New ZZ Top Album To Include Tracks Featuring Late Bassist Dusty Hill

Billy Gibbons revealed in a new interview with Classic Rock that the next ZZ Top album will contain tracks featuring late bassist Dusty Hill.

Gibbons, who had earlier said the new record will be out in late 2021 or 2022, said in the latest interview that the new record will likely arrive this year. The upcoming record, which is a follow-up to 2012’s La Futura, will also include songs with Hill’s replacement, Elwood Francis.

“Are things coming to the boil yet? Yeah,” he confirmed. “In fact, we are currently reviewing the tracks that deserve completion. 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.”

“Dusty was a great guy, a swell singer,” Gibbons said about his late friend. “He provided a solid platform for me to solo without having to look back. 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.”

(Photo: Ralph Arvesen)