from the LP Degüello, Warner Bros Records, 1979Anyone that knows me well (the “me” of the last decade or so anyways) is chuckling to themselves at the mere suggestion of this song’s title---I admit, I have a weakness for shades, I have a lot of them, and not exactly the cheap variety anymore either; ya know, us guys have a limited amount of accessorizing ability, so get off my back already. The funny thing about it is, after this album and subsequent tour finished, with the guys in ZZ Top rocking Wayfarers at every show (and then-new beards), Bausch & Lomb saw their sales go through the roof---smell a rat? Shouldn’t be terribly surprising, although it may have been ZZ’s first foray into subliminal advertising, it sure as hell wouldn’t be their last, as we’ve all come to be quite familiar with those fuzzy faces over the years, in a plethora of ad’s, endorsements and music videos. Personally, I could give a fuck less if a band “sells out” or not: as long as the music continues to kick ass, who cares?! This song is one of those permanent staples of any region’s classic rock radio programming, and if you’re riding in my car, believe that that volume knob is gonna get cranked. Quick fact: it’s actually true that, after having watched ZZ guitarist Billy Gibbons (then in his band the Moving Sidewalks) shred opening for him during the Experience’s Texas tour dates, Jimi Hendrix himself said in an interview that he thought Gibbons was the best guitarist in America at that time…high praise indeed!!
