ZZ Top’s New Bassist. Does he have a Beard?

That Little Ol’ Band from Texas, ZZ Top is returning to El Paso.  Next month, the band will play the Abraham Chavez Theater on April 22^nd.

For over fifty…FIFTY…years the band had been the same three talented guys: Lead guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer (and ironically, the only member WITHOUT a beard) Frank Beard.

ZZ Top

We lost Dusty (R.I.P.) back in 2021. That got us wondering. Who’s playing bass with the Top now? But, most importantly, does he have a crazy-long beard like Dusty did? The answer to the first question is “Elwood Francis” and to the second question, “Hell yeah, he does!”

Billy Gibbons has praised  Elwood’s “impressive feat of beard growth”.  I think there’s a possibility it’s like one of those ski caps that comes with a built-in beard.

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Elwood Francis

But, Elwood Francis’ story is even more awesome than his beard. It turns out that Elwood had worked as a guitar tech for ZZ Top for thirty years. When Dusty Hill passed away in 2021, Billy said he requested two things: that the band continue without him and that Elwood Francis replace him as the third member of Top. I can’t say for sure if the beard is real, but the talent definitely is. Check out Elwood Francis jamming out on a 17 string bass guitar!

Be listening to 95.5 KLAQ and check this website for more concert news and ticket giveaways!