Billy Gibbons Defends ZZ Top's New Lineup After Losses

For over five decades, Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill, and drummer Frank Beard anchored ZZ Top as the Little Ol’ Band from Texas. Following the 2021 passing of Dusty Hill and the recent August death of Frank Beard at age 77, Gibbons stands as the sole remaining member from the group’s classic era.

Rather than bringing the curtain down on the legendary blues-rock outfit, Gibbons has chosen to move forward. The band’s current configuration features longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis on bass—who stepped in following Hill’s death—and drummer Michael Monahan behind the kit.

Embracing the ZZ Top ‘Hybrid’ Era

In a detailed interview with Texas Monthly, Gibbons addressed the shift in personnel, framing the current configuration as an evolution rather than a complete break from the past.

“We’re at a very interesting vortex,” Gibbons explained. “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.”

The frontman emphasized that both Hill and Beard were involved in selecting the men who would eventually step into their shoes. According to Gibbons, Francis’ arrival brought a notable spark to Beard, who spent decades earning a reputation as a stage curmudgeon.

“Once Elwood took the stage, I’d turn around and see Frank constantly looking at Elwood and smiling and laughing at the novelty of having this new guy who was on fire,” Gibbons recalled. He noted a similar revitalizing energy with Monahan, despite admitting to a feeling of slight uncertainty during the band’s first show following Beard’s passing.

Support From Peers and the Road Ahead

Gibbons also shared that support has come from fellow rock royalty during the transition. Among the messages of encouragement was a brief note from Keith Richards.

“He didn’t say the show must go on. He just said, ‘I heard about it. I’ve done it,’” Gibbons revealed. “That’s all he said. It meant a lot and gave me a lot to think about.”

With U.S. dates on the calendar through mid-October and subsequent performances in Central and South America stretching to late November, Gibbons remains resolute about the band’s forward momentum.

“For me, the sun isn’t setting,” Gibbons said. “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.”

“I guess the good news is that it may not be the same three guys, but it is the same three chords, same songs. And it’s working.”

Related reading: ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard Dies At 77