The ZZ Top Phenomenon

There is some unfortunate news to report as ZZ Top bassist and vocalist Dusty Hill passed away at the age of 72 today. The legendary trio played together for over 50 years, and they were still going strong even in their more advanced age. Here is one of their last hit singles from 2012, a “revamp” of the 1989 rap classic; “25 Lighters.”

These mythical Hall of Fame Inductees were a musical and cultural phenomenon that used to dominate the early days of MTV, with groundbreaking original music videos like this one:

I was fortunate enough to witness them in one of their final performances during their 50th year anniversary tour. They were the headliners at the Minnesota State Fair on Labor Day, 2019. What was most remarkable to me about the experience was just how good they truly sounded in person. You knew it was a live show, but it was delivered with an impressive precision. Thanks for the memories anyway. Dusty may have moved on from this world, but his music will live on forever…

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Blake Walley

Blake Walley is a writer, reporter and producer. An idealist and truth-seeker obsessed with the future. A new media trailblazer and outside-the box-thinker. Former Las Vegas bartender influenced by Gonzo journalism. Inspired, eccentric, and always up for a challenge. Blake has been making waves for 10 years with his original analysis and creative style.

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