Dusty Hill - ZZ Top (19th May 1949 - 28th July 2021)

There's a huge void in ZZ Top after the passing of Joe Michael Hill, better known to us as Dusty Hill. At aged 72 he had been a member of the band since 1969. He had been a former bandmate of drummer Frank Beard in American Blues (who replaced Dan Mitchell as the new drummer of ZZ Top in 1969). Hill got the chance to join the band when Billy Etheridge left(Etheridge had replaced original Bassist Lanier Greig).

Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons you might have assumed were more connected than just being band members as their look of dark sunglasses and long beards gave them an almost family look, and with drummer Frank Beard not quite being able to master growing a beard merely adding to their charm (of course we have seen that he's well and able to grow one but it was never on the level of Billy or Dusty) ZZ Top had the perfect look.

“We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX,” it read. “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.” - Billy Gibbons & Frank Beard

Listen To 50 of their finest tracks on 'Goin' 50' Here

The band played their first show without Dusty Hill on 23rd July 2021 at the Village Commons in New Lenox, Illinois; at this show, ZZ Top's longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis filled in for Hill, who was unable to perform because of hip issues. Within hours after the announcement of Hill's death, Gibbons confirmed that ZZ Top will continue as a band and that Francis will replace him, declaring "the show must go on".