ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard Dies At 77

Longtime ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard died Aug. 17 surrounded by family at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, following recent rescheduled ZZ Top dates and reports of failing health while on the road with the band he’s played with for the last 56 years.

“Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas,” Gibbons said in a statement. “His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top. The band of which he was part for six decades is going to keep on keeping on as he had wished.”

Beard, famously the member of ZZ Top to not wear the trademark facial hair, was a founding member of the Texas-based trio and was that initially suggested to a young Billy Gibbons to audition Dusty Hill, the bassist and co-singer who would round out the trio that would perform and record together for the next six decades.

Beard’s passing means the cancellations of its “The Big One!” tour dates in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs remain canceled, although the band will resume this weekend with two dates in at Austin City Limits, which a statement says is
“one of Frank’s favorite venues and in a city that had been something of a second home for him.” The band toured regularly, and similarly continued touring after the passing of Dusty Hill in 2021.

An official three-piece since 1970, Beard, Hill and Gibbons brought an energetic and electric swagger to the Texas boogie, with early stripped-down albums remaining among the most influential of the era with a creative take on the blues, thanks much in part to Beard’s signature style behind the kit, aided by modern guitar wizardry from the lanky and charismatic Gibbons, who shared lead vocals with Hill.

The band found mainstream success in the ’80s with hits like “Sharp Dressed Man,” “La Grange” and “Tush” finding a place on MTV with kitschy music videos emphasizing the bandmates’ trademark beards and simple pleasures in life.

“I always thought that the videos gave the public a glimpse into ZZ Top, a true insight into what the band was about: which is just three guys that have very guy interests — we like cars, we like girls and we like music, ” Beard said in a previous Kerrang interview.