This story is as old as a turtle in a New York sewer: in the sixties, walking with long hair in Texas meant learning a cartoon ostrich run from local coyotes. Contrary to the opinion of the most sarcastic historiographers, Joseph Michael Hill was born beardless, but in those difficult times, the available vegetation, coupled with an untrimmed hair, could give him a decent homeless look, saving him from accusations of hippanism. However, Joe began to freak out even earlier, at the age of seven, dragging records of “racial” music to friends’ houses, which his older brother Rocky, who played the guitar, taught him.
It’s as if a neighbor’s boy jumped up to visit the son of a literature teacher and stuck the “Red Mold” to the fullest. And already at eight Joe Hill (what’s your offspring’s name, Mr. Stephen King?) He sang on the streets to the accompaniment of the elder, hammering “nickels” and “dimes” on new blues records. That’s how his witty tenor was born, which we’ll talk about later. Dusty’s nickname, “Dusty,” may have been acquired just then, either for his dexterity or for his inability to give a run from the Dallas club of greedy gopnik. And at the age of thirteen, they shoved a bass guitar into his hands and forced him to blurt out an entire concert. Dusty was embarrassed, but he didn’t go against Rodney.
“An informed choice of profession,” right, Mommy? The instrument was mastered in record time, as southern music lovers are disgusted by the bad raw playing, their arguments are firm and painful. The secondary school against the background of the school of life faded into the rhythm of boogie and forever. The band was called American Blues, they say, you read the poster, claims are not accepted, country music is in a pub across the street. In addition to the brothers Rocky and Dusty, Frank with the “horse” surname Byrd – “Beard” settled in the line-up. When Rockford Hill left the band in 1969 in search of a more bluesy sound, it was Frank who, after a short time, lured Dusty into the fledgling ZZ Top team.
Guitarist Billy Gibbons already had considerable experience opening for major stars, Jimi Hendrix himself called him the best young guitarist in America (Hendrix ate acid and no nonsense in those years). The first ZZ Top album was called “The first ZZ Top Album”, meaning “but not the last, don’t get your hopes up.” No one was hoping, the album just wasn’t noticed. But three years later, our tres hombres recorded the record “Los Tres Hombres”, the single from which, La Grange, flew into the Billboard’50 like a bottle into a crooked musician.
At the moment, only Abe Lincoln has not heard this song, John Lee Hooker sued the band for the arrangement, but the heroines of the text did not litigate: it talks about a cozy brothel near the town of La Grange, Texas, where boys from all over the state, all classes and affluence were taken to “become men”. This kind of business is based on trust. When, thanks to this particular opus, a reporter entered the nice establishment and roused the whole county about him, the women were left without work, which greatly angered noble Dusty.
“If the joint has been operating for a hundred years, then someone needs it!”
Dusty Hill said angrily.
However, the necessary height was taken and, after saying goodbye to the girls, then another trio of beardless, not counting the last name, went to Hawaii to “warm up” The Rolling Stones. As Hill recalled:
“…By the end of our set, we had completely fucked up the audience, feeling the Rolling Stones laughing at us.”
It wasn’t until 1983 and the Eliminator (according to Gibbons, you should read “el iminator”) that brought ZZ Top into low-Earth orbit, but everyone knows this story, so below we’ll focus on a few songs that especially vividly showcased the extraordinary talent of Dusty Hill, a great singer and virtuoso bassist.
Piece is a southern hard rock band, one of the best things from the album “Mescalero”. Dusty demonstrates the full power of his vocals, and before the solo he moans like a philanderer.: “well, at least a piece!”. Your missus can’t resist this tornado, sir!
(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear is a live recording from the monstrously underrated album “XXX”. Dusty adored Elvis, as did everyone in the galaxy. Frivolous rockabilly-pop is transformed into slow, menacing blues here. There is only one master in this forest. Hill’s lustful growl is proof of that.
Viva Las Vegas starts with a silly synthesizer chirp. Throughout the eighties, the band exploited the formula found in the Eliminator. Nevertheless, this is another brilliant cover of the King, and Dusty is showing everyone his “Elvis”.
Tush is a modified Yiddish word for “tuhes” (ass). The hottest boogie of 1975. The bass player at the microphone gives out a portion of obscenities in a truly Texan style. Gentlemen prefer it rounder.
She’s Just Killing Me – at these sounds, every memory-conscious being gets an image of a half-naked Salma Hayek with a boa constrictor instead of a negligee in his head. Jerry Lee Lewis once shot his bass player, Dusty also shot himself (the technology is as follows: first take everything out of the boot, only then take off the boot). That’s why he’s yelling so plausibly here.
What It Is Kid sings, recalling a recent joint show with Kid Rock, Billy Gibbons. But Dusty Hill delivers a fat, mesmerizing, swinging bass, reminding the listener that he learned to play on Charlie Mingus recordings. The bass part holds the whole song, gluing the guitar and drums together with the groove that only this stocky Texan is capable of.
Dusty Hill, a Great Musician and the proud son of the Lone Star Staff, has been an integral part of ZZ Top for half a century. A true loss.
PS: in the 5th episode of the 11th season of the cartoon “King Of The Hill”, Dusty is alive. Even though it’s painted.
