Live Review: ZZ Top and George Thorogood & the Destroyers in Perth 2025
The Elevation Tour on the 2nd of May 2025 – Langley Park Perth Western Australia
By Angela Frodsham
Photography by Erica Lorimer Photographer
The vibe was there – something big was happening in Perth city last night. Young adult daughter rang and reported thronging crowds of a particular demographic. “What’s going on, is it Led Zeppelin tonight?”, she asked. It wasn’t Led Zeppelin, but the inimitable ZZ Top and George Thorogood & The Destroyers were thundering into rock the town. Amongst the capacity crowds streaming into Langley Park were many female fans, including some with walking aids. Many sported a nod to ZZ with whimsical hats and colourful hair. While Dallas Frasca ably warmed up the crowd with a powerful performance that included three Led Zeppelin covers, many headed to the drink tent as tonight they were not going to ‘drink alone’. A stage framed by Perth city lights was perfect for fans to worship the legends of American blues rock. “One hell of a night of rock ‘n’ roll…” was promised, and delivered.
ZZ Top
ZZ Top are one of rock’s most recognised and successful acts – Texans with big beards, sunglasses, red hot-rods, fun guitars and magic keychains. Videos of their phenomenally successful 80s hits were on constant rotation on MTV, but as one of the longest continual acts with a history going back to the late 60s they are much more than that.
Three guys joined up in 1969, and until the death of bassist Dusty Hill in 2021, vocalist/guitarist Billy Gibbons and drummer Frank Beard were still rocking together. The band have sold hundreds of millions of records, are officially Heroes of the State of Texas and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sadly, Frank Beard was advised by his medical team to sit this tour out, but John Douglas did a fabulous job in his stead. It was Dusty Hill’s wish that longtime ZZ Top guitar technician Elwood Francis fill his spot on bass, which he does with aplomb with big hair, beard and great guitar moves.
Billy and Elwood casually strolled onto stage, with the latter sporting his huge 17-string bass, which he only plays for the first song. In matching blingy, bright coloured jackets and matching guitars, they immediately launched into “Got Me Under Pressure” from the 1983 Eliminator album, which marked their move to a new sound using synthesisers and drum machines.
“Waitin’ For the Bus All Day” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago” followed from the 1973 Tres Hombres album, showcasing their earlier blues catalogue. The band has such an impressive history before and after their 80s success. “Give Me All Your Lovin’” was the first of their 80s mega-hits, rapturously received by fans with Billy offering “…got some pretty girls here tonight…” Billy’s laidback, laconic nature shone through saying to the crowd “…don’t get too excited, we are just making this shit up…”
Billy and Elwood stylishly performed ZZ Top’s trademark guitar dips and synchronised guitar movements. Billy asks in his Texan drawl if the crowd is having fun and says “…George Thorogood been tearing it up, and ZZ Top is in the house with you tonight…!”
After the country track “Sixteen Tons” the gig moved to favourites “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs”. Both were winners just as they have been since 1983, the crowd lapping them up and singing along. “Legs” was performed with the famous fluffy white rectangular guitars, showing the band’s light-hearted side. They don’t want you to take anything too seriously.
The crowd was not having the band’s exit, one concert goer banging on the rubbish bins to call for an encore. Reappearing in bright pink matching jackets, Billy quipped “… you can’t get rid of us yet, we just had to go show off our new jackets…” “Brown Sugar” also saw the arrival of impressive guitars with built in flashing screen panels exchanged for Billy’s slide guitar. “I think I had better do that thing…” says Billy, and delivers 1973’s “La Grange” with its distinctive guitar riff that whips the fans up into a frenzy. ZZ Top put on a fabulous show, a well-oiled and impressive celebration of their music. Even the crew changing the guitars were dressed in black sparkly cowboy gear.
George Thorogood & the Destroyers
ZZ Top’s Special Guests were George Thorogood & the Destroyers, and the crowd’s welcome showed George is just as beloved. Rocking since 1976, George and his band have sold over 15 million albums and delivered 8,000 high energy live shows – most recently in Australia in 2022’s 45th Anniversary ‘Good To Be Bad Tour’. With a fabulous back catalogue and backed by longtime band members Jeff Simon (drums, percussion), Bill Blough (bass guitar), Jim Suhler (rhythm guitar) and Buddy Leach (saxophone), George Thorogood & The Destroyers are a formidable, slick yet gritty outfit. A ‘take no prisoners’ attitude delivered a fun night of gutsy, badass blues rock.
Their dramatic entrance riffed off “Bad to the Bone’s” link to World Championship Wrestling with their introduction as “…the undisputed rock and roll heavyweight champions of the world…” George prowled on stage, theatrically bowing before launching into “Rock Party” to get things moving from zero to one hundred in two seconds.
Energetic George is all blingy sartorial eloquence in dark sunnies, black pants with glittery side stripe and spangly black scarf. His voice and guitar work were superb. George is a born showman connecting with his crowd as if long-lost friends. Exaggerated gestures like throwing his scarf back around his neck, combing his hair and tongue waggling delighted the crowd. His trademark guitar sound and his famous trill of “Brrrrrrr….” all contribute to a unique rock persona. The best part is he and his band seem to love it all too.
Playing on the bad boy theme, he announced in his growly voice his band’s parole officers have released them for one night only, but “… if someone is going to go to jail tonight for rock and roll it might as well be me! Gentlemen, start your engines!”.
George had the crowd in his hands during “House Rent Blues / One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”, quipping in the lyrics “…in Western Australia everyone was drinking bourbon…” His 1985 hit “I Drink Alone” got the fans to their feet, and crowd surges kept security busy all night.
With so many great songs synonyms for ‘iconic’ are lacking. Promising something for “…the more sophisticated rock fans” he delivers “Get A Haircut” then “Gear Jammer”. After spicing up the 1982 anthem “Bad to the Bone” with “I’ll make an Australian girl squeal…” George tells us they’ve been coming to Australia since 1981 and that he and band deeply appreciate the loyal support of their Australian fans. And he meant it.
What ZZ Top and George Thorogood & the Destroyers showed with their shows was that when delivering fans great and timeless music there is no need for huge stage props or background video montages. In their case the music is enough, together with the character and presence of the artists behind its making and performance. ZZ Top and George Thorogood & The Destroyers are still rocking. The power of great music never ages.
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Revolutions Per Minute, Live Nation Australia, Mellen Events and ZZ Top for the Press Accreditation
ZZ Top is touring in Melbourne (7th May) and Sydney (13th May), Tickets are available through Live Nation Australia
ZZ Top Setlist
Got Me Under Pressure, I Thank YoWaitin’ for the Bus
Jesus Just Left Chicago
Gimme All Your Lovin’
Pearl Necklace
I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide
I Gotsta Get Paid
My Head’s In Mississippi
Sixteen Tons
Just Got Paid
Sharp Dressed Man
Legs
Encore:
Brown Sugar
Tube Snake Boogie
La Grange
George Thorogood & The Destroyers Setlist
Rock Party
Who Do You Love?
Mama Talk to Your Daughter
I Drink Alone
House Rent Blues / One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer
Get a Haircut
Gear Jammer
Move It on Over
Gloria
Bad to the Bone
Born to Be Bad
Writer – Angela Frodsham
Angela is a music lover who has enjoyed live concerts with sister Erica and friends since the early 1980’s, including raving in the pit during The Angels performances at Perth Entertainment Centre in 1981. A career in Government economic development and transport policy followed a Bachelor of Economics majoring in the Japanese language. More recently, Angela’s love of writing and history has led her back to UWA to study Classics and Ancient History, including the Latin language and ancient Greek.
Photographer – Erica Lorimer
Erica is a freelance photographer who loves capturing images of live music and travel photography. She enjoys shooting film with vintage cameras and making prints in a home darkroom. She has lived in Japan, the UK and Nigeria. Erica holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Western Australia (UWA), majoring in English Literature and Economics, and a Certificate IV in Design.
About the Writer/Photographer: The founder of Perth-based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) has been accredited to more than 170 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), Coldplay (Perth), KISS, Iron Maiden, RHCP, P!NK and The Script with reviews shared by the likes of Belinda Carlisle, Roxette, UB40, Delta Goodrem, The Wiggles and Toni Childs. He has interviewed rockers Suzi Quatro (pictured below), Ian Moss, Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) plus over 70 artists. He’s also a contributor on Triple M Radio as a music journalist.
