Home Uncategorized ZZ TOP BASSIST ELWOOD FRANCIS THOUGHT HE WAS BRINGING ONE RIDICULOUS PROP ON STAGE FOR A SINGLE JOKE — BUT MILLIONS OF VIEWS LATER, THE GAG HAS BECOME A NIGHTLY TRADITION HE SECRETLY CANNOT STAND The enormous, banana-coloured instrument was bought during a late-night online shopping session and appeared during “Got Me Under Pressure” without so much as a proper soundcheck. Francis expected the audience to laugh, the song to end and the strange experiment never to be repeated. Instead, footage exploded online and fans began demanding its return at every concert. Now the 64-year-old admits performing with it is far harder than it looks. He can barely see his hands, struggles to locate the frets and says the stunt has completely overshadowed another famous ZZ Top stage prop.

ZZ TOP BASSIST ELWOOD FRANCIS THOUGHT HE WAS BRINGING ONE RIDICULOUS PROP ON STAGE FOR A SINGLE JOKE — BUT MILLIONS OF VIEWS LATER, THE GAG HAS BECOME A NIGHTLY TRADITION HE SECRETLY CANNOT STAND The enormous, banana-coloured instrument was bought during a late-night online shopping session and appeared during “Got Me Under Pressure” without so much as a proper soundcheck. Francis expected the audience to laugh, the song to end and the strange experiment never to be repeated. Instead, footage exploded online and fans began demanding its return at every concert. Now the 64-year-old admits performing with it is far harder than it looks. He can barely see his hands, struggles to locate the frets and says the stunt has completely overshadowed another famous ZZ Top stage prop.

Uncategorized · 28/07/2026 · comments off

ZZ Top’s bassist Elwood Francis accidentally became a viral sensation, but it made his life a nightmare! It all started when the 64-year-old rocker bought an outlandish 17-string bass “on one of those Chinese websites” during a late-night e-shopping session. He planned to play the banana-colored monstrosity at one show for a joke, during the song “Got Me Under Pressure.” His little joke sent him hugely viral, and he later grumbled in the music press that fans now expect him to play the huge bass at every show.

While Elwood does bring out the beast each night, he said he “hates to play” the bass, as he can barely see what he’s doing with his hands. He called his first gig with the bass a “baptism by fire,” as he played it without any soundcheck and was “seriously struggling” to find the frets. Elwood told frontman Billy Gibbons that playing the bass would be “hilarious,” and it’s true that you gotta smile watching him play it. The Music Man has to add that the groove the trio pump out on this track live is killer!

 

A fan upload by Ace11115 was one of several recordings of ZZ Top playing “Got Me Under Pressure” that went viral recently, with the clip hitting two million views. Fans loved the zany stunt and added comments such as “When you can’t decide if you want a new bass guitar or new snowboard” and “ZZ Top had a winning formula. Act like it’s all just silly fun, but play better than most other serious musical acts in the world.”

“Got Me Under Pressure” is always a banger when the ZZ Top boys drop it live. ZZ Top’s classic lineup bassist Dusty Hill sadly passed away at age 72 in 2021. However, before he did, he left a searing cut of “Got Me Under Pressure” with the trio, captured in their home state of Texas. “Got Me Under Pressure” is a great feature for what Dusty added to the band, as he sings co-lead vocals on the song with Billy.

The Music Man readers might be interested to hear that Elwood’s brush with viral fame began after a convo with Billy. Elwood told Guitar World that “I found this [bass guitar], took a screenshot, and sent it to Billy, saying, ‘We should order one of these, and I’ll play it. It’ll be hilarious.’” Elwood said that after his tough first gig with the 17-string bass, “I thought it was over.” However, the fans had other ideas. He said he “woke up to all these messages and links.” After the big fan reaction, he lamented “now I’ve got to play it [every night].” Elwood said that “At this point, more people ask me about the 17-string bass than they do the fuzzy guitar,” referring to his iconic fluffy bass, which Billy matches on stage with his own fluffy guitar. The bassist added, “Now, the 17-string bass is the thing they want to hold!”

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