ZZ Top’s New Bassist Elwood Francis: ‘I’ll Never Be In The Band’
As you know, ZZ Top‘s bassist, 72-year-old Dusty Hill died in his sleep on July 28, 2021. Elwood Francis, his guitar tech, has been playing in the band for the past three years and recently told Guitar World that it’s been “weird” stepping in for Hill.
ZZ Top played their first show following Hill’s death on July 30, 2021 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Francis made his live debut with the band a week prior, July 23, 2021 at the Village Commons in New Lenox, Illinois after Hill was forced to return to Texas to address a hip issue.
Francis told Guitar World, “When I first started doing it, Dusty was just sick and going home for a few weeks. It was entirely different; I was just helping out. I didn’t have to worry about the weight of the crown because I was just helping. They pulled me aside and said, ‘Can you honestly say you can’t play his parts?’ I said, ‘I can do it, but I don’t think people would enjoy me doing it.’ They said, ‘You can cover him for a few weeks.'”
Francis, said he still doesn’t consider himself part of the band.
“We’d done some gigs when Dusty passed, and by that time, I wouldn’t say I was comfortable because I’m still not fucking comfortable. But I had a piece of paper on the riser for the first two shows if I got in trouble, and by the third show, I got rid of that, and just did the show.
Francis added, “It’s just weird. Dusty is their bass player. I’m not the bass player. I’m not in the band. I’ll never be in the band. I shouldn’t be in the band. It’s Dusty’s thing. Sure, I’ll still play with them, but it’s a weird thing, man.”
Hill joined ZZ Top in 1969.
ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons told Class Rock (in June ’23) about how Francis came to join the band following Hill’s passing, “Dusty was a great guy, a swell singer. 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. And sure enough, Elwood picked up the parts and pieces (to replace Hill in ZZ TOP). But whereas Dusty played with his fingers, Elwood uses a pick. It’s a little sharper. He brings a little more finesse. And at the first rehearsal he showed up with a full beard longer than mine.”
Gibbons said there was “a lot of curiosity” surrounding ZZ Top’s return to the stage without Hill, “‘What’s this going to be like?’ ‘Can this guy hold up the bottom of the TOP?’ In a trio it’s a big challenge. Everything has to be working at a hundred and ten per cent. But Elwood was ready, having been a part of it for so long… (Dusty) said: ‘The show must go on.’ That was his wish, and we granted it.”
Interesting, isn’t it? Three years in. Francis is clearly the band’s bass player and still doesn’t consider himself ZZ Top’s bassist.
