American rock trio ZZ Top have parted company with the manager who helped create the band in 1969.
The statement gave no reasons for the split from Bill Ham, president of Lone Wolf Management.

The group have also ended their tenure at RCA Records, 14 years after signing a five-album contract reportedly worth $30 million (£15.9m).

The band rose to pop glory with the 1983 album Eliminator, which sold more than 10 million copies.

'Music history'

Former record promoter Ham joined forces with frontman Billy Gibbons in the late 1960s, with the band releasing their first album in 1970.

"For nearly four decades we have made music history together," Mr Ham said in a statement.

"Lone Wolf will always be grateful for the overwhelming loyalty and support from fans around the world.

"We wish the band all the best for continued success."

Under RCA, ZZ Top stars Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard, have failed to match their early success with Warner Bros in the 1980s.

Their most recent album, Mescalero, spent just three weeks on the US chart in 2003.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5355372.stm

Much as I like ZZ Top, they haven't really done anything noticable of late have they?

I'm surprised they record company didn't drop them before this.

Having said that, it would be great to hear some real good new ZZ tracks in the charts now!

I didn't know that they were still around. Their early 1980’s hits were fun but fairly disposable. I don’t know them beyond those few hits.

All I know about them is that two of them have beards and the other clean shaven guy is called Beard.