ZZ Top Pay Tribute To Bill Ham

(Classic Rock) ZZ Top have paid an emotional tribute to their former manager Bill Ham, who died last week at the age of 79. In an interview for Classic Rock, Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard recall Ham's hard work and dedication from the early days of their career through to their international breakthrough and all three say they wouldn't be where they are today without his input.

Ham worked with the band for 37 years and also produced many of their hit records. His death was confirmed by The Travis County Medical Examiner Office on June 21.

Guitarist Gibbons describes Ham as the "fourth member" of ZZ Top. He tells Classic Rock: "A thing to have really been overlooked about Bill was that he was a great and gifted songwriter in his own right. You know, he had a bunch of hits as both writer and performer from way back in the 50s.

"And he generously and willingly shared those techniques with us from the very beginning of his involvement in our band. So that was a very solid platform that he bought to the ZZ Top party.

"All the time that Bill was with us, he was incredibly supportive. He used to say to me when I was working on a song or we were doing an album, 'You just keep going and I'll let you know when something moves me.' I doubt very much if we'd have had the career we've had without Bill being on board with us.

"I certainly always considered him the band's fourth member and our shining light. I mean to say, he managed to put up with the trials of dealing with three renegade individuals for more than 40 years, so that's something in itself." Read more here.

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