ZZ Top abruptly canceled their Los Angeles concert at the Hollywood Bowl on Wednesday, mere hours before the scheduled performance. The band announced the cancellation via their official Instagram account, citing "unforeseen personnel matters" as the reason for their inability to perform.
Frontman Billy Gibbons elaborated in a statement, saying, "Insurmountable obstacles require canceling our Hollywood Bowl performance." He assured fans that they would receive full refunds for their tickets, as well as any associated transportation and parking passes.
Bassist Elwood Francis, guitarist Billy Gibbons, and drummer Frank Beard currently comprise ZZ Top. Francis joined the band following the death of original bassist Dusty Hill in 2021. The band's next scheduled performance is August 7 in Fresno, California.
Cheap Trick, who had been sharing some tour dates with ZZ Top, announced they would instead play a special intimate show at The Troubadour in West Hollywood on Wednesday.
This is not the first time ZZ Top has faced personnel challenges on tour. In the past year, drummer Frank Beard temporarily stepped away from the band's tour due to a health issue. At that time, longtime tech member John Douglas filled in for Beard. Beard, who has been with the band since 1969, has previously been replaced by Douglas for a Paris performance in 2002 due to an emergency appendectomy.
ZZ Top rose to prominence in the 1970s and achieved significant success in the 1980s with hits like "Gimme All Your Lovin'," "Sharp Dressed Man," and "Legs." The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Their album "Tres Hombres" in 1973 reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart, featuring songs such as "La Grange" and "Jesus Just Left Chicago."