ZZ Top’s bassist for over 50 years, the great Dusty Hill, died in his sleep on July 27th at age 72. Hill’s cause of death is unknown, but on July 21st the band posted that he was “on a short detour back to Texas, to address a hip issue.” The band canceled last night’s (July 28th) show in Simpsonville, South Carolina, and stated that per Dusty Hill’s wishes they will carry on with his tech Elwood Francis assuming bass duties.
Surviving members Billy F. Gibbons and Frank Beard issued a statement mourning their friend and bandmate: “We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, Texas. 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.”
Dusty Hill left the band’s tour following its July 16th gig in Manchester, Iowa:
Back in 2016, ZZ Top was forced to postpone its tour when Dusty Hill fractured his shoulder. Hill fell prior to the band’s show at Lubbock, Texas’ Lone Star Center. Prior to that, in 2014, the band was forced to push back a string of dates after Hill injured his hip on the band’s tour bus.
Dusty Hill was born on May 19, 1949, in Dallas, Texas. He and Frank Beard moved to Houston in 1969 where they teamed up with Billy F. Gibbons in his newly-formed ZZ Top. Although Gibbons was primarily the band’s lead singer, Hill took the lead on the group’s 1975 Top 20 classic, “Tush.”
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