ZZ Top hit the studio with Rick Rubin

ZZ Top have gone into the studio with legendary producer Rick Ruben in what promises to be the beardiest album ever recorded.

Speaking to Spinner.com, singer Billy Gibbons said of Rubin, "He's very instrumental in striking a resonant chord. He's able to find ways to pull things out that you might not know were there in the first place."

The record will be their first since 2003's 'Mescalero'.

Forming in 1969, the band built a solid following playing raucous and dirty Texas blues before hitting the big time in 1983 with 'Eliminator', which spawned the singles 'Legs', 'Gimme All Your Lovin'' and 'Sharp Dressed Man'. Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of Z.Z. Top both have enormous beards. Frank Beard, however, does not.

Rick Rubin has produced artists as diverse as Jay-Z to Slayer, while receiving critical acclaim and being held responsible for revitalising Johnny Cash's dying career with the now legendary American Recordings series of albums. He also has an enormous beard.