Over the past six months, the tributes have poured in thick and fast for Dusty Hill. But few have been as memorable and as appropriate as Play n Go’s release of the ZZ Top Roadside Riches casino slot game. The release places the rockers among a select group of bands to have a slot game created in their honour, alongside the likes of Kiss, Guns n Roses and Megadeth.
Luck on the road?
If you spend any time in real or virtual casinos, you’ll know there are a lot of slot games out there, with new ones being released every week. Some are good, some bad and some indifferent. Roadside Riches definitely deserves its place among the best online slots and not just because it features the most magnificent beards in the music business.
Numbers-wise, Roadside Riches is standard Play n Go fare. Five reels, more than 1,000 ways to win and a RTP of 96.2 percent are all good stats, but are about the same as the developer’s other offerings. It’s when you get into the gameplay itself that the game really stands out.
The reel symbols include images of Billy, Dan and Dusty as well as sunglasses and skulls, with the usual playing cards for the lower value symbols. There are four bonus features, which are the Legs Wild, Gimme Wild, Legs Free Spins and Gimme Free Spins. Land Wilds during a Free Spins bonus round and the rewards can really start piling in.
The show must go on
Roadside Riches is a must-play if you enjoy ZZ Top and casino gaming. Even if luck isn’t shining on you, at least you’ll be soaking up some classic tunes while you play! But the good news is ZZ Top is not just about listening to the classics and feeling nostalgic.
Dusty made it very clear that he didn’t want his demise to mean the end of ZZ Top, and his bandmates are honouring his wishes. Elwood Francis is one of the most respected guitar techs in the business. He has supported ZZ Top numerous times over the past 30 years, as well as having spells with Guns n Roses, Aerosmith and others. Francis stood in for Dusty when he was convalescing after hip surgery, and he looks set to make the arrangement permanent as he joins the band on their 2022 tour. The band will be playing in venues across Canada between February and May, concluding with a couple of US gigs in June. Unconfirmed rumours suggest a European tour could follow in late 2022 / early 23.
There is also a new album on the way. It’s been in development since 2019, and while Billy Gibbons had originally planned a release in December 2021, it is now expected by the middle of this year. On the road, in the studio and even online at the casino, the show must go on for ZZ Top. And that’s exactly the way Dusty wanted it.