More than ZZ Top’s blues-infused rock sound, they also stood out for their signature beards, which became inseparable from their identity.
The rock legends’ long and flowing facial hair, paired with their ever-present sunglasses, evolved into a defining part of their branding, making them instantly recognizable across decades.
However, rumors long circulated that they were once being offered an insane sum of money to shave their beards.
During a guest appearance at Jay Mohr's Mohr Stories podcast, guitarist and singer Billy Gibbons finally addressed the long-standing speculation.
According to the frontman, he claimed that Gillette offered each member $1 million to shave their iconic beards for a television commercial. At the time, both Gibbons and the late bassist and fellow vocalist Dusty Hill sported the signature facial hair, while drummer Frank Beard was famously the only member without a beard.
After the host and comedian mentioned the rumored brand deal, the 76-year-old musician confirmed it and said, “It's true," but alleged that the razor giant denies the claim. "It was a million dollars per man."
Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, perform onstage at the Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 31, 1990.Paul Natkin/Getty Images
At the time, ZZ Top reached out to legendary rock publicist Bob Merlis for advice.
"But we called Mr. Merlis. I said, ‘Bob, we got this offer.’ ‘What?’ I said, ‘We’ve been offered a million dollars each to shave on TV,'" Gibbons shared.
However, although Merlis admitted that the offer was tempting, considering the amount of the brand deal, he jokingly warned ZZ Top that shaving could backfire because they might not recognize themselves without their signature look.
“He said, 'The money's good, you might as well consider doing it, but I'm not so sure any of you guys know what's under there," as he recalled the conversation he had with the publicist.
Now, Gibbons continues to rock the iconic look together with Elwood Francis, who also sports the band’s signature beard.
INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 28: (L-R) Elwood Francis and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top perform onstage during Day 1 of the 2023 Stagecoach Festival on April 28, 2023 in Indio, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stagecoach)Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Stagecoach
After Hill passed away in 2021, he was replaced by Francis, the band’s longtime guitar tech, in honor of the late bassist’s wishes.
ZZ Top’s 2026 Tour
The legendary rock band has an epic run planned this year with The Big One Tour.
ZZ Top is back on the road and will kick off the tour at Abilene, Texas on March 21 and conclude it on May 23 at Huntington, West Virginia.
The upcoming tour comes nearly four years after they released their last album RAW, a stripped-down collection of classic songs recorded with Hill before his death.
Related: 2010s Japanese Metal Band Revives a Classic Hit for Its 15th Anniversary
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