This is only a preview. The auction will open on: 10/28/2026 1:00:00 PM
Offered Here: ZZ Top 1979 – 1981 Deguello/Expect No Quarter Bill Tickle “The President” Tour Laminate
Item Details: Up for bids is a premier piece of inner-circle rock history featuring this ZZ Top 1979-1981 Expect No Quarter Tour Bill Tickle tour laminate. This authentic backstage pass was issued directly to the band's trusted production and tour manager, Bill Tickle aka "The President", during their high-energy tour in support of the seminal Deguello album. Featuring the distinct yellow colorway unique to this production run, this historic pass represents the ultimate level of venue access and stands as an incredible artifact documenting the vital team members who ran operations for the Little Ol' Band from Texas during their golden era.
Provenance / Authenticity: This lot comes from the archives of Bill “Pete” Tickle, who was hired as a crew member in 1969 by ZZ Top manager Bill Ham. With there already being two Billy’s (Gibbons and Ham), and to avoid any additional first name confusion, Tickle was called “Pete” from that point forward. In the years following, Tickle contributed to the recording of the song “Mushmouth Shoutin” in 1972 on the Rio Grande Mud album, became production manager, and eventually the band’s tour manager. He parted ways with ZZ Top in 1984 and passed away in 2018.
Released in 1979 after an extended break following the band's Worldwide Texas Tour, Degüello marked ZZ Top's move to Warner Bros. Records and introduced a sharper, more modern take on their Texas blues-rock, featuring "Cheap Sunglasses" and a cover of Sam & Dave's "I Thank You." The album also coincided with the debut of Billy Gibbons' and Dusty Hill's long beards, which became a lasting part of the trio's image. The period bridged the band's 1970s boogie roots and the synthesizer-tinged sound and MTV-driven success of Eliminator in 1983, making it a key transitional chapter in the career of one of America's longest-running rock bands.
Condition: The single tour laminate is in very good and collectible condition, exhibiting common signs of age and storage consistent with a genuine piece of road-worn touring ephemera. The lamination remains intact, secure, and clean, while the printed graphics and text retain their original clarity and presentation value. It is a fantastic, investment-grade addition to any advanced collection of classic rock and roll backstage passes.
SKU: ZZB1187