ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard is Dead

Frank Beard, the enduring drummer for the legendary American rock band ZZ Top, has passed away. His death was announced by bandmate Billy Gibbons via Instagram, who described Beard as a "great friend and collaborator" and "one of the most innately innovative drummers." The band's spokesperson, Bob Merlis, confirmed Beard's passing, stating he died in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, surrounded by his family.

Details regarding the cause of death have not yet been released. Beard was a foundational member of ZZ Top, which formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969. The band achieved significant commercial success, particularly with their 1973 album "Tres Hombres," which is now considered a classic. Throughout the 1970s, ZZ Top released six studio albums and embarked on extensive tours, including the massive "World Wide Texas Tour" which featured nearly 100 concerts across the United States from 1976 to 1977.

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Today we have lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world has lost one of the most innately innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas.

Beard's passing comes just a few years after the death of ZZ Top's bassist, Dusty Hill, who died in 2021 at the age of 72. Elwood Francis subsequently joined the band to fill Hill's role. ZZ Top was reportedly in the midst of their "The Big One!" tour in the United States at the time of Beard's death, having recently postponed a concert in Los Angeles in early August.

Gibbons fondly remembered Beard not only for his musical talent but also as a "great and true son of Texas." Beard's distinctive drumming style and his presence in ZZ Top contributed significantly to the band's enduring legacy and unique sound, cementing their place in rock music history.

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Frank Beard was in hospice care, writes band spokesperson Bob Merlis. The cause of death was not disclosed.