The recent unexpected death of bassist Dusty Hill was a huge shock to the music business and fans worldwide. I have followed the career of ZZ Top since the early 1970s, feeling that this was the most worthwhile band to listen to since my other favourites, Vanilla Fudge. In those days I would have bet a large sum on their remaining obscure, so no one was more surprised and pleased at their meteoric rise to superstardom, which they richly deserved. Having cut my teeth in power trios I immediately understood how important Dusty’s subtle yet strong bass playing was to the band. For half a century they continued to experiment and evolve whilst still retaining a great sound, and also understanding along the way the importance of a strong image and visual stage show. I was very lucky to work on the bill supporting ZZ Top with my band Nasty Habits at a huge festival in Austria several years ago. When Dusty arrived, he treated everyone like a long-lost friend and it was an honour to meet and chat to a likeable man who will always be remembered as one of the best vocalists and bassists in the rock and roll business! Thanks for the music, Dusty. Sleep well.