ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill dead aged 72

Dusty Hill, who was ZZ Top’s bassist and a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, has died aged 72 just days after performing a string of shows.

ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill has died aged 72, his bandmates have confirmed.

Hill died in his sleep at his home in Houston, Texas, after suffering a hip injury last week.

His bandmates, Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard, released a joint statement on ZZ Top’s official social media websites.

“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. You will be missed greatly, amigo.”

Dusty Hill, Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard of ZZ Top. Picture: Chris Delmas/AFP

It comes days after ZZ Top announced Hill was on a “short detour back to Texas” to address a “hip issue” ahead of a string of the band’s scheduled performances across the US over the last week.

“Per Dusty’s request ‘The show must go on!’. (We) await a speedy recovery and have him back pronto,” the post read.

They replaced Hill with Elwood Francis for the shows, which was reportedly one of the first times in 50 years ZZ Top has played without Hill.

Fans who attended some of ZZ Top’s recent shows commented on how Hill looked “very uncomfortable” during their sets.

“It was obvious that Dusty was very uncomfortable at the Louisville, KY show last weekend. I am glad we got to see him perform,” one person wrote on Facebook.

Another said, “I noticed that Dusty sat down during their show last weekend in Michigan. Get well soon, Dusty.”

Hill was married to his long-time girlfriend, Charleen McCrory, in 2002, and the pair were still married at the time of his death. It is understood they never had children.

He has a daughter, Charity Hill, from a previous relationship.

Though he rarely gave interviews about his private life, Hill told the Charlotte Observer in 2015 that his daughter wanted to be a keyboard player.

“My daughter thought she might want to be a keyboard player. So I took her to a blues club – a real one – and showed her a working musician, that this is what they do. She went to law school,” he said at the time.

Dusty Hill with his wife Charleen "Chuck" McCrory, following their marriage ceremony in Houston. Picture: AP Photo/ZZ Top, Richard Carson

Tributes from figures in the entertainment industry have been pouring in since news of his death broke this morning:

Rest In Peace #DustyHill of @ZZTop. My thoughts go out to @BillyfGibbons and Frank Beard and all the #ZZTop fans around the world pic.twitter.com/FLu71RF62V

— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) July 28, 2021

It’s with heavy heart that I have to say goodbye to one member of That Lil’ Ol Band From Texas: RIP Dusty Hill from ZZ Top. I have loved this band since I was 14 & they are without doubt the coolest band on the planet! My condolences to his family, Frank & Rev. Billy G pic.twitter.com/mSTLZ7Id1y

— Paul Young (@PaulYoungParlez) July 28, 2021

Deeply sadden by the news of Dusty Hill's passing. ZZ Top was an absolutely MTV staple when I was a teen in the 80s. pic.twitter.com/Be8QIDWBYW

— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) July 28, 2021

ZZ Top was formed by vocalist and guitarist Gibbons in 1969, with the band undergoing a few member changes before settling on its renowned line-up for more than five decades with Beard on the drums and Hill on the bass in 1969 and 1970, respectively.

The band, which kicked off with a blues sound before breaking into rock, has released 15 studio albums and sold an estimated 50 million albums worldwide, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

Dusty Hill and Billy F Gibbons became as known for their shaggy beards as they did their music.

Some of their biggest hits include Gimme All Your Lovin’, Sharp Dressed Man, Legs and Got Me Under Pressure.

They haven’t released a new album since 2012 but ZZ Top have still been active over the years, playing regular shows around the world.

Originally published as ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill dead aged 72