ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons recently announced a new “hybrid” era for the band as its last remaining original member. He shared his thoughts on continuing the group’s legacy in a recent interview.
Gibbons discussed his decision to keep performing under the ZZ Top name following the recent passing of drummer Frank Beard. He explained how the current lineup honors the band’s fifty-year history while moving forward.
“We’re at a very interesting vortex,” Gibbons said. “The band is enjoying being a hybrid. The legacy of ZZ Top solidified sometime in the not-too-distant past. I purposely say solidified, as in, it can’t be broken up. You could take a sledgehammer to it and the ZZ Top legacy would remain intact.”
He went on to explain how the band is adapting to the changes in its lineup.
“Now that there’s a dramatic difference in the lineup, this is where the hybrid bit comes in,” he continued. “We’re still ZZ Top, and only now we have the luxury of adding to what took fifty years to build. And I couldn’t be happier about it.”
Gibbons also shared that he has received support from fellow musicians, including a message from Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones.
“I’ve gotten so many calls and texts from friends the last few days that have been reassuring,” Gibbons said. “I got a nice one from Keith Richards. He didn’t say the show must go on. He just said, ‘I heard about it. I’ve done it.’ That’s all he said. It meant a lot and gave me a lot to think about.”
He elaborated on the current members of the band, Elwood Francis and Mike.
“It’s not a new day, but it is,” he added. “It’s not a new band, but it is. It’s a hybrid. I’ve got Elwood. He’s been with us thirty years and used to teach Dusty, for God’s sake. He was already family. And I’ve played enough shows with Mike to know what we have there. He’s making me better.”
Finally, Gibbons reflected on the loss of his longtime bandmates, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard, while looking toward the future.
“For me, the sun isn’t setting,” Gibbons concluded. “I see it as a bright light. It’s not so different, but then again it is. We miss Dusty and Frank. We loved these guys. They were everything. And yet we’re following their instructions.”
ZZ Top formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969. The classic lineup of guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill, and drummer Frank Beard solidified in early 1970. They performed together for over five decades.
Longtime bassist Dusty Hill passed away on July 27, 2021, at his home in Houston at the age of 72. Following his wishes, the band’s longtime guitar tech, Elwood Francis, stepped in to play bass.
Drummer Frank Beard passed away on August 17, 2026, at the age of 77. He died in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, leaving Billy Gibbons as the last remaining member of the classic trio.
