While investigating the X-File regarding Uncle Al and Beck, I came across this nugget from Rolling Stone Australia.
RS: The last time I was starstruck?
AJ: “In 1988 when I met Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top. He took me to one of his favourite Italian restaurants in Houston, Texas. I was like, “Why are you taking me out to dinner? Let me pick up the tab or something.” He’s like, “No, no, no. Our career was resurrected after that song ‘Legs’.” They had programmed drums on it and he said they got all the samples from Ministry so the least he could do was buy me a nice dinner.”
I can’t even remember the last time I heard “Legs,” but anyone know if there’s any “truth” to this claim?
Now see. . . I remember this differently. I remember reading an article where Al admitted he had stolen a lot of the beats on Revolting Cock’s Beers, Steers & Queers album from ZZ Top. I remember the song “Velcro Fly” being specifically mentioned.
I’ve heard numerous variations of the ZZ Top story as well . . . the gist being that Al told ZZ Top that he stole their guitar tone or something and they borrowed the drum machine idea . . . I don’t remember the specifics, but I thought that it supposedly was around the time around 1992 or 1993 when ZZ Top was doing that “Pincushion” song.
I don’t think Al is just making stuff up completely as I know that he and Billy Gibbons have had a mutually respected and affectionate relationship for some time now and Al wouldn’t want to just make stuff up about the guy that would come back and bite him.
But “Legs” . . . . uhhh, I don’t think so. That song was released in 1983. Are we supposed to guess that ZZ Top was so moved by “Every Day Is Halloween” or something?
I don’t think so.
I’m calling shenanigans. I don’t think Al’s being willfully deceptive, but I think this is one of his many stories that gets told 27 different ways depending on how many drinks he’s had.
So the last time he had a haircut was 30 years ago? This interview was conducted last year, making the last haircut in 1984. Now one can only wonder how he got his “Over the Shoulder” hair, and then have it be nearly bald by the time “You Goddamned Son Of A Bitch” rolls around. Then he appears bald in the Flashback video, and then his hairstyle alternated from 1989-1992 and then eventually Flea Market Hairweave 1.0 until the turn of the century. He then had shoulder length red hair during Animosity, but it wouldn’t be long before he unveiled Flea Market Hairweave 2.0 which leads us to present day.
I’m guessing he meant that he hasn’t paid for a haircut in 30 years?
But “Legs” . . . . uhhh, I don’t think so. That song was released in 1983. Are we supposed to guess that ZZ Top was so moved by “Every Day Is Halloween” or something?
I don’t think so.
Billy would have to be grooving on ‘Cold Life’ or With Sympathy in 1983! I mean come on, even if he was looking for some inspiration in the new wave scene, what would the chances of that be?
Another goofy thing about that story is that ‘Legs’ didn’t in fact resurrect ZZ Top’s career. According to the Wiki page for the Eliminator album, it was the fifth (!) single off the LP, with video hits like ‘Sharp Dressed Man’ already out there and giving them whatever buzz they would have needed to win over the new MTV generation.
I think that we should just pre-empt Al from now on and post bullshit stories on here that he can use for future interviews, thus freeing him up to focus on music.