ZZ Top has long been the perfect addition to any party plan, as we all know. But they really amplified that concept in a new way on July 4, 1986, when they helped MTV celebrate America and the Statue of Liberty’s centennial in a unique fashion.
The legendary Texas trio provided musical entertainment on board the cheekily named Liberty or Death Party Barge. They understood the assignment, even if the marching orders didn’t totally make sense. “They told us to blow the roof off — what roof?,” late bassist and vocalist Dusty Hill joked with USA Today at the event.
While they didn’t play their usual headlining show length-wise, they did indeed deliver on the above request, turning in a hit-heavy set list. It came complete with a fun romp through “Jailhouse Rock,” a familiar favorite of the band which made its first recorded appearance in a ZZ Top concert back in 1971.
Key Highlights from ZZ Top’s MTV Performance
- Performance Venue: ZZ Top played on the Liberty or Death Party Barge, a unique setting for their show.
- MTV Connection: Their relationship with MTV was at its peak due to hit videos from Eliminator.
- Audience Interaction: The event allowed fans to see their favorite band up close and personal.
- Memorable Humor: Dusty Hill’s quip about “blowing the roof off” added to the event’s charm.
Landing ZZ Top Was a Big Score for MTV
The relationship between ZZ Top and MTV was red hot by 1986, thanks to the worldwide success they’d enjoyed with the unforgettable and hugely popular videos for 1983’s Eliminator. The clips for “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs” helped the album sell millions of copies and made the group a regular ’80s household presence with the frequent airplay they received.
They even snagged the MTV Video Music Award for Best Group honoring “Legs” at the channel’s inaugural awards ceremony in 1984, an honor presented to them by Ric Ocasek of the equally video-centric Cars.
1985’s Afterburner indeed provided further fuel and additional hit singles in the form of “Sleeping Bag,” “Stages,” and “Rough Boy.” In July of 1986, they dropped “Velcro Fly,” the fourth single from the album. To say things were going well would be an understatement.
Watch ZZ Top’s ‘Sleeping Bag’ Video
“ZZ Top, by the summer of ’86, they were riding high,” former MTV and Viacom executive Doug Herzog tells UCR. “They were one of the biggest bands in the world and a gigantic MTV band. They had some of the most iconic videos going.”
The “Little Ol’ Band from Texas” had been playing multiple nights in arenas in front of crowds that topped out at 15 to 20 thousand people and sometimes higher with outdoor shows. So to go from those types of venues to playing on a boat for an invited audience of 400 people was special, but also, there was a piece of it that made sense logistically.
“I don’t know whether [that was a factor], but as I think back, it was an easy band to put on a boat, right? Three-piece band, right?,” Herzog says. “They were kind of no frills also. So, two guitars and a drummer, it was pretty easy in that regard.”
John “Red” Bartlett was working for Interstate Navigation, the organization helmed by the Wronowski family, who owned the boat and a fleet of similar vessels. They brought an auxiliary generator on board to help power ZZ Top’s set that day, as he notes, telling UCR that advance preparations for the event took place at the company’s dock in Connecticut.
READ MORE: Why ZZ Top Went Behind Their Producer’s Back to Finish ‘Afterburner’
Watch the ZZ Top ‘Liberty or Death’ MTV Contest Promo (Which Starts at 6:25)
ZZ Top Were 'Genuinely Nice People' That Day
In reality, the Liberty or Death Party Barge was more commonly known to locals as the M/V Block Island, part of the area ferry system servicing a route from New London, Connecticut to Block Island, Rhode Island. It was retired in 1986 (the same year as the MTV promotion) after decades of service.
Eric Hull was 20 years old, going to college and working as a deckhand on the neighboring Nelseco ferry. That day, he was also helping to get people on and off of the boat for the party, where he’d have a chance to interact with members of ZZ Top directly. As he shared with UCR, the anticipation was palpable.
“Everybody knew who they were, so they were super-excited to actually be able to see these musicians that you only got to see on MTV,” he says. “I mean, we were all young. We grew up on MTV and to actually see some of these performers live was really special.”
Guitarist and vocalist Billy Gibbons, bassist and vocalist Dusty Hill, and drummer Frank Beard were “superstars at the time,” but also “very kind,” as he recalls. That’s something which was not necessarily the norm. “You meet people that are in these really high positions, and some of them don’t treat you very well. Some of them actually treat you amazingly well. I thought they were genuinely nice people.”
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‘You Can’t Make Fun of ZZ Top’
Bob Merlis was head of publicity during that era for Warner Brothers, ZZ Top’s label, and he continues to work with the band. During a separate phone conversation with UCR, he points out that playing a concert on board a ship humorously dubbed as the Liberty or Death Party Barge, with an event poster featuring a beard on the Statue of Liberty, was right in line with the band’s normal humor.
He also backs up Hull’s account of the group’s temperament. “You can’t make fun of ZZ Top because they beat you to it. They make fun of themselves and that’s it,” he explains. “They’re some of the most good-natured people, with none of that prima donna rockstar baloney; they just got the job done in a cheerful way because that’s [how they are] and it’s real.”
Watch ZZ Top’s ‘Sharp Dressed Man’ Video
There Were a Lot of ‘F—in’ Foghorns’
Television writer and producer Eddie Gorodetsky first got to know Gibbons when he found himself seated next to the musician on a flight. The guitarist noticed that Gorodetsky was listening to music on his Sony Walkman, a portable music player that definitely drew attention at that time in the ’80s if you had one. He asked what Eddie was listening to and when he found out it was a cassette of Ike Turner, the two quickly got lost in conversation.
It’s a friendship that endures to this day four decades later. But that’s only one part of why Gorodetsky was on the boat that day. Working as a writer in the ’80s for Saturday Night Live and eventually Late Night With David Letterman, he tells UCR that it was common to get invites to all kinds of functions. But he also says he would have normally been skittish about attending something like this MTV event because who likes being stuck on a boat?
Because of his association with Gibbons and the band though, he made an exception and enjoyed it; which as he remembers definitely wasn’t your traditional concert setting. “Playing out into the air on a boat; there’s these f—ing fog horns; [thanks to the] people with boats honking their horns,” he laughs. “There’s so much noise; the sound just kind of disappears out into air.” So while sound quality wasn’t great due to environmental factors like foghorns and boat traffic, it was still exciting.
The portions of this event that made it onto television naturally had better sound — and as Gorodetsky shares certain members of the audience had also been strategically placed in certain areas of the boat. “You know it was nature of MTV at that time,” he says. “You would think that whole boat was full of pretty girls because they were only ones that would get in line of sight [of the cameras].”
How ZZ Top Fans Scored Admission to the ‘Liberty or Death’ Concert
The music channel gave viewers a chance to join in and “party their brains out.” They were invited to send postcards to network (that’s way they did things back then) in hopes they’d be selected to come on board.
MTV promised to fly winners in giving them round-trip airfare and overnight accommodations. While in area they’d enjoy “a day-long cruise in New York Harbor on July 4th,” plus great view Tall Ships parade (Operation Sail) and “best seats America for biggest fireworks show ever.”
“The Statue had facelift,” contest promo detailed. “But you’ll need renovation when you board most exclusive mostly loudest boat harbor featuring music by ZZ Top and 5000 watts power.” Their closing statement? “Cruise abuse with us — forget about other guys.”
VJ Mark Goodman was among those onboard alongside recent recruit “Downtown” Julie Brown and Martha Quinn. He confirms it was just as good time as advertised promised. “Bananarama Olympic diving champ Greg Louganis [were some of the big names on the boat],” he tells UCR.
“Andy Warhol was [also] there; I remember Don Johnson coming onboard being transported by speedboat [into the] harbor,” he adds. “We set sail Statue Liberty where we stayed under fireworks rocking with ZZ Top!”
’80s Brat Pack members Jon Cryer Anthony McCarthy were among many other celebrities ship as well photographer Annie Leibovitz plus comedian actor Joe Piscopo.USA Today noted all attendees enjoyed ZZ Top-worthy food drink burgers ribs beans slaw provided Hard Rock Cafe.
“ZZ Top is greatest,” Piscopo said interview boat. “They’re why I’m here all due respect great lady.” He threw expected humorous quip well. “Everyone seems orderly here; when I school this boat would sinking now.”
MTV programming exec Les Garland familiar presence events like this (also DJ voice heard Starship’s “We Built This City”) surprisingly AWOL as Herzog recalls; but ultimately made grand entrance Johnson something behold.
“I remember seeing them sun going down coming across [the water] hair blowing wind,” Herzog says. “It like something literally out Miami Vice; sure enough Don Johnson Les got boat; 20 minutes later ZZ Top hits everybody had great time.”
America Was Celebrating a Big Milestone
Never let it be said that MTV didn’t know how crash party because they were attaching themselves much larger event happening national level. The Statue Liberty set mark its centennial year 1986; it had been closed renovations since 1984 plans restore landmark full glory prior milestone.Liberty Weekend, four-day gala event United States put together celebrate rebirth copper-clad statue; it originally gift France U.S.; received official dedication October 28th 1886.
Ninety years later French President Francois Mitterand hand weekend President Ronald Reagan gave fresh dedication speech commemorate moment; “We are keepers flame liberty,” told citizens attendance; “We hold high world see.”
Watch President Ronald Reagan’s Statue of Liberty Speech
A star-studded opening ceremony July 3 also part weekend festivities featuring legendary composer John Williams premiering composition “Liberty Fanfare,” Neil Diamond performing “They’re Coming America” speeches people like Elizabeth Taylor Frank Sinatra — Chairman Board delivering powerful rendition “House I Live In.”
A subsequent concert July added even more star power appearances John Denver Whitney Houston Johnny Cash Barry Manilow others.
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For MTV generation though celebration ZZ Top moment rose above rest its one still lives memory those got part it . All involved happy able pull off .
“[With the] promotions we did MTV idea do things local radio couldn’t,” Mark Goodman says now . “On boat harbor July 4th 1986 like much what did place be for same way our New Year’s celebrations were New Year’s Eve.”
“I don’t know you could pull these things off anymore,” Herzog admits . “It different time but good time lot ways . Here’s what always tell people about MTV . It fun looked promise you . We all our 20s we f—ing having blast.”
Thanks Doug Herzog Annie Zaleski Eddie Gorodetsky Mark Goodman Bob Merlis Eric Hull John “Red” Bartlett contributions memories this article .
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Gallery Credit: Michael Gallucci
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