Dusty Hill obit

Dusty Hill death: ZZ Top bassist dies aged 72

He was with the band for more than 50 years

 

 He was not on the list.

ZZ Top’s longtime bassist and backing vocalist Dusty Hill has died, aged 72.

The news was confirmed by Hill’s bandmates, Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard.

In a statement, they said: “We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX.”

“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.”

There is no news yet on the cause of death, but Hill recently had a hip injury that forced him out of a number of live shows.

Hill can be heard on all of the band’s signature songs including “Gimme All Your Lovin” and “Eliminator”.

The band were inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

Born on May 19, 1949 in Dallas, Texas, Hill grew up playing cello in high school before transitioning to bass. He started his career playing alongside his guitarist brother Rocky and future ZZ Top bandmate Frank Beard in a series of local bands such as the Warlocks, the Cellar Dwellers and American Blues. It was during this time he met future ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons, who was touring the same Texas circuits with his band the Moving Sidewalks.

After the brothers parted company in 1968 over musical differences, Hill and Beard moved to Houston, where they eventually united with Gibbons, who formed ZZ Top in 1969. The band’s original bassist introduced Gibbons to Beard, and Hill would join the pair for a gig in Beaumont, Texas, in February, 1970. The line-up remained the same for more than five decades. In 2020, they celebrated their 50th anniversary at a San Antonio concert.

Starting out on London Records in 1971, ZZ Top went on to release 15 albums including 1973’s ‘Tres Hombres’, which featured the single ‘La Grange’, one of the band’s most successful singles; 1975’s ‘Fandango!’, powered by the single ‘Tush’; and 1983’s ‘Eliminator’, which heard the band – now on Warner Bros. – experimenting with new technologies – guitar loops, manipulated vocals and synthesised bass and drums – that refreshed their sound.

The breakout success of three ‘Eliminator’ singles – ‘Gimme All Your Lovin”, ‘Sharp Dressed Man’ and ‘Legs’ – and their accompanying videos, took the band to a new level of commercial success. The album peaked at Number Nine and spent 183 weeks on the US album charts, later receiving diamond certification for sales of more than 10 million copies.

In 1994, ZZ Top parted ways with Warner Bros. for a reported $35million deal with RCA Records. From there, Gibbons took on co-production duties with the band’s manager Bill Ham, who had helmed their studio work since the group’s debut single. This resulted in the 1994 platinum album ‘Antenna’.

 

Gibbons picked up the production reins by himself on the group’s last two RCA releases, ‘XXX’ (1999) and ‘Mescalero’ (2003), and co-produced ‘La Futura’ (2012) with Rick Rubin for his American Recordings imprint.

A number of people have taken to social media to pay tribute to Hill including Paul Stanley of KISS, who wrote: WOW! Dusty Hill. What an icon. @ZZTop’s bassist forever. So unique. Always a gentleman from the days of us opening for them through the recent days of them opening for us. I don’t know what to say but ‘Thank you’ and ‘Rest however you damn well choose!'”

“Rest In Peace #DustyHill of @ZZTop. My thoughts go out to @BillyfGibbons and Frank Beard and all the #ZZTop fans around the world,” Ozzy Osbourne said.

Texas Governor Gregg Abbott added: “Today we lost a great friend and a remarkable Texan. ZZ Top’s Bassist Dusty Hill Dead at 72 Truly a music legend.”

Paul Young shared a tribute, writing: “It’s with heavy heart that I have to say goodbye to one member of That Lil’ Ol Band From Texas: RIP Dusty Hill from ZZ Top. I have loved this band since I was 14 & they are without doubt the coolest band on the planet! My condolences to his family, Frank & Rev. Billy G”

Christopher Cross

I’m deeply saddened by the loss of my friend #DustyHill. A great musician and a rock icon. My condolences and prayers go out to his wife Charlene, his family, and to Billy, Frank and to the entire @ZZTop organization.

Martha Quinn

Texas takes off its cowboy hat today. Rock and roll has been stopped in its tracks. Dusty Hill you will always be bad, nationwide, and much missed. My deepest condolences to the @ZZTop family, and to Dusty's loved ones who number man