Anyone who reads this page should also check out the excellent "Totally Unofficial ZZ Top Tour Blog" at http://zztopeurope2007.blogspot.com/. It is an excellent source of up to date ZZ Top news and insider info and is written by a dedicated and enthusastic fan.
The band's management was recently quoted as stating they estimated the band would enter the studio sometime in late November of this year. The band's last album, "Mescalero" , came out in 2003. It was a fantastic album, reflecting the ongoing creativity and guitar / studio gizmo genius of Gibbons. With the Japan release you have 17 tracks and an unlisted 18th track. The running time is almost twice the length of some of the band's albums, so you could as an optimist call it a double album. Either way it has been six years since the last album of new material. The band has more or less been touring non-stop since 2007. There have been some exciting additions to the catalogue such as "Live from Texas" and the 25th anniversary of "Eliminator". The band has also appeared on "American Idol" and "WWE". All these have served as PR for the band and gotten their name back into the public mind. It is apparent however that they need to capitalize on this exposure with a new album. Going back to 2005 the band is quoted as having worked on writing new material. Billy apparently layed down approx 12 rough song structures in March of '08, and at least one interview was conducted where the Rev. played a few minutes of a song under construction (this was not recorded by the reporter).
AC/DC released their first album in nine years this year, and from what I have seen it did very well. ZZ can do the same if they time things right and receive advertising support. With the "Double Down Live" release this fall and the subsequent additional exposure it is the opportune time to get in the studio. The Top machine has made 14 albums of original material, which is an amazing amount of output. But when your a ZZ fan, you look forward to and patiently anticipate new sounds and new grooves from the Hill/Beard rythym section and the lead of Pearly Gates.
Here's hoping at the end of the year the band takes a well deserved break from the road and heads to Memphis and/or Houston to put it down.
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