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Formed in Texas in 1969, the trio, whose two bearded guitarists, constantly wearing dark glasses, had become an integral part of the band’s image, sold millions of copies of their records and are famous for hits like Legs and Gimme All. Your Lovin.
A Facebook ad by guitarist Billy Gibbons and drummer Frank Beard says Hill died in his sleep. The cause of death has not been named, but a message posted on the band’s website on July 21 stated that Hill was “returning to Texas for a short time due to a hip problem.” At the time, ZZ Top indicated that Hill would be replaced by guitarist Elwood Francis.
Hill, whose real name is Joe Michael Hill, was born in 1949 in Dallas. In 1969, he co-founded ZZ Top with Gibbons and Beard Houston. The name of the band is associated with the singer of blues ZZ Hill; his music was influenced by the British rock trio Cream.
ZZ Top’s first debut album was released in 1970. Three years later, the band achieved commercial success by releasing a single song, La Grange, about the famous illegal hostel, Chicken Ranch, located near La Grange, Texas.
Later, the band released hit songs like Tush (1975) and ’90s Sharp Dressed Man, Legs, Gimme All Your Lovin, and Sleeping Bag. The 1976 ZZ Top Worldwide Texas Tour, which featured cacti, snakes, and long-legged cattle on stage, became one of the most successful rock tours of the decade. The band’s Eliminator, Afterburner and Antenna albums have sold millions of copies.
In 2004, ZZ Top was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The band, whose video clips were frequently shown on MTV music television in the 1990s, became highly recognizable by their image: all three members constantly wore dark glasses, and Gibbons and Hill stood out with extremely long, lush beards.
