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Dusty Hill, bassist for ZZ Top for their entire 50 plus year career, has died at age 72.
Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard issued a statement that says, "We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston. 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."
Hill left the band's tour on Friday to head back to Texas to deal with a hip issue. Elwood Francis, the band's guitar tech filled in, and it's believed it was the first ZZ show without one of the members.
The band's show tonight in Simpsonville, South Carolina has been canceled. As for the band going forward, Gibbons says that was Dusty's wish and a spokesman for the band tells us, "That’s the hope... just when is the question." There is no word yet on a funeral and/or memorial service.
- Dusty Hill was born May 19th, 1949 in Dallas.
- He and his late brother Rocky played in a series of Dallas bands with future ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard from 1966 to 1968.
- Hill and Beard moved to Houston in 1969 and teamed up with Billy Gibbons to start ZZ Top.
- The group released 15 studio albums over 50 years together, the biggest being 1983's Eliminator, which sold over 10-million copies.
- ZZ Top were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
- In 1984, Hill accidentally shot himself in the stomach.
- In 2000, Hill was diagnosed with Hepatitis C.
- In 2007, the band scrapped a European tour so Hill could have a benign growth in his inner ear treated.
- In 2014, he underwent kidney stone surgery and then injured his hip falling on the tour bus.
- In 2016, Hill fell backstage in Lubbock, Texas and dislocated his shoulder, forcing the show to be postponed.
- He leaves behind his wife Charlene, affectionately known as Chuck, who he married in 2002, and his daughter Charity from a previous marriage.
- His first show with ZZ was February 10th, 1970 in Beaumont, Texas, and his last was July 18th, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky.