ZZ Top Has Legs and Knows How to Use 'Em - Will Carry on Touring Without Aerosmith

ZZ Top will not hang up their guitars just because Aerosmith cancelled their summer tour. The Hot Dressed Man hitmakers have posted new upcoming concert dates.

For those of you who have not been following my numerous articles on Aerosmith's injury plagued summer tour escapades (shame on you), the Boston Badboys cancelled their entire summer tour last week as a result of injuries lead singer Steve Tyler sustained from a fall during a concert at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.

The tour's future remained in limbo for weeks while Tyler's doctor's determined the severity of the singer's injuries. ZZ Top's summer future was also flung into limbo along side the Boston rockers since they'd been scheduled to appear on the tour bill with them.

Fortunately, that L'il Ole Band from Texas didn't simply sit on their beards while Steve Tyler's doctors tried to figure out if the singer could return to the tour or not. ZZ Top and their management got on the horn, and began tentatively setting up a series of alternative concert dates in the event the Aerosmith tour bit the dust.

Though initial reports on Steve Tyler's condition indicated that he was only shaken up and that the tour would continue, reports slowly began leaking out about the true severity of the singer's injuries from reliable sources such as guitarist Joe Perry and Steve's daughter Mia Tyler saying that Tyler had busted his shoulder. The leaked reports turned out to be true and Aerosmith made the official cancellation announcement last week (08/14).

The hard rockin' Texas trio's drummer Frank Beard commented, "When we found out that the tour was going to be cancelled, we got together and decided that since we're ready, willing and able, we should get out there immediately and get it on and that's exactly what we intend."

Though the summer may be ruined for Aerosmith fans, ZZ Top fans can rejoice as the band has officially announced a number of brand spanking new fall dates sans Aerosmith.

Upcoming concert dates include: Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., Kewadin Casino Sept. 6-7; Washington, D.C., 9:30 Club Sept. 13-14; Boston Orpheum Theatre Sept. 15; New York City, Beacon Theatre Sept. 18 and Reading, Penn., Sovereign Perf. Arts Centre.

More ZZ Top dates are expected to be announced in the weeks ahead. Check out ZZ Tops' official website for more details on these and other upcoming events.

Rob Rheubottom