Moving Sidewalks

2025-10-17T04:24:31Z

2603:8081:500:3BD:7D5F:A711:516:336F: /* Albums */Minor edit: The Moving Sidewalks “Flash” album originally & first released in 1968 not 1969. Source: https://www.discogs.com/release/2188034-The-Moving-Sidewalks-Flash

{{Short description|American rock band}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = group_or_band
| name = The Moving Sidewalks
| image =
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| alias =
| origin =
| genre = {{Hlist|[[Psychedelic rock]]|[[blues rock]]|[[garage rock]]}}
| discography =
| years_active = {{Start date|1966}}–{{End date|1969}}; 2013
| label =
| spinoffs = [[ZZ Top]]
| current_members =
| past_members = *[[Billy Gibbons]]
*Tom Moore
*Don Summers
*Dan Mitchell
*Isaac Costa
| website = 
| module =
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}}
'''Moving Sidewalks''' were an American rock band formed in 1966 from [[Houston]], Texas.<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=1772}}</ref> They released several singles and an album, before bassist Don Summers and keyboardist Tom Moore were drafted into the army, bringing the band to an end. Vocalist/guitarist [[Billy Gibbons]] and drummer Dan Mitchell then formed [[ZZ Top]].

==History==
Gibbons founded Moving Sidewalks in the mid-1960s and they quickly drew a large following, especially among the Houston "teen scene". They recorded several singles and one full-length album, ''[[Flash (Moving Sidewalks album)|Flash]]''.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Their single "99th Floor" was well received,<ref name="LarkinGE"/> and topped the charts at No. 1 in Houston for six weeks. The success of this record led them to sign with [[Wand Records]], which then released "Need Me", also a Top 10 hit for the band. The group was asked to open for many rock tours, including [[Jimi Hendrix]] and [[the Doors]].

After Tom Moore and Don Summers were drafted into the [[United States Army]], Gibbons and Mitchell added Lanier Greig and formed the original ZZ Top.<ref name="LarkinGE"/>

While attending Warner Brothers' art school in Hollywood, California, Gibbons engaged with his first bands, including the Saints, Billy G & the Blueflames, and the Coachmen. By 1967, Gibbons returned to Houston and formed an artfully designed band, conceptually inspired by friend and fellow musician [[Roky Erickson]] and [[the 13th Floor Elevators]]. 'The Moving Sidewalks' name was chosen, and shortly thereafter they recorded "99th Floor".<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Around this time Gibbons developed a camaraderie with Jimi Hendrix. As a guest on ''[[The Dick Cavett Show]]'', Hendrix deflected the implication that he was the greatest guitarist. He did not say who the greatest guitarist was, but a myth has circulated that Hendrix considered Gibbons the best, and stated so in an interview, but no such interview has ever been located.{{citation needed| date= March 2021}}

The Moving Sidewalks continued to appear along with the 13th Floor Elevators at the short-lived Houston psychedelic venue, Love Street Light Circus, at [[Allen's Landing]]. One night, the Elevators set was cut short by [[Houston Police Department|Houston Police]], who arrested the band's lead singer Erickson for [[marijuana]] possession.

In January 2013, Gibbons announced the Moving Sidewalks would reunite with all original members for one show on March 30, 2013, at [[B. B. King#Blues clubs|B.B. King's Blues Club]] in New York City.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/01/the-return-of-moving-sidewalks/ | title= The Return of Moving Sidewalks |work= [[The New York Times]] | first= Allan | last= Kozinn | date= January 1, 2013 | access-date= July 11, 2018}}</ref> Since that successful sold-out show and despite their single show announcement, the band played as official headliners of [[Levitation (festival)|Austin Psych Fest]] on May 1, 2013, and the Charity Gala for the Deacons of Deadwood Ball on September 28, 2013, in Houston.

==Discography==
===Albums===
*''[[Flash (Moving Sidewalks album)|Flash]]'' (1968) Tantara TS 6919. The original release. Produced by manager Steve Ames.
*''99th Floor'' (1982) Eva 12002. Reissue of the Tantara album plus the five tracks that were issued on singles only.
*''Flash'' (2000) Akarma AK 117. Another reissue of the Tantara album with the five singles tracks.
*''The Pre-ZZ Houston Roots'' (2004) Lone Star LSR 19629. A compilation of material by the Moving Sidewalks, including six unreleased tracks; 21 songs total.
*''The Roots Of ZZ Top'' (2010) Fuel 61820. A compilation of seven Moving Sidewalks songs, four Warlocks songs, seven American Blues songs; all tracks previously released on various singles and albums.
*''The Complete Collection'' (2012) Rockbeat ROC 3018. A compilation of material by the Moving Sidewalks, including six unreleased tracks; also includes demo material by Billy Gibbons' first band, the Coachmen; 26 songs total.

===EPs===
*''The Moving Sidewalks - A Band From Texas'' (1982) Another Mangy Mutt 1030. This 7-inch EP was released on the indie label MUTT, a subsidiary of the Moxie Record Company. It is a mono recording and the playback speed is at 45rpm for Side A & 33rpm for Side B. This record is a combination/compilation of the band's A & B sides from their first two singles for Wand Records.
** Side A: 99th Floor; What Are You Going To Do
** Side B: Every Night A New Surprise; Need Me

===Singles===
*"99th Floor" / "What Are You Going To Do" (1967) Tantara 3101; reissued as Wand 1156
*"Need Me" / "Every Night A New Surprise" (1967) Wand 1167
*"I Want To Hold Your Hand" / "Joe Blues" (1968) Tantara 3108
*"Flashback" (4:15 - radio edit) / "No Good To Cry" (3:08 - radio edit) (1969) Tantara 3113

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130502035431/http://www.movingsidewalks.com/ Official Moving Sidewalks Website]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American blues rock musical groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Houston]]
[[Category:Psychedelic rock music groups from Texas]]
[[Category:Wand Records artists]]

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Moving Sidewalks