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ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons spoke about the health issues of former bandmate Dusty Hill before his death earlier this week.
News of the bassist’s death was confirmed on Wednesday, July 28, by the band’s longtime rep, who said Hill had died at his home in his sleep. No cause of death has yet been revealed.
“We are saddened by the news today that our companion, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at his home in Houston, TX,” Gibbons and Frank Beard, remaining members of ZZ Top, said in a statement.
“We, as well as legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will regret your unwavering presence, your good nature and your enduring commitment to providing this monumental background to the ‘Top’. We will forever be connected to this ‘Blues Shuffle in C.’ ”
They added: “We will miss you very much, amigo.”
On Thursday (July 29), ZZ Top announced that the tour they had just started would resume on Friday (July 30) after a brief postponement, with Elwood Francis, their 30-year-old guitarist, replacing.
Now, speaking in a new interview, frontman Gibbons recalled Hill’s health issues as well as when he asked to leave the recent tour.
“He asked to fire himself,” Gibbons said Variety. “He said, ‘Yeah, let me go check this out.’ And sure, I said, ‘Hey, man, health is number one. Go do your thing. And I could say through those first two valiant attempts, if he didn’t give himself 110 percent, he was the first to kind of say, “Gee whiz. Let’s take care of this.
Speaking on Hill’s health, Gibbons said: “It’s no secret that over the past few years he’s had a pretty tough run with a broken shoulder followed by a broken hip. “And he was having trouble with ulcers. So he kind of tiptoed around to keep the shape of a ship the best he could. But I think it was a real challenge.” And throwing in the towel, it might have caught up with him. Who knows? I’m just glad he’s in a good position.
When asked how he was since the news of Hill’s death, Gibbons replied, “Going through the grieving process, I can tell you it’s no less than anyone else. who loses a good friend or a close collaborator. And at the same time, knowing that it had happened so suddenly – going to bed and not waking up… It was the luck of the coin toss. He had come in and he had gone out.
While there has been no official word on Hill’s cause of death, it has been revealed that the bassist died in his sleep, which Gibbons said is all they can determine at this point.
“Let’s face it, you don’t necessarily die from a broken shoulder or hip,” he said. “Although the attending physician warned him earlier that bursitis was not uncommon, even arthritis, and they said it was not a very comfortable place. And I could tell he was moving a bit slowly. He said, “Boy, that shoulder and that hip is really starting to become a problem. But, from that moment, yes, it was off to Dreamland and beyond.
Since news of his death broke, a number of people have taken to social media to pay tribute to Hill.
Paul Stanley from KISS wrote: WOW! Dusty hill. What an icon. Forever @ZZTop bassist. So unique. Always a gentleman from the days we opened for them until the last days they opened for us. I don’t know what to say but “Thank you” and “Rest as you wish!” “
Ozzy Osbourne said: “Rest in peace #DustyHill from @ZZTop. My thoughts are with @BillyfGibbons and Frank Beard and all the #ZZTop fans around the world.
Texas Governor Gregg Abbott added, “Today we lost a great friend and a great Texan. ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill Dead at 72 Truly a music legend.
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