In addition to assuming the role as the band's leader, Gibbons became the main lyricist and musical arranger.

ZZ Top's next album was even more successful. Eliminator, released in March 1983, featured two Top 40 singles ("Gimme All Your Lovin'" and "Legs"), four Top Rock hits (including "Got Me Under Pressure" and "Sharp Dressed Man"), and "Legs" peaking at No. 13 on the Club Play Singles chart.[1]

1985's Afterburner was still as successful commercially, becoming their highest-charting album,[2] and racking up sales of 5 million units.[3] All of the singles from Afterburner were Top 40 hits, with two hitting No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart.[2]

In 2004, ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

  1. ^ "Eliminator – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Afterburner – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference riaa2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).