# Oh, No! Dusty Hill Of ZZ Top- R.I.P **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death, music\ **Created:** [July 28, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546 "2021-07-28T20:03:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/41 "2021-07-29T18:29:47Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I wonder if ZZ Top will carry on as a duo. Tonight’s show has been canceled, naturally, but guitar tech Elwood Francis has been filling in, per Dusty’s request. It looks like they are, indeed, planning to go on, with Francis on bass, as noted in this article on Ultimate Classic Rock: > [@](#): > > Hill, the trio’s bassist since 1969, [died at age 72](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/zz-top-dusty-hill-dead/) last night, but not before insisting bandmates [Billy Gibbons](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/tags/billy-gibbons/) and Frank Beard continue without him. > > “As Dusty said upon his departure, ‘Let the show go on!’ And … with respect, we’ll do well to get beyond this and honor his wishes,” Gibbons [told SiriusXM radio host Eddie Trunk](https://twitter.com/EddieTrunk/status/1420487477693882369) in a message confirmed by ZZ Top publicist Bob Merlis. > > The band’s longtime guitar tech, Elwood Francis, will take over on bass, per Hill’s wishes. “Dusty emphatically grabbed my arm and said, ‘Give Elwood the bottom end, and take it to the Top,’” Gibbons [explained](https://twitter.com/EddieTrunk/status/1420487875250905091) to Trunk. “He meant it, amigo. He really did.” > **[Dusty Hill Insisted ZZ Top Not Break Up Following His Death](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/zz-top-not-breaking-up/)** > > The death of longtime bassist Dusty Hill won't result in the breakup of ZZ Top, Billy Gibbons explained in July 2021. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/42 "2021-07-29T19:46:39Z")
Been a fan as long as I’ve been a rock fan. _El Loco_ dropped when I was in high school, and I was so proud of myself for figuring out on my own what _Pearl Necklace_ was really about - and I turned out to be right! Saw them fairly early in the Eliminator tour, before the album really blew up. At the time (June) only one video and single had been released, so it was mostly older fans. In one of the weirder record label forced pairings I’ve seen, Quiet Riot was the opening act. Saw them again on the Afterburner tour, where they seemed bored and going through the motions on MTV hits, but really enjoyed themselves on the older deep cuts like “Arrested for Driving While Blind” and “Jesus Just Left Chicago” ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/43 "2021-07-29T20:30:19Z")
Being from Houston, I’ve seen them more than any other band. I was thankful to see them at the the closing of The Summit, which I believe was the first place I ever saw them, too. The Summit became Lakewood Church, of Joel Osteen fame. (Boo, hiss.) They are iconic, and not called that Little Ol’ Band from Texas for nothing. RIP Dusty. The great Rock and Roll band in the sky just gained another awesome bass player! You will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/44 "2021-07-29T21:39:52Z")
Leland Sklar would be an ideal choice for bass. He’s toured with Toto, Phil Collins, and James Taylor. He’s a session player with a huge discography. Best of all is the beard. He hasn’t seen a razor since the late 60’s. [![](https://bassmagazine.com/.image/t_share/MTY4OTc5MDk2NTQ0NTUyNDI0/alternate-option_leland-sklar-by-matthew-becker_web.jpg) ](https://bassmagazine.com/.image/t_share/MTY4OTc5MDk2NTQ0NTUyNDI0/alternate-option_leland-sklar-by-matthew-becker_web.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/45 "2021-07-29T21:40:13Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@cochrane](#): > > > > I wonder if ZZ Top will carry on as a duo. Tonight’s show has been canceled, naturally, but guitar tech Elwood Francis has been filling in, per Dusty’s request. > > It looks like they are, indeed, planning to go on, with Francis on bass, as noted in this article on Ultimate Classic Rock: > > > [@](#): > > > > Hill, the trio’s bassist since 1969, [died at age 72](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/zz-top-dusty-hill-dead/) last night, but not before insisting bandmates [Billy Gibbons](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/tags/billy-gibbons/) and Frank Beard continue without him. > > > > “As Dusty said upon his departure, ‘Let the show go on!’ And … with respect, we’ll do well to get beyond this and honor his wishes,” Gibbons [told SiriusXM radio host Eddie Trunk](https://twitter.com/EddieTrunk/status/1420487477693882369) in a message confirmed by ZZ Top publicist Bob Merlis. > > > > The band’s longtime guitar tech, Elwood Francis, will take over on bass, per Hill’s wishes. “Dusty emphatically grabbed my arm and said, ‘Give Elwood the bottom end, and take it to the Top,’” Gibbons [explained](https://twitter.com/EddieTrunk/status/1420487875250905091) to Trunk. “He meant it, amigo. He really did.” > > [Dusty Hill Insisted ZZ Top Not Break Up Following His Death](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/zz-top-not-breaking-up/) That is good to hear. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/46 "2021-07-29T21:54:02Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Leland Sklar would be an ideal choice for bass. He’s toured with Toto, Phil Collins, and James Taylor. He’s a session player with a huge discography. > > Best of all is the beard. He hasn’t seen a razor since the late 60’s. He looks the part. But can he play the Boogie? 😉 (never heard a Boogie by Toto, Phil Collins or James Taylor…) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2021, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/47 "2021-07-29T22:51:47Z")
If there’s ever an occasion where one wishes to be Sharply Dressed… ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/48 "2021-07-30T17:11:16Z")
Hehe, their genius as a band is that they never took themselves seriously. That let them do a lot of things other rock bands wouldn’t try, both musically and in their stage show. It also probably is what made Hill and Beard not bat an eye when they were mostly replaced by synths on Eliminator. They just learned how to reproduce the parts for the live show, and went on being ZZ Top. I teared up when I found out he’d died. Gonna miss ya, sir. I always preferred your voice to Billy’s. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WPTfIPHLUcw/hqdefault.jpg "ZZ Top - Heard It On The X") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPTfIPHLUcw) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/49 "2021-07-31T02:22:46Z")
Fil ([Wings Of Pegasus](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEHCXnggyvkw1uaTChZ_kuA)) analyzes [ZZ Top live in 2013.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocumG9PZNJQ) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/50 "2021-07-31T02:30:07Z")
He’s a good dude, has a good channel, would recommend. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/51 "2021-07-31T02:39:05Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R7laKmiUGho/hqdefault.jpg "ZZ TOP Behind the Scenes of Back to the Future Part III") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7laKmiUGho) ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/52 "2021-07-31T02:40:14Z")
I first got acquainted with ZZ Top strangely enough by watching World Class Championship Wrestling as a kid. _La Grange_ was Kevin Von Erich’s entrance music. A lot of my grade school classmates at the time were into ‘rasslin’ and of course we’d all get amped when that song came on. No idea why, but I’ve always liked TV Dinners. The video’s funny. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/C-6mI708yWc/maxresdefault.jpg "ZZ Top - TV Dinners (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-6mI708yWc) ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/53 "2021-08-06T11:00:40Z")
Just found this. These guys really rocked. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH4hCeJrs44) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/54 "2021-08-06T20:45:17Z")
I’ll watch that later, when I’ve gotten a few more beers in me! ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/55 "2021-08-07T02:48:09Z")
Here’s a statement from Dusty’s widow. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Ml-INele4Hg/hqdefault.jpg "ZZ Top: Dusty Hill's Wife Reveals Moment He Died, His Plans to Tour, Charleen McCrory Statement 2021") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ml-INele4Hg) ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2021, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546/56 "2021-08-07T02:57:01Z")
ZZ Top is…Texas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-no-dusty-hill-of-zz-top-r-i-p/947546.md?page=2)