Texas rock legends ZZ Top concluded their historic run with their original lineup during a July 2021 performance in Louisville, Kentucky. The Iroquois Amphitheater show featured a 15-song setlist highlighting the band’s most iconic tracks, with “Tush” serving as the final song of the evening. This concert represented a significant moment in rock history, as it marked the end of one of the most stable band configurations the genre has ever seen.
The trio of Billy F. Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard had remained unchanged since the band’s inception in 1971, an achievement that spanned five decades. Their longevity stood in stark contrast to most rock groups from that era, which experienced numerous lineup changes over the years. Hill attributed the group’s stability to their genuine enjoyment of performing together and their shared bond, combined with enough individual differences to maintain each member’s unique identity.
The significance of that Louisville performance became even more poignant in subsequent years. Hill’s death in 2021 and Beard’s passing in 2026 at age 77 left Gibbons as the sole surviving member of the classic lineup. Despite these losses, the band has continued performing with new musicians, maintaining ZZ Top’s presence on the touring circuit with dates extending into November.
Originally reported by Rollingstone →
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