how is elwood francis doing with zz top fans
Elwood Francis seems to be doing pretty well with ZZ Top fans overall. The main vibe online is respect and curiosity: many fans accepted him as Dusty Hill’s successor, and his wild 17-string bass has become part of the conversation around the band.
Fan reaction
- A lot of the reaction has been positive, especially because he was chosen to carry on after Dusty Hill’s wishes and has kept the band moving.
- Fans also latched onto the novelty of his giant basses, which helped him stand out fast and made him a talking point at shows.
- Some fans likely still see him as “the new guy,” but the reporting suggests he’s earned goodwill by doing the job and embracing the band’s style.
What’s trending
The biggest recent buzz is not controversy, but the whole 17-string-bass story and Francis joking that it became a nightly habit he never expected. That kind of viral oddity has kept him visible and made him more recognizable to ZZ Top fans beyond just being a replacement player.
Overall read
He comes across as a respected, slightly surprising fit for the band rather than a divisive one. The public story is less “fans rejecting him” and more “fans warming to him because he’s keeping ZZ Top alive and having some fun with it”.
| Signal | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Dusty Hill’s wishes were followed | Gives fans a continuity story they can accept |
| 17-string bass went viral | Made him memorable and boosted attention |
| Recent coverage stays positive | Indicates ongoing interest more than backlash |
