Many Buzzed Boomers are mourning the recent loss of ZZ Top bass player Dusty Hill. He passed away July 27th in Houston at age 72.
ZZ Top started in 1969 and with Billy Gibbons on guitar and Frank Beard on drums the power trio played on for over 50 years. Very, very few bands make it that long with the same lineup.
Dusty started out playing the cello but picked up the bass at age 13 and learned to play on stage; embarrassment being a motivator to learn his new instrument. We saw ZZ Top in 1973 and most recently in 2019 and they hadn’t lost a beat. Check out the ZZ Top rockumentary on Netflix. Among other credits, Dusty appeared in Back to the Future Part III, Deadwood, and The Drew Carey Show.
Joseph Michael Hill and ZZ Top were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Per Dusty’s wishes, guitar tech Elwood Francis will play bass for the band.
Rest In Peace Dusty.
– Jet Cannon
Photos nbcnews.com and ultimateclassicrock.com
