How ZZ Top Has Shown Love to El Paso Over the Years

"That Little Ol' Band From Texas" will always be legendary; not only in the Lone Star State but in the music world. Sadly we've lost two legends from ZZ Top; Dusty Hill on July 28, 2021 & now Frank Beard on August 18, 2026.

We will never forget all the times they've played in El Paso but we'll also never forget the times ZZ Top gave the 915 some love in their songs too.

ZZ Top gave El Paso some love on their 5th studio album

If you listen to track #10 on their album, Tejas, called "She's a Heartbreaker". The song talks about a tough as nails woman who travels all over the state of Texas, before eventually ending up in El Paso.

"Ooh well I heard she got down in Beaumont
And she wound up in El Paso

She was tuff as a boot and thin as a rail
And she could step to the Cotton Eyed Joe"

The band has never stated on who the woman was the inspiration for the song, but for over 50 years, it's become synonymous with El Paso. There's several more songs that mention El Paso that you can read about here.

ZZ Top also gave a subtle nod to El Paso & Juarez in their song "Heard It On the X"

While the song doesn't name drop El Paso, the "X" is the name for the radio stations that would broadcast from Mexico that people can listen in the United States. Billy HAS stated that the radio station that inspired the song did indeed come from Juarez. Of course Juarez being so close to El Paso, the song's become one that we also hold near & dear in our hearts here in the Borderland.

ZZ Top would also show love to El Paso any time they came to play live

Dating all the way from 1971. ZZ Top played El Paso a whopping 13 times in total, according to Setlist.FM (the most recent being in 2024 at the Abraham Chavez Theater. During their 2018 Abraham Chavez Theater performance, ZZ Top would give a nice little shout out to El Paso that we will never forget.

Sadly I only got to see ZZ Top once in my lifetime; their 2017 performance at the Sun Bowl when they opened up for Guns N Roses. While I couldn't enjoy the show at my seat, I DID catch them to play Sharp Dressed Man, Legs, La Grange & Tush. All 3 guys were incredible to see live that's for sure...