RIP Dusty Hill

Dusty Hill, the bassist and sometimes singer of ZZ Top died. Have you seen that documentary about the band on Netflix or wherever? It's pretty good. I was starting to think I should actually see the band.

I don't usually mark celebrity deaths, but ZZ Top was around for a long time - without a lineup change. In fact, they never changed members.

ZZ Top: 1970 - 2021 (51 years), from when Dusty Hill joined, to his death
U2: 1977 - present (44y), from formation
Rush: 1974 - 2018 (44y), from when Neil Peart joined, to their dissolution
Aerosmith: 1984 - present (37y), since the band reverted to the original lineup
Queen: 1970 - 1991 (21y), from formation to Freddie Mercury's death

Sometimes it is tricky to count. U2 had that lineup in 1977, but didn't record until 1980. Genesis has had only the same three members since 1977, but there were two long periods they were not active, including 2007 to 2020.

I've been tracking this for many years. A lot of new bands have joined the list after I started paying attention. Actually, they haven't made the list because I haven't actually noticed. There were so many nineties bands, I can't be complete about which ones are still around.

Radiohead: 1991 - present (30y), from formation (extra credit for no lineup changes)
Tool: 1995 - present (26y), Carey and Chancellor joined
Pearl Jam: 1998 - present (23y), James Cameron joined

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