The great band from Texas, ZZ Top at Summerfest on 9-11-2021

September 20, 2021

Summerfest just finished it's third and last weekend of fun and music after no music festival last year.

One band that has been on my bucket list to photograph is ZZ Top. I've now photographed the guys three times and love to see what the guitars and drum kits look like because they different for each tour.

Bass guitar player, Dusty Hill, passed away not too long ago and before he died, he ordered the band to keep on going after his death!  So, Elwood Francis is the new bass player. He was their guitar tech for over 30 years and fits right in.

Prior to COVID-19, Elwood did not have a beard! He didn't shave during COVID and so he now has a beard to equal Dusty and Billy!!

Enjoy a look at some great guys with some interesting looking guitars and drum kit. As the drum kit says on the bass drum, "Aged to Perfection"! I have to agree!

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann

Z Z Top and Cheap Trick and Marquis Knox at the BMO Harris Pavilion at Summerfest grounds 9-4-2019.

April 1, 2013

Hope everyone had a nice Easter weekend.  It finally feels like Spring in Wisconsin.

Being a rock'n'roll photographer since 1970, I have had the opportunity to photograph just about every musician I have wanted to.  Thanks to everyone who has helped me along the way.

The list of musicians includes most of my favorites from the Rolling Stones to Led Zeppelin.   This list was pretty much complete except for one act that I have always wanted to photograph.   Z Z Top did not make my list until the Harley Davidson 105th Anniversary party here in Milwaukee in 2008!

Their show did not disappoint.  It was a fun time and they are a class act.  The stage was set up very nicely and the lighting was excellent!

Photographers only get 3 songs in the beginning of the show to get the job done, and it is never enough time.  I try to keep track of the 3 songs and thankfully, I don't have to change film anymore.  So, I just shoot as much as possible as quickly as possible!

It all happens so quickly you can't believe it.  I try to go in with a plan but most of the time that doesn't workout because you can't move around too much.  With earplugs in, I put myself into position which is a little off to the side of Dusty Hill, the bass player.  This way I could shoot across to Billy Gibbons, the guitar player, and also get a clear shot of Frank Beard, the drummer who's drum kit was a photo project all on its own!  I want to get myself in a good spot so that I'm not shooting the backs of these beautiful guitars you see here!  That is why I staked out my spot a little early because a couple of minutes before the show I was surrounded by more photographers and people.

I took 105 shots in those 3 songs and should have done more. but as I said, it goes so quickly you can't believe it!

Enjoy a few photographs of the show here and wouldn't one look nice on your office wall?  Check out my rock category and go to Z Z Top for a few more to look at and enjoy.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann