ZZ Top's longtime drummer Frank Beard dies at 77
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Frank Beard, the drummer for rock group ZZ Top, died at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, at age 77, the band said. He was in hospice care surrounded by family, and no cause of death was disclosed. The band canceled Tuesday's Salt Lake City concert and Wednesday's Colorado Springs show, and said the current tour resumes this weekend in Austin.
Key Facts
- Frank Beard played drums for ZZ Top for 56 years, appearing on hits such as 'Sharp Dressed Man' and 'Legs.'
- Beard died in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family members at his side, and no cause of death was disclosed.
- The group canceled its Aug. 18 concert in Salt Lake City and Aug. 19 show in Colorado Springs, and said the current tour will resume this weekend in Austin.
- Beard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with ZZ Top in 2004.
Death Announcement
Frank Beard, 77, died in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family members at his side, the group said on Tuesday. No cause of death was disclosed. Billy Gibbons, ZZ Top's founder and guitarist, said he and bassist Elwood Francis lost 'a great friend and collaborator' and called Beard 'one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a true son of Texas.'
ZZ Top Career
Beard joined ZZ Top in 1969 and remained the band's drummer for more than five decades. With guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill, he recorded hits including 'La Grange,' 'Tush,' 'Cheap Sunglasses,' 'Sharp Dressed Man,' and 'Legs.' In 2004, Beard and his ZZ Top bandmates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Beard was the second member of the classic lineup to die, following bassist Dusty Hill's death in 2021.
Tour Cancellations
ZZ Top canceled its Aug. 18 concert in Salt Lake City and Aug. 19 performance in Colorado Springs. The group had previously canceled a Hollywood Bowl show in Los Angeles earlier this month, citing 'insurmountable obstacles' that were later linked to Beard's health. The current tour is scheduled to resume this weekend in Austin, Texas.
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ZZ Top's longtime drummer Frank Beard dies at 77
