ZZ Top Bassist Dusty Hill Passed Away At 72

Rest in Peace

ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill has passed away at the age of 72. Although he wasn’t their original bass player, he has played with the Texas blues-rock outfit for more than five decades. ZZ Top is known for being one of the most stable and reliable institutions in rock, especially considering they never changed their classic lineup.

His representative confirmed his death, but his cause of death was currently unknown.

“We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, Texas,” band members Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard said in a statement. “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’s fellow rock legends also paid tribute to him. Creedence Clearwater Revival’s John Fogerty wrote, “We were so blessed to share the stage with the great Dusty and ZZ Top many times, and if that wasn’t rock & roll heaven, I don’t know what is.”

For the past few years, Hill had several health issues including a shoulder injury, and he even underwent a hip replacement surgery. ZZ Top played live for the first time in over a year a few weeks ago. But after Hill suffered a leg injury, they brought in a replacement.