Both George Thorogood & The Destroyers and ZZ Top are legends of the global rock music scene, with careers spanning over 50 years. While both bands are still at the top of their game, it is reasonable to suggest that this might be their last time on Australian shores. Thorogood has taken breaks from touring in recent years and ZZ Top now features only one original member in Billy Gibbons after bassist Dusty Hills’ passing and Frank Beard’s absence on medical grounds. However, both bands still retain the same soul which has given decades of rock n’ roll hits to legions of passionate fans and, sensing the opportunity, those fans packed into the ICC Sydney Theatre to see the bands show off their craft. 

It was George Thorogood & The Destroyers who kicked off proceedings to a crowd which was at capacity for their entire set. The band’s blend of blues and country heavy rock was a fantastic way to start the night, with incredible mastery of the saxophone from Buddy Leach being a particular highlight. The band played a lengthy opening set, spanning just over an hour and traversed their entire discography of hits and a variety of genres to delight the crowd. 

Thorogood took command of the stage from the moment he stepped onto it, slinking around the venue with charm as he strummed his guitar with one hand, twirling it as he went. With the band first arriving in Australia in 1981, they have developed a significant legion of fans, who were all overjoyed when Thorogood closed out the set with “Bad to the Bone”, which was performed impeccably for the crowd who could not wait to sing along (with some extra onomatopoeia thrown in for good measure). To see one set this good would have been a pleasure in its own right, but when combined with the performance of ZZ Top, it highlighted just how strong a night of music this was. 

Then it was time for ZZ Top and from the moment they hit the stage, they were on absolute fire, with a rocking crowd behind them. What immediately stood out with ZZ Top (and indeed, George Thorogood & The Destroyers before them) was the quality of the musicianship and the showmanship throughout. Billy Gibbons is recognised as one of the best guitarists in music history and alongside Elwood Francis on bass, he put on a musical masterclass, showing a great degree of skill from flashy riffs to one-handed shreds. The command of instruments from both Gibbons and Francis was extraordinary and was a privilege for everyone in the audience to watch. 

Starting with “Got Me Under Pressure”, the band entered with oversized guitars at the ready, decked out in their trademark outfits. The double-digit stringed yellow bass guitar had the crowd going from the outset and the band continued the momentum through “Jesus Just Left Chicago” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’”, which had the audience singing along. 

To their credit, their band has been unafraid to integrate technology into their set to enhance their performance (especially with voices that have understandably worn over time), and this was most evident through the creative use of vocoder microphones during “Legs.” By this point in the set, the crowd was up and dancing, with Gibbons able to reach the many high notes in the song with modified sound as he and Francis took command with their guitar riffs. The band also used the technology (which was visually displayed in an old-style data room setup behind Gibbons and Francis and alongside drummer John Douglas) to distort the guitar sound at times, which provided a nice contrast in a set that was, unsurprisingly, very guitar driven. A shoutout must also go to the crew for helping Gibbons and Francis switch guitars after almost every song. 

With a set that cycled through country, hard rock and more blues/funk style rock tunes, the audience was ready and raring when the band performed some of their biggest hits at the end of the set. “Sharp Dressed Man” was tight and had the crowd on their feet, as Gibbons took charge with virtuosic solos and high-quality vocals before the band closed out their set with an encore of “La Grange” which was a fitting way to close the night. 

Overall, this was a stunning night of music with both Thorogood and ZZ Top displaying musicianship of the highest quality, with virtuosic guitar playing and an incredible understanding and demonstration of their craft. It may very well be the last time we see either of these bands on Australian shores but if it was, they certainly went out with a bang, leaving an incredible legacy for bands coming up after them to live up to when they tour these shores in the future. 

Rating: ★★★★★

ZZ Top/ George Thorogood & The Destroyers – ICC Theatre Sydney – 13^th May 2025