Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top to bring Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour to Tallahassee

Martha Gruender, Tallahassee Democrat
Updated ·2 min read

Tallahassee rock fans have reason to celebrate. Play "Free Bird" and "Legs"!

The titans of American classic rock ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd announced Monday they are adding 36 appearances of their joint co-headlining tour – The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour — with a stop in Tallahassee on April 5, according to a press release from the Tucker Civic Center.

The Special Guest will be Black Stone Cherry.

The artist pre-sale for the civic center concert begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, and will be available until 10 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 2.

Elwood Francis plays a 17-string bass as he and Billy Gibbons perform with ZZ Top at the Orpheum in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
Elwood Francis plays a 17-string bass as he and Billy Gibbons perform with ZZ Top at the Orpheum in Memphis, Tenn., on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.

The public sale begins at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 3, at ticketmaster.com. All ticket prices are subject to applicable fees. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center Box Office Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit tuckerciviccenter.com. Stay tuned for updates by following the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center on Facebook and on Twitter.

Staying on top with ZZ Top

ZZ Top, “That Little Ol’ Band From Texas” has been at it for over a half century delivering rock, blues and boogie to millions of fans. With iconography as distinctive as their sound, ZZ Top is globally recognized with their beards, hotrod cars, spinning guitars and that magic keychain.

ZZ Top formed in Houston in 1969 from the core of two rival bands, Billy Gibbons’ Moving Sidewalks and Frank Beard and Dusty Hill’s American Blues. ZZ Top's 1973 release, "Tres Hombres," catapulted them to national attention with the hit “La Grange,” still one of the band’s signature pieces.

"Eliminator," their 1983 album kept their roots blues intact and added high-tech trappings that found a visual outlet with such tracks as “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs” on MTV. It was one of the record industry’s first albums to have been certified Diamond with sales exceeding 10 million units.

Damon Johnson, Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke, of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Damon Johnson, Johnny Van Zant and Rickey Medlocke, of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Straight outta Jacksonville

As Lynyrd Skynyrd celebrates the 50th anniversary of the band’s critically acclaimed debut album "Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd," they resonate as deeply with their multi-generational fan base today as when they first emerged out of Jacksonville, in 1973.

With hits like "Gimme Three Steps," the always requested signature song "Free Bird," "Simple Man" and "They Call Me the Breeze," few ensembles have had the impact in creating a lifestyle as Skynyrd has. Former members Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Steve Gaines, Ed King, Billy Powell, Bob Burns, and Leon Wilkeson forever remain significant contributors to the band’s colorful history.

Lynyrd Skynyrd rocks on with a line-up featuring Johnny Van Zant, Rickey Medlocke, Damon Johnson, Mark “Sparky” Matejka, Michael Cartellone, Keith Christopher, Peter Keys, Carol Chase and Stacy Michelle. With a catalog of over 60 albums, Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Lynyrd Skynyrd remain a cultural icon.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top will bring Sharp Dressed Tour to Tallahassee