Posted on 07/28/2021 8:55:43 PM PDT by DoodleBob
ZZ TOP will carry on following the passing of the band's bassist Dusty Hill.
Hill died in his sleep at home in Houston, Texas, according to the band's official web site. He was 72.
Earlier this evening, SiriusXM radio personality Eddie Trunk shared a message he received from ZZ TOP frontman Billy Gibbons about the group's future plans.
Trunk tweeted: "Received this just now via text from @BillyFGibbons regarding passing of Dusty Hill @ZZTop . Billy told me okay to share w/fans: 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."
The ZZ TOP concert scheduled to take place tonight (Wednesday, July 28) in Simpsonville, South Carolina has been canceled in the wake of Hill's sudden death. Refunds are available at points of purchase. Tickets purchased at LiveNation.com or Ticketmaster.com will be automatically refunded.
Funeral arrangements for Hill have not yet been publicly announced.
ZZ TOP played without Hill last Friday night (July 23) at the Village Commons in New Lenox, Illinois after he was forced to return to Texas to address a hip issue. Filling in for him at the gig was longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis.
On July 21, ZZ TOP canceled its concert in Evansville, Indiana because of a "health issue within the band," according to local news outlet Evansville Courier & Press.
ZZ TOP kicked off its latest tour less than two weeks ago in Manchester, Iowa. The trek, dubbed "A Celebration With ZZ Top", will continue in August with dates in the South, Midwest and Far West. In the fall, the legendary act, which was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame by Keith Richards of THE ROLLING STONES, will play dates in the East, South and in their native Texas. A residency at The Venetian Theater in Las Vegas that had been postponed from last year is now set to start in early October. Looking ahead to 2022, a coast-to-coast Canadian tour has been announced for April and May.
When ZZ TOP announced the tour, Hill — who joined the band a year after its formation in 1969 — commented: "They shut the door right after our 50th-anniversary tour and now it's back open. We're excited to get out there and play our music for everybody."
Dusty’s Guitar Tech had been filling in the past few shows, so it doesn’t surprise me they’ll carry on.
Dammit! That's 10 mins from where I live and I didn't know!!
Yea, this doesn’t have that same “what do you mean John died of a coke-induced heart attack with a stripper in his bed? Mate, we don’t have business-interruption insurance!!!” feeling to it.
I swear Billy doesn’t age. Well he’s sounded like an old man for years, anyway, LOL, and who can tell what he really looks like behind that beard anyway, but he’s as energetic on stage as ever.
One of the cool things Billy did was he got his first band, The Moving Sidewalks, back together for a few shows.
But where the heck are they gonna find ANOTHER guy with a long flowing grizzled beard to match the established decades-old “look” of ZZTop?
Maybe check to see if any of the Duck Dynasty guys know how to play Bass Guitar?
I think The Who played their first gig with their new bassist two days after Entwistle died.
Believe me, Elwood looks the part....I think they knew this day was coming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UuuXk8ySgU
When I saw them at the Beacon in NYC, they covered a Hendrix tune because they were close. I saw a YouTube clip of a reporter asking about Hendrix saying Billy was one of his favorite guitarists from a number of years ago; Billy was perfectly professional and - to your point - he pretty much looked and sounds the same.
Yep...Pino Palladino learned the set on the flight from London to Vegas. He had played with Pete solo but still...what shoes to fill.
Heck, Yes even continued without Chris Squire.
So many memories of coming of age - many with a ZZ Top soundtrack. I raised a glass of good Bourbon to Dusty tonight.
This is probably the coolest thing you’ll ever see.
This is Helsinki, Finland, apparently Billy sees a guy playing in the street, and he lends Billy his guitar and Billy just starts playing....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHUQNxggT_k
Guitarists tell me "tone is in the fingers" which means a great guitarist will sound awesome on a stock Gibson and lousy box amp, and amateurs sound terrible on a $3,000 Les Paul and a Marshall.
Billy proved that right there. Thank you.
So it appears it was awhile coming, seems that way. I remember seeing a Rig Rundown with Elwood years ago. Went and found it. Guys seems like a character.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1x_kg6pOvGU&t=24s
That was great! Thanks for sharing.
A not too far from where I grew up...Joliet.
ZZ Top haven’t been big headliners for a long time. We saw them about 10 years ago playing at Universal Studios in Orlando for anyone who wanted to stop and listen as part of their admission to the park. Makes you wonder where all the money went from playing stadiums and selling millions of records.
ACDC made the switch after Malcom Young passed away. Powr Up is a great album with another Young taking over for Malcom (George Young). ZZ Top is tough though. All great musicians. I saw ZZTop a few years ago and Dusty looked terrible on stage. He was hurting.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.