Legendary producer Rock Rubin is set for another challenging project after it was announced that he is to take the helm for the new album by American boogie merchants ZZ Top.
The producer is currently busy on the new Metallica record, but has been tied up to do the new ZZ Top album. Rubin made his name producing the early, classic, rap LPs by hip hop powerhouse Def Jam. Recently, however, the producer has established a reputation as salvaging the careers of once great artists who have lost their way – most notably the late Johnny Cash.
Whilst now derided as a beard-wearing novelty act, there was a time when ZZ Top were the toughest boogie merchants on the planet. Their first million seller was 1973’s “Tres Hombres” album, as the band established a reputation as hard rockin’ and hard livin’ sons of bitches. Sadly, though, the 80s dawned and brought with them the synthesiser that diluted the band’s sound but brought huge commercial success with the album “Eliminator”.
ZZ Top have now signed to Rubin’s label American Recordings, with no release date set for the new album.
