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It's almost exactly one year since ZZ Top Dusty Hill died at the age of 72, and as his health was failing, he told the surviving members of the band he'd like long-time guitar tech Elwood Francis to take over in his place...now, as ZZ Top tours with Willie Nelson, Govt Mule, and other bands in the Outlaw Music Festival, which hits the Pavilion at Star Lake this Sunday at 4:30, ZZ guitarist Billy Gibbons says in a new interview that ZZ feels "somewhat new as a band" with the fresh energy of Francis....Gibbons goes onto to say Elwood's background is in punk, and no one knew how this was going to go, but it's been great for Gibbons and drummer Frank Beard: Billy saying "when I see Frank Beard smiling for the first time in 30 years, I know something good's happening." here's more from Gibbons on losing Dusty and the road to getting to where they are right now when we see them on Sunday