Dusty Hill, ZZ Top bassist, dead at 72

Dusty Hill, the bassist for blues-rock trio ZZ Top, has died. He was 72.

“We are saddened by the news today that our compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, Texas,” wrote ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard and lead vocalist Billy Gibbons in a joint statement Wednesday, Rolling Stone reported. “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 served as the still-active group’s bassist for over 50 years. In 2004, Hill was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the group, which was founded in 1969. 

The Dallas-born musician had suffered a number of health scares in recent years, although it’s unclear if these were related to his death: In 2000, ZZ Top canceled a European tour after Hill was diagnosed with hepatitis C. On Friday, ZZ Top wrote in a Facebook post that Hill was on “a short detour back to Texas, to address a hip issue. They await a speedy recovery and have him back pronto.”

Following the announcement of his death, friends and fans took to social media to pay tribute to the legendary musician.

“For 50 entire years, Dusty Hill anchored down one of the greatest rock power trios that’s ever existed. RIP Hombre…,” wrote music journalist Corbin Reiff. 

“RIP DUSTY HILL I love you forever. Your bass was so loud at one show it made my wife puke. You were half of rock n roll’s greatest EVER rhythm section & a hell of a songwriter,” wrote comedian Rob Delaney.

“Smoke a fat one for Dusty Hill,” eulogized the band Primitive Man. “Tragic. 52 years a rocker. A real one. A LIFER. So much [ZZ Top] in all 3 of our lives growing up we knew we had to stay a power trio and that’s no lie.”

“I hate that my social media has become more of an obituary but such is life, young or old, we are but mere mortals when our time comes,” tweeted singer Jeff Scott Soto. “RIP to the GREAT Dusty Hill of @ZZTop. Thank you for the decades of music!!”