ZZ Top have announced a new live album called Raw.
Produced by guitarist Billy Gibbons, the album features the original ZZ Top line up with Gibbons on the electric guitar, Frank Beard on drums, with the late Dusty Hill on bass guitar. Dusty Hill passed away last July aged 72.
The band have also stated that this album is “in righteous memory of Dusty Hill”.
Following his death, ZZ Top insisted that they would continue to perform in his honour.
Raw
Raw was recorded at Gruene Hall back in 2019, with the venue called “the oldest continually run dance hall in Texas”. It will arrive via Shelter Records/BMG on July 22.
According to Billy Gibbons’ and Frank Beard’s liner notes, the album is “in a very real way, a return to our roots”.
“Just us and the music, no audience of thousands, no concession stands, no parking lot social hour, no phalanx of tour busses. Just us and the music. We knew right then it was a very special circumstance, all of us in the same place at the same time – and what a time it most certainly was”, ZZ Top also added.
“It was as bare bones as when we first started touring in a behemoth Chrysler station wagon, driving vast stretches between those early far-flung shows under blackened Texas skies and first hearing our records on the radio”.
“‘The Dust’ may have left the building but he’s still very much with us”.
You can also check out a preview of this live album for yourselves below.
On top of this, ZZ Top also confirmed dates for an upcoming North American Tour. Check out the band’s website for more details.
Guitar tech Elwood Francis will deputise for the late Dusty Hill, just as he did for the band’s first live show since Hill’s death last year. This show took place at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
