ZZ Top co-founder Dusty Hill has died. The bassist – born Joseph Michael Hill – founded the band with drummer Frank Beard and guitarist Billy Gibbons in 1969. He was 72.
“We are saddened by the news today that our compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, Texas,” the surviving members of ZZ Top wrote in a statement. “We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature, and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top’. We will forever be connected to that ‘Blues Shuffle in C.’ You will be missed greatly, amigo.”
ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, and they released 15 studio albums through their extensive career, with timeless hits like “Legs,” “Gimmie All Your Lovin’,” “Tush,” “Sharp Dressed Man” and more.
The band set out on their 50th anniversary tour in 2019, writing, “It’s been five decades, and I think we’re starting to get pretty good at all this! …The beards, Frank’s excepted, are perhaps a bit longer, yet nothing else has changed. We’re keeping it that way.”
In fact, ZZ Top was set to perform the evening of Hill’s passing.
And while that show was canceled, the band is set to carry on, performing a July 30 gig in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
According to radio host Eddie Trunk, Gibbons revealed that before his passing, Hill had given the band his blessing to carry on. Said Gibbons, “As Dusty said upon his departure, ‘Let the show go on!’ And… with respect, we’ll do well to get beyond this and honor his wishes.”
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4 Comments comments associated with this post
John Willyums
July 30, 2021 at 10:38 pmRest in paradise, thank you for all your music, one third of a bad ass little Texas band, Love ya Dusty
Large father
July 29, 2021 at 1:22 amThanks for the 40+ years of memories. ZZ Top always put on a great show!! Beer drinkers and Hell raisers to the end
BEVERLY Hills
July 28, 2021 at 8:10 pmLittle known fact, Dusty is actually Hank Hill’s older cousin on his Father’s side. RIP Dusty!
Beverly Finkle
July 28, 2021 at 3:56 pmRIP Dusty. You were one bad ass bass player Sincere condolences to Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard and your legion of fans including me.