Sessions for the project were captured prior to Hill’s sudden death at his Houston, TX home in 2021, with the group enlisting longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis to handle bass duties.
As Classic Rock reports, Dusty had made it clear that he wanted the band to continue without him.
“Yes he did,” confirms Gibbons, who is currently playing solo dates in Europe. “He said: ‘The show must go on.’ That was his wish, and we granted it.”
When asked about new music, the guitarist say he hopes to release a new album later this year.
“In fact, we are currently reviewing the tracks that deserve completion,” says Gibbons. “Dusty is on some of those, so is Elwood. What’s fascinating is that we have three or four tracks with them both, they’re trading off. The only tell-tale difference is that Dusty, playing with his fingers, sounds a little warmer.”
Gibbons and ZZ Top will team up with Lynyrd Skynyrd for a co-headlining North American tour next month; billed as "The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour", the summer 2023 series will open in West Palm Beach, FL on July 21, with shows wrapping up in mid-September.
Get your copy of the ZZ Top collection “Goin’ 50” here.
See also:
Slash and Billy Gibbons rock Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute at CMT Music Awards
ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons announces European tour
ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd announce North American tour
ZZ Top share Raw version of Thunderbird
Search ZZ Top at hennemusic
