American Music Icon Dead at 72; Was Set to Tour This Summer
When it comes to gritty guitars and even grittier songs, there is no act quite like that little ol’ band from Texas.
ZZ Top mainlined American blues standards directly into the electric era of 1970’s rock, and then reinvented the genre once again with the synthesizers of the 1980’s. From there, the band toured the world incessantly, bringing their grimy grooves and unforgettable stage presence to audiences from Dusseldorf to Delaware.
Now, just weeks before the band was set to take to the road once again, one member of the holy triumvirate of honky-tonk has passed away.
Dusty Hill, the bassist for ZZ Top, has died. He was 72.
Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard of the Texas-based trio issued a statement to Variety on Tuesday, writing: “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.’”
And then, echoing the sentiments of music fans the nation over:
“You will be missed greatly, amigo,” the statement added.
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves, so we’ll just leave you all with a classic.
Make sure to turns those speakers up, y’all.