ZZ Top Working Hard On New Album

The band expect to have long awaited album released this year

Published 31st Mar 2011

ZZ Top are in "full production" on their brand new studio album, according to Billy Gibbons.

In an interview with Billboard the band's guitarist revealed that the trio has been working on the set in both Houston and Los Angeles. "I've got a little studio at my house out in L.A.," he says, "and it kind of takes the load off to be able to leave Texas, got to California, stay there for awhile and then you get to leave California  and come back to Texas."

As for the sound, Gibbons notes that he, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard are "still just making a lot of loud noise. We still pose as interpreters of the blues. We can't invent it; It's already been invented. But we can do it our way." Gibbons adds that the album will be comprised primarily of originals but that the group "might cover a couple of things."

Speaking of covers, a ZZ Top tribute album is also on the way, with Foo Fighters, Nickelback and Kid Rock taking part, according to Gibbons. A representative from Universal South says the collection is still being recorded and compiled with no title, release date or firm track list in place yet.

(Billboard)