as a way to sneak a ballad past their hard-rocking fans. The song's long, grinding guitar solo, described as a "trademark soulful" moment by Something Else! Reviews, saves it from being just another glossy '80s production, rewarding listeners with a raw payoff. Dusty Hill loved it so much that he had it played at his wedding, as he shared in a 2007 interview, calling it a "pretty li'l song."

The music video for "Rough Boy," directed by Steve Barron, is a wild ride that Zoo Freaks would dig. It features ZZ Top's iconic Eliminator car morphed into a spaceplane hybrid, cruising through a surreal space car wash with walking signs sporting women's legs. Fans on Reddit have noted its sci-fi vibes, comparing it to Blade Runner for its bold production design and cinematography, a surprising pivot for a blues-rock band. The song's gear also sparks gearhead chatter: Gearspace users speculate Billy Gibbons used a Scholz Rockman for that distinct, chorus-heavy tone, with some saying he chained multiple Rockmans for extra grit. In 2023, Keith Urban covered "Rough Boy" at a BMI Troubadour event honoring Gibbons, delivering a soulful rendition that, according to Rolling Stone, wowed the crowd with his guitar work.

ZZ Top got their start in Houston, Texas, in 1969, when guitarist and vocalist Billy Gibbons, already known for his band The Moving Sidewalks, teamed up with bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard. Gibbons, inspired by blues legends like B.B. King, initially toyed with the name Z.Z. King but tweaked it to ZZ Top to suggest "top-tier" status, as he explained in an American Songwriter interview. Their debut, ZZ Top's First Album, dropped in 1971, blending raw blues with boogie rock. The 1973 album Tres Hombres, with the hit "La Grange," launched them to stardom, cementing their reputation for gritty riffs and cheeky lyrics. Their mix of Texas swagger, humor, and bluesy grooves, paired with Gibbons' searing guitar, made them a standout act.

By the '80s, ZZ Top embraced synths and MTV with Eliminator, selling over 20 million copies, and Afterburner kept the momentum with hits like "Rough Boy." Despite lineup consistency, they faced tragedy with Dusty Hill's passing, but Elwood Francis stepped in, and the band still tours, as noted on Top40weekly. Zoo Freaks can connect with ZZ Top on their official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans also gather on the ZZ Top Fan Club on Facebook and ZZ Top Fan Club website, sharing love for the band's timeless blues-rock legacy.