OT: ZZ Top Bassist Dusty Hill Passed Tues @ 72
"We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, Texas,” surviving members Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard said 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.”
RIP
RIP Dusty Hill.
Just 11 days ago I saw ZZTop play at Soaring Eagle, brought my daughter and granddaughter there along my daughter's fiancee as a birthday gift for my daughter.
Hill sat or leaned against a cabinet or speaker or something the entire show; they even kept the stage dark both before and after the concert so nobody would be able to see him enter or exit the stage.
Then Saturday I saw this:
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/zz-top-without-dusty-hill/
...which said Dusty had missed their concert late last week to get medical treatment due to a "hip problem".
Sad news today, without a doubt.
Here he is, a photo of him and his fur-covered bass from that show in Mt. Pleasant:
I had tickets for ZZ Top and Jeff Beck at DTE. They had to cancelled. I believe it was Dusty that broke his leg either the day before or the day of the show. Now I read this and wonder, again if it was him, if he ever healed right. Pure speculation on my part.
Glad you got to see them. I got to see them twice. Once with Lynyrd Skynyrd and the other at the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival 2010. No band sounds or will sound like ZZ Top.
That was my second time seeing them, the first time in over 40 years. Saw them, of all places, at "WINGS" Stadium in Kalamazoo in the late 70s, 'GoBlueGoWINGS'.
OMG...they're all leaving us. I'm tired of getting old.
RIP Dusty.
Damn.
We also almost lost Bob "Saul Goodman" Odenkirk yesterday who collapsed on the set of Better Call Saul with an apparent heart attack. Latest news is he is going to recover.
I know a girl, she lives on the hill.
She won't do it - but her sister will!
RIP Dusty..
.
Truly a bummer. ZZ Top were true originals. Hugely influential to a ton of musicians. Thanks for all the great music Dusty!
You are absolutely right that they were influential. But they were standing on the shoulders of the giants that came before them. I have a friend who is a classic Blues expert. We were talking about ZZ Top one day and he proceeded to name their songs and who they borrowed the music from. T Bone Walker, Blind Willie Johnson, Lonnie Johnson, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf...he'd name a ZZ Top song then proceed to tell me which song it came from from one of the Blues pioneers. The genius of ZZ Top combined with the genius of the early Blues greats created the background music of my teen years.
ZZ top was my first tape as a kid and I knew all the top 40 stuff well. Recently I stumbled upon some of the old blues songs. I gotta say I really enjoy it. Ill take it all day everyday over the radio songs.
Jesus just left Chicago...to get Dusty Hill
Sad day for ZZ Top fans. And if you're from Australia, its a sad day for Zed-Zed Top fans.
Sad day. Was suppose to see them next month but guess that won’t happen now. RIP Dusty
RIP Dusty. ZZ Top was great band. Here they're over 50 years ago.
No more Mr. Microphone?
Could you imagine these days... "be back to pick you up later"... ha ha ha ha
RIP Dusty.
Just reemphasizes what an OG I am.
I was really bummed to hear this, and that he was 72! I probably should have realized it, but thinking the bands I grew up with are now all in the 60's and 70's doesn't do anything to make me feel better about it. Even U2 is in their early 60's now.
Nonetheless, ZZ Top left us some awesome music that still sounds good today. 'My Head's in Mississippi' is one of the great blues riffs of all time...
Unfortunately, the great bands of the mid 60s through the 70s are now all in their 70s or 80s. I'm sure in the next 10 years we will see more of our great rock band members passing away. It makes me feel old since I grew up with the likes of Led Zeppelin, The WHO, Eagles, Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd and so many others!
Funny you mentioned “My Heads in Mississippi”. I just had that playing yesterday before I found out that Dusty Hill had passed. Along with La Grange, probably their best pure boogie blues tune.
Dusty wanted this to be his epitaph:
“Here lies Lester Moore, four slugs from a . 44, no Les, no more"
RIP Amigo. You will be missed.
I've seen that Little 'Ol Band from Texas many times going back to '77 when they were doing the Worldwide Texas Tour, they were the consummate showmen always, I remember seeing them at the Knob in '79 for the Deguello Tour. Man, what a great Rock and Roll show!
Dusty and Frank Beard were the Driving rhythm behind one of the all time Great Blues Rock bands to ever play. I get my vintage Marantz back from the Tech next Wednesday and the first LP that'll be put back on the Turntable is going to be Tres Hombres.
RIP Dusty, the Rhythm Section in Heaven just got a fatter tone, can't wait to hear that band when I get to Heaven!