BASSIST DUSTY HILL DEAD AT 72

ZZ Top’s longtime bassist, Dusty Hill, has died … TMZ has learned.

Dusty passed away at his home in Houston, TX — this according to his bandmates, Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard.

They write, “We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX. We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top’. We will forever be connected to that “Blues Shuffle in C.” The boys add, “You will be missed greatly, amigo.”

Unclear if Dusty’s death is in any way related to another health scare he recently suffered — namely, a hip injury that the band said he had to address in the past week or so, forcing him to bow out of a string of shows across the U.S. with his bandmates.

ZZT addressed the setback on Facebook not too long ago, writing … “The members of ZZ Top, Billy, and Frank, would like to share that Dusty, their fearless Bass player, is on a short detour back to Texas, to address a hip issue. They await a speedy recovery and have him back pronto.”

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