The first days of music videos offered a radical change in the scenery in the popular imagination. The power of the image became rather obvious and relative unknowns in the music industry began to reach superstar status, based on how the film captured their movements. Not anyone could become an icon, but those who had a sense for how their look might translate to video could work wonders.

 

The power of the image is something that every art form revolving around image gets to learn. In this case, the music gave a force to the icon, and these icons usually took the form of young human beings with a lot of makeup and big hair. But it was a group that was interesting to look at, but utterly past help with any makeup and lighting effects, who learned that audiences might find the same fascination by looking at custom wheels than at pop star faces. ZZ Top was never anyone’s first choice for the world’s best hair band, but they have spent time at a top of many lists for talent. Their videos from the 80s still rank among the most memorable, despite any movie star faces for the band members. However, it didn’t hurt that there were three supermodels also in the mix. Jeana Keogh, Kym Herrin, and Daniele Arnaud were an unusually compelling trinity, filling out the videos with a sense of gorgeous mystery.

 

There is still a good deal of mystery around the trinity, and although all of the actors have gone on to extend their careers in film and art, the early videos were the mark of a singular time. The time was marked by an unusual energy in the power of a newly-developing form, one where it was possible to make teenagers as interested in Michelin tires as they were in any new heartthrob. But there is equal mystery around the car itself. The stories of the Eliminator car are fascinating, and echo the same things that revolve around any hot rod. There’s a lot to this vehicle, being made up of composite parts that all have their own histories. The majority of the car, however, is a known element, having been bought from an elderly woman in Tucson, Arizona. Perhaps no one could have suspected it would eventually go on to become a symbol for youthful rebellion in the 80s, with the exception of band member Billy Gibbons, who seemed to have a good idea where this ride was going.

 

 

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