ZZ Top will honor Dusty Hill in its upcoming album nearly two years after the band member died.
After a long wait, ZZ Top will release a new studio album since the arrival of "La Futura" in 2012. Although it will be the band's first record without Hill, it revealed that the late bassist would still be featured in it.
ZZ Top New Album 2023 To Feature Dusty Hill
Billy Gibbons shared the band's plans in an interview with Classic Rock, confirming that they have been working on a new studio album after over a decade. He added that the new material would include Hill even after his death.
According to Gibbons, the yet-to-be-named album would feature songs and contributions from the late bassist, which he worked on prior to his passing.
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"Dusty was a great guy, a swell singer. He provided a solid platform for me to solo without having to look back," he said. "He was always on it. Dusty used to say, 'If I'm late to the stage, be sure to give my guitar to Elwood.' Elwood is a family member; he's been with us for three decades."
He also recalled his first encounter with Hill during the band's first rehearsal, sharing how he arrived with a full beard longer than what he had.
Will ZZ Top Disband After Dusty Hill's Death?
Elsewhere in the interview, Gibbons set the record straight about ZZ Top's future without Hill. Instead of disbanding, he revealed that the late bassist told him the band should go on without him.
Currently, the band's lineup includes Gibbons alongside Frank Beard and Hill's longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis - who would fill the gap going forward.
Although Gibbons could not share details about the album yet, he told the news outlet they would be busy, especially due to ZZ Top's tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd in July.
ZZ Top's decision to continue its legacy without its bassist came nearly two years after Hill died "in his sleep" on July 27, 2021. The band members released a statement on Facebook to confirm their bandmate's passing at his Houston, Texas, home.
Initial reports did not disclose Dusty Hill's cause of death, but Gibbons told Variety that the late bassist suffered several health issues, including a broken shoulder and hip prior to his demise. Hill's wife also disclosed that the musician suffered from chronic bursitis due to these injuries.
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