ZZ Top Cancel Remaining 2017 Tour Dates
ZZ Top have canceled the remaining dates on their 2017 Tonnage tour because doctors advised bassist Dusty Hill, who is battling an undisclosed stomach ailment, to "lay low" for a while.
The band was scheduled to play tomorrow night at the South Carolina State Fair. Oddly enough, they were also forced to cancel their planned 2014 performance at that festival after Hill fell while on the band's tour bus and injured his hip. (At least he didn't accidentally shoot himself again.)
Here is the band's full statement on the canceled dates, which were scheduled to run through Nov. 12 with a final show in New Orleans:
"Upcoming scheduled dates on ZZ Top’s current tour are temporarily suspended and are arranged for immediate rescheduling. ZZ’s cornerstone bass guitarist, Mr. Dusty Hill, is addressing a tummy ailment and is following a directive to lay low for the next few weeks. Whew!
The band rocks 2018 and to then blow it out in 2019 as they celebrate a big “50”…! Once-in-a-millennium."
In addition to their return to the stage, 2018 may bring more new music from ZZ Top, whose last studio album was 2012's La Futura. While answering fan questions on his website, guitarist Billy Gibbons recently revealed the band has been working on new material. "We’ve spent some time in the studio of late, off the touring trail," he said. "We’re cooking up another new sonic experiment with a bluesy background. Whether these are released as an album or come out single remains to be seen. Whatever it is, we’re looking forward to it."
In a separate Q&A session, when asked exactly how the trio plans to celebrate its upcoming 50th anniversary, Gibbons replied, "We’re starting to ponder an appropriate answer. Playing louder is what we’ve come up with."
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