"Rough Boy" is a song by the American rock band ZZ Top. It was released by Warner Bros. Records in the US in March 1986, as the third single from their ninth studio album, Afterburner. The song reached No. 5 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as No. 23 on the UK Singles Chart. Unlike the other songs on the album, this song has a much slower tempo and is more of a power ballad. It also shares a similar tune to their song "Leila", from their seventh studio album, El Loco.
Background Dusty Hill said in 2007, "'Rough Boy' is a pretty li'l song. We're doin' it this tour. We pulled it back out. I like that song so much, I had it played at my wedding."
Reception Cash Box called it a "rapturous teen ballad" in which "the band turns its leather-tough into pure silk."
Music video The music video (directed by Steve Barron) features the band's "Eliminator" car/spaceplane hybrid (from the Afterburner album cover) visiting a space car wash, interspersed with images of the band members' hands and faces, as well as a woman's legs, protruding from metal plates, some of which double as lighted message signs or crosswalk signals.
Charts
+1986 weekly chart performance for "Rough Boy"Chart (1986)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)85Canada Top Singles (RPM)58
+1992 weekly chart performance for "Rough Boy"Chart (1992)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA) N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column indicates the release's peak on the national chart.165
Personnel Billy Gibbons - guitar, lead vocals Dusty Hill - bass, keyboard, backing vocals Frank Beard - drums
References