ZZ Top did it better than ACDC (1 Viewer)

[Winston]

Of the radio friendly hard rock heavyweights, ZZ Top did it about the best. But, I feel like ACDC gets all the street cred. What's up with that?

 

[Winston]

 

[GDViking]

Of the radio friendly hard rock heavyweights, ZZ Top did it about the best. But, I feel like ACDC gets all the street cred. What's up with that?

I don't know if I would even call ZZ top a hard rock band. They were certainly rock but with a lot more of a blues sound.

I have to admit between the two, I prefer AC/DC....

 

[Winston]

I don't know if I would even call ZZ top a hard rock band. They were certainly rock but with a lot more of a blues sound.

I have to admit between the two, I prefer AC/DC....

Why's that? More hits?

 

[ttwtt78640]

Either Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd beats them both, IMHO.

 

[Winston]

Either Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd beats them both, IMHO.

Those are God tier level bands. I wouldn't put ZZ Top or ACDC at God tier level. But, it's all subjective.

 

[GDViking]

Why's that? More hits?

No I've seen AC/DC more for one thing, I'm not knocking ZZ Top they are a great band and I love the blues, and how they have that blues feel.

There are many bands I like more than either of them however my personal ranking I prefer AC/DC...

BTW, check out a couple musicians named "two cello's" if you had not heard them, they are not only amazing, you will laugh your ass off at some of their stuff...

 

[Rexedgar]

Why's that? More hits?

I love ZZ Top; they were early to MTV. “Sharp Dressed Man” was a great song/video. They came to the DC area in the early-mid 1990s. I bought four more ticket than I needed, I think I took another two couples beside me and the GF. I couldn’t get face value for the extra tickets. So much for my scalping career! George Thorogood and the Delaware Destroyers opened the show and they were by far the more memorable performance!



The drummer’s name is Beard, only one w/o a beard!

 

[GDViking]

Either Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd beats them both, IMHO.

Agreed!!!

 

[ttwtt78640]

Those are God tier level bands. I wouldn't put ZZ Top or ACDC at God tier level. But, it's all subjective.

OK, but it is hard to compare bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd or ZZ Top with bands like ACDC or Metallica even if they are all called rock bands.

 

[Winston]

OK, but it is hard to compare bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd or ZZ Top with bands like ACDC or Metallica even if they are all called rock bands.

could be, yeah. it basically all comes down to taste. I hate stadium rock and prefer stuff with stronger rhythm sections. So, I guess it's just taste.

 

[GDViking]

One time in the eighties (I think) I arrived at an AC/DC show and realized I had my normal bag of weed, however I had left some tai stick that I bought special for the show on my dresser at home.

I lived about an hour away, I dropped off my friends and flew my firebird home, and back.

I made it in time for the show, and it was worth the drive...:lol:

 

[GDViking]

OK, but it is hard to compare bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd or ZZ Top with bands like ACDC or Metallica even if they are all called rock bands.

Exactly I'm a Dead Head, I because of their variety of music, they are hard to label with a genre...

 

[joko104]

Of the radio friendly hard rock heavyweights, ZZ Top did it about the best. But, I feel like ACDC gets all the street cred. What's up with that?

ZZ top is known as the band that made millions off of three chords. Incredibly simplistic, low skills music. AC/DC was superior in every way, particularly showmanship and creativity.

 

[PLizzy]

Of the radio friendly hard rock heavyweights, ZZ Top did it about the best. But, I feel like ACDC gets all the street cred. What's up with that?

Because AC/DC made songs for radio right from the beginning. 'TNT', 'Long Way To The Top', 'Jack', 'Live Wire', and 'Big Balls', were all on AC/DC's debut album, which put them on the map of radio from the get-go.

ZZ Top didn't have a real radio hit until 'Tush', which was on the fourth album, Fandango, and that was the only hit in the first seven albums. It's when they got to 'El Loco' that they totally changed their sound to catchy radio riffs, that they really got noticed on the level AC/DC and company did.

Lots of bands went through what ZZ did and had several albums (that were nonetheless awesome) before they were noticed by radio and earned a wider audience. Judas Priest, the Scorpions, Rush, and Pink Floyd all had awesome albums that went largely unnoticed, before a sound change and some catchy tunes, earned them some radio respect. Others like Queen and KISS made catchy radio tunes from the beginning.

 

[PLizzy]

ZZ top is known as the band that made millions off of three chords. Incredibly simplistic, low skills music. AC/DC was superior in every way, particularly showmanship and creativity.

It's all subjective, Joko.

What pleases your ears annoys others and vice versa.

And the Young brothers practically copyrighted the three cord boogie.

 

[GDViking]

Because AC/DC made songs for radio right from the beginning. 'TNT', 'Long Way To The Top', 'Jack', 'Live Wire', and 'Big Balls', were all on AC/DC's debut album, which put them on the map of radio from the get-go.

ZZ Top didn't have a real radio hit until 'Tush', which was on the fourth album, Fandango, and that was the only hit in the first seven albums. It's when they got to 'El Loco' that they totally changed their sound to catchy radio riffs, that they really got noticed on the level AC/DC and company did.

Lots of bands went through what ZZ did and had several albums (that were nonetheless awesome) before they were noticed by radio and earned a wider audience. Judas Priest, the Scorpions, Rush, and Pink Floyd all had awesome albums that went largely unnoticed, before a sound change and some catchy tunes, earned them some radio respect. Others like Queen and KISS made catchy radio tunes from the beginning.

I am convinced that every album Pink Floyd made starting with dark side Rodger had one song designed to be the radio hit on the album, everything elses was just Rodger being Rodger.

Think "Money" on the dark side and the others become obvious, even including his solo albums...

 

[PirateMk1]

Either Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd beats them both, IMHO.

Not by a country mile.

 

[PLizzy]

I am convinced that every album Pink Floyd made starting with dark side Rodger had one song designed to be the radio hit on the album, everything elses was just Rodger being Rodger.

Think "Money" on the dark side and the others become obvious, even including his solo albums...

A lot of bands do that, or eventually did. Even if they didn't want to, it's how they survived.

Thin Lizzy clearly designed the Jailbreak album to have the title track and 'Boys are Back in Town' to be the hits, which is exactly what they became. But unlike other bands doing the same thing, the songs aren't annoying anthems that became overplayed.

 

[PLizzy]

Not by a country mile.

Personally, I could go the rest of my life without hearing any more Zeppelin, Queen, Journey, or Foreigner.

 

[<alt>doxygen]

I am convinced that every album Pink Floyd made starting with dark side Rodger had one song designed to be the radio hit on the album, everything elses was just Rodger being Rodger.

Think "Money" on the dark side and the others become obvious, even including his solo albums...

What was the attempted hit on "Animals" (which I love)? I don't hear one.

 

[Lethargic Aptitude]

Of the radio friendly hard rock heavyweights, ZZ Top did it about the best. But, I feel like ACDC gets all the street cred. What's up with that?

Generation gap.

 

[Fledermaus]

Either Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd beats them both, IMHO.

Even though more than half of Led Zeppelin songs were direct rip offs... Uncredited as well.

 

[Fledermaus]

Not by a country mile.

True. It's more like a league or two.

 

[Serenity]

ZZ top is known as the band that made millions off of three chords. Incredibly simplistic, low skills music. AC/DC was superior in every way, particularly showmanship and creativity.

Wait. What are you talking about? You're not aware of the fact that Angus and Malcolm were often criticised for their use of limited amounts of chords and variances?

From the great man, Angus Young, himself...

It's just rock and roll. A lot of times we get criticized for it. A lot of music papers come out with: 'When are they going to stop playing these three chords?' If you believe you shouldn't play just three chords it's pretty silly on their part. To us, the simpler a song is, the better, 'cause it's more in line with what the person on the street is.
Interview with the Atlanta Gazette in May 1979

Simplicity can also be the key to success. It's not about you, it's about the fans. They have the final say. They are obviously fine with it and at the end of the day it's all subjective anyway.