ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons has claimed Gillette offered him and Dusty Hill $1 million each to shave off their famous long beards for an advert.
The 76-year-old musician – who co-founded the legendary band alongside late bassist-vocalist Dusty, who died in 2021, aged 72, and drummer Frank Beard, 76 – admits the safety razors company deny the claim.
Speaking on the Mohr Stories podcast, he said: “It’s true. “[Gillette] deny it.
“It was a million dollars per man.”
Gibbons insisted that he and Hill rejected the offer after a conversation with music executive Bob Merlis.
He added: “But we called Mr. Merlis.
“I said, ‘Bob, we got this offer.’ ‘What?’ I said, ‘We’ve been offered a million dollars each to shave on TV.’
“‘Well,’ he said, ‘The money’s good.’ He said, ‘You might as well consider doing it, but I’m not so sure you guys – any of you guys – know what’s under there.’
“So we passed. We passed, and our fans loved it. Word got out.”
Hill passed away in his sleep at his home in Houston, Texas, in July 2021.
Gibbons and Beard confirmed the sad news in a statement at the time, which read: “We are saddened by the news today that our compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX.
“We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the ‘Top’.
“We will forever be connected to that ‘Blues Shuffle in C’. You will be missed greatly, amigo.”
Just days later, the pair paid tribute to the bassist when they played their first concert since his passing.
Billy explained how Dusty would’ve wanted the band to continue playing and introduced his replacement Elwood Francis to the audience.
He told the audience following the opening tune: “We’re gonna have a good time in here tonight.
“Got a new guy up here, as you know. Dusty gave me the directive.
“My friend, your pal, Elwood Francis is gonna hold it down behind me.”
Later in the show, Gibbons added: “How about that Elwood, tearing up that bottom there for Dusty.”