ZZ Top Plans New Music With Dusty Hill's Replacement

The sudden passing of ZZ High’s Dusty Hill in the summertime of 2021 put a interval on the primary chapter of one of many longest operating lineups in rock ‘n’ roll. They’ve carried ahead, nonetheless, with longtime guitar technician Elwood Francis stepping in.

Hill reportedly instructed his bandmates Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard to proceed with Francis in his place. Now, Gibbons tells UCR that the group will make new music with Francis, one thing which he phrases as “an fascinating tour into the unknown.”

First, they’re taking issues again to the start in a means that is becoming for a bunch greater than 5 a long time faraway from the discharge of their debut album. Uncooked, a brand new stay album, shall be launched on July 8. The set was recorded on the time of the band’s 2019 documentary, That Little Ol’ Band From Texas, at Gruene Corridor – the longest operating stay music venue and dance corridor in Texas.

ZZ High runs by way of a unfastened assortment of classics, whereas additionally pushing deeper into the depths of their catalog to drag out lesser-heard tracks like “Licensed Blues” and “Brown Sugar,” each from 1971’s ZZ High’s First Album. Diehards will admire the numerous priceless moments put to tape, from the Texas shuffle of “Thunderbird” to the beer-drenched guitar licks of songs like “Blue Jean Blues.”

We spoke with Gibbons within the midst of ZZ High’s ongoing tour as they have been getting ready to play a present in Tucson. He mentioned the brand new launch and the emotional expertise of transferring ahead with Francis, whereas additionally sharing some humorous reminiscences of Willie Nelson prematurely of their live shows collectively this summer time.

Watch ZZ High Carry out ‘Brown Sugar’ at Gruene Corridor

The truth that you have been capable of file these performances at Gruene Corridor is fairly nice. That place has a lot historical past.
I’ve to offer credit score to Sam Dunn, who was the director of the movie. Initially, we have been underneath the impression that Sam needed to take a snapshot of us three guys with a backdrop of a spot which may counsel parts of the place ZZ High received its beginnings, humble as which may be. Upon arrival, we found that nobody had advised our crew and technicians that this was merely an train for {a photograph} session. They went forward and arrange the complete stage with gear – which to our delight, occurred to be at Gruene Corridor. That place has been there so lengthy, each speck of sawdust in that loopy wood construction has rattled into place. It now serves as a grand resonating speaker field. [Laughs.] So along with posing for {a photograph}, we determined to place the guitars to work and let Frank [Beard] take the drum stand. We began taking part in because the cameramen have been getting their gear in place. We have been simply knocking round, just about like we began. Issues labored out just about as they’ve all the time been, three guys simply thrashing round.

“Certified Blues” will not be one which finds its means right into a set listing fairly often. What is the historical past on that tune?
We have been going out to California early on. We had booked some recording time at a studio on the West Coast. As we have been crossing the desert sands, means out in West Texas, we handed a gasoline station. That they had a decrepit neon signal and the one phrase that was lit up was the phrase “licensed.” [Laughs.] In the course of nowhere, we actually had the blues. There was nothing. I stated, “Effectively, that just about carves it in stone. We’ve the ‘Licensed Blues.’” That was an inspiration. Even at present, we’ve got a fond reminiscence of these humble beginnings.

The album actually provides good context to the distinctive eras of ZZ High and the way it all matches collectively.
Only in the near past, we have been form of reflecting on the 2 sides of ZZ High. One being the quite eccentric and weirdly odd notion that form of unfolded with the bizarre beards and humorous hats, form of out of step with tendencies of vogue. However coming from Houston in addition to Frank and Dusty coming from Dallas, we had a really strict set of tips as we have been studying play and carry out. I believe that measure of seriousness is an efficient stability that exists even at present. You possibly can have a humorous expertise going out with a ZZ High evening and the underlying tone may be very severe. We take that a part of it very significantly. That a part of it has not modified and perhaps it’s a great stability! [Laughs.]

How do you join the eras and the variety of issues like “Simply Obtained Paid” in comparison with “Sharp Dressed Man,” out of your perspective?
Though we’ve been tagged as a blues rock band, we took that blues piece as interpreters. Lord is aware of, the nice American artwork type that the blues to at the present time stays was established lengthy earlier than we began. On the identical time, it was so influential. We determined to take a stab at it as nothing greater than interpreters. I believe that’s one of the simplest ways to explain it.

Watch ZZ High Carry out ‘La Grange’ at Gruene Corridor

You and Frank have made an admirable transition, the best way you have moved ahead with Elwood.
I credit score Dusty. Not solely was he an excellent performer and an excellent buddy, he had a thread of knowledge. When he was feeling a bit out of kinds, he requested going to see his doctor. He stated, “Pay attention, if I’m late getting again to the gig, ensure that Elwood, our guitar technician, wraps his arms round my guitar.” I stated, “Okay.” He stated, “Look, he’s greater than a member of the family. He’s been a strong standby for over three a long time.” He’s including to 5 a long time of a quite severe aspect of creating loud sounds. He falls proper in. It’s form of an fascinating twist, however the stability stays. We’re loopy characters, virtually cartoon-like, however on the backside of it, we’re all very devoted and severe on the musical degree.

I’d think about these first reveals with Elwood have been emotional. How did they really feel?
The feelings have been operating excessive. To Elwood’s credit score, he made sure that Dusty was in an ethereal sense nonetheless current in the course of the expertise. Elwood grabbed Dusty’s hat and positioned it on the microphone and made positive that there was some extent of relation by way of the entire evening. You recognize, I believe he took it in stride. He actually accepted Dusty’s directive. It was, “Hey Elwood, seize the guitar.” He stated, “Okay, pay attention, I’m the employed gun. If that’s the course, I gotta take it.”

ZZ High is doing reveals with Willie Nelson this summer time. What’s your favourite Willie reminiscence?
That is form of an fascinating apart. I used to be invited to affix Willie for a New 12 months’s look down in Austin. We did seven consecutive appearances with Willie on New 12 months’s Eve. One of many newer moments on stage, somebody stated, “Gee whiz, you’re just about in tune with what Willie does. Do you wish to go speak to him? Perhaps there’s one thing totally different this go-around.” We stepped onboard the bus backstage. I stated, “The ball shall be dropping shortly. Is there something we must always put together for?” He stated, “Let’s do one thing totally different. Let’s begin off with ‘Milk Cow Blues.’” I stated, “Oh yeah, ‘Milk Cow Blues,’ what key?” He stated, “Let’s do it in the important thing of C.” I stated, “Positive ‘nuff, I’ll be prepared.” And the ball started to drop and when the brand new yr rolled in, Willie stepped as much as the microphone and began in with, “Whiskey river take my thoughts …” [Laughs.] In the important thing of E, thoughts you! However that’s Willie for you. He calls it on the spot. Simply keep in your toes and be able to rock.

Willie’s weed is known. Do you’ve gotten a great story?
You recognize, we’ve missed three totally different New 12 months’s Eves, because of this loopy world occasion. However that call to only verify in with Willie, I needed to peek by way of a cloud to verify I used to be speaking with Willie. I stated, “I believe I can see you. I can actually hear you. However is that you just?” [Laughs.]

There was reportedly a great quantity of music left over from La Futura. Have you ever been wanting placing out new music past Uncooked?
Oh, yeah. In reality, this could be an fascinating tour into the unknown – significantly with Elwood holding down the underside finish. We’ve received the makings of a band that’s partially the tried-and-true longstanding expertise with one thing so contemporary, and [there’s] form of uncharted territory that’s being damaged. We discover it quite intriguing. It’s a calling that has us grinning from begin to end.