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So, what’s next for ZZ Top? Billy Gibbons says the future of the legendary band is all about honoring the past while keeping the music alive. Following the deaths of longtime bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard, Gibbons is now the only surviving original member. But he believes ZZ Top still has plenty of road ahead. In a recent interview, Gibbons said the current lineup is carrying out the final wishes of Hill and Beard, both of whom wanted the band to continue. He says the goal is simple: keep moving forward while preserving the sound that their fans know and love.
The current lineup features bassist Elwood Francis, who had already been part of the band's family for decades, and drummer Mike Monahan, whose playing has brought real energy to the group. Gibbons says Monahan's powerful style and precise timing have pushed both him and Francis to play at a higher level. According to Billy, the chemistry is working, and the band is discovering new possibilities while still leaning on the same songs, same groove, and same signature sound that built ZZ Top over the last 50 years.
Helping confirm the decision to continue was a message from Keith Richards, who knows firsthand what it's like to carry on after losing a longtime member of his band. Richards texted Gibbons, "I heard about it. I've done it," a reference to the Stones continuing after drummer Charlie Watts passed away back in 2021. For Billy Gibbons, the encouragement reinforced what Hill and Beard wanted all along: the show must go on.
[Source: Premiere]