ZZ Top guitarist Billy F. Gibbons wants it made clear that despite some outrageous offers -- he'll never shave off his beard, according to Ultimate Classic Rock. Gibbons chatted to BraveWords.com and recalled Gillette's 1984 offer of $1 million for him and bassist Dusty Hill to shave off their long golden beards. Gibbons said: "No dice. Even adjusted for inflation, this isn't going to fly. The prospect of seeing oneself in the mirror clean-shaven is too close to a Vincent Price film . . . a prospect not to be contemplated, no matter the compensation."

Out now is Texicali, a four track digital EP which features ZZ Top's first new material in nine years. The four new songs -- "I Gotsta Get Paid," "Chartreuse," "Over You" and "Consumption" -- were produced by Rick Rubin and are available at all digital retail outlets, and offers a preview of the group's full-length album, as yet untitled, that's due out by the fall.

We caught up to Gibbons during the album's sessions and he explained how the ZZ Top- Rick Rubin team-up came to be: "I got a text from Rick Rubin. And all I can say at this point is that this is a new venture between the two of us. I've known Rick for 20 years, and we've waited for this opportunity for a double decade. I just feel very comfortable working within the framework that he envisions. He's had some remarkable success in the dramatic return of the popularity for Johnny Cash, for instance. That was just a great runaway success story."

UPDATED: ZZ Top tour dates (subject to change):

August 14 - Bakersfield, CA - Majestic Fox Theater
August 15 - Santa Rosa, CA - Wells Fargo Center For The Arts
August 17 - Lincoln, CA - Thunder Valley Casino
August 18 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery
August 19 - Concord, CA - Sleep Train Pavilion At Concord (with The Cult)
August 21 - Eagle, ID - Eagle River Pavilion
August 22 - Troutdale, OR - McMenamins Edgefield Amphitheater
August 24 - Bend, OR - Les Schwab Amphitheater
August 25 - Airway Heights, WA - Northern Quest Casino
August 26 - Snoqualmie, WA - Snoqualmie Casino
September 7 - Scarborough, ME - Scarborough Downs (with Lynyrd Skynyrd)
September 8 - Mansfield, MA - Comcast Center (with Lynyrd Skynyrd)
September 14 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center (with Lynyrd Skynyrd)
September 15 - Maryland Heights, MO - Verizon Wireless Amphitheater St. Louis (with Lynyrd Skynyrd)
September 16 - Sevierville, TN - Smokies Stadium