Frank Beard, the drummer for rock band ZZ Top, has died at age 77. He passed away on August 17 in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with his family present.
Beard joined ZZ Top in 1971, though he was not a founding member. He grew up in Frankston, Texas, and played in several local rock bands before becoming part of the iconic group. Despite never wearing the long beards that defined bandmates Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill, Beard became the band's signature drummer among fans.
His drumming style provided the rhythmic foundation for ZZ Top's biggest hits, including "La Grange," "Tush," and "Legs." The band rose to prominence in the late 1970s and continued touring for decades, establishing themselves as rock heavyweights through the 1980s and beyond.
Band singer Billy Gibbons released a statement following Beard's death: "Today, Elwood [Francis] 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. 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's career faced challenges over the years. During the late 1970s, he struggled with drug addiction, which led ZZ Top to take a hiatus. Following this break, he overcame his addiction and returned to touring with the band for many years. In 2002, he underwent emergency appendix surgery that caused him to miss some performances.
More recently, Beard stepped away from touring due to undisclosed health issues. Last week, ZZ Top cancelled a show at the Hollywood Bowl because of his condition. The band also cancelled performances scheduled for Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs.
When ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, Beard remained characteristically humble about the honor. He said: "All I have to say is that most of my life has been a pleasant surprise, and so is this. Thank you."
The band experienced another loss in 2021 when bassist Dusty Hill died at age 72. Elwood Francis joined ZZ Top as bass player following Hill's death. Beard's passing marks the end of an era for the group, which maintained a relatively stable core membership throughout its six-decade history. Despite the recent losses, Gibbons indicated the band plans to continue performing as Beard would have wanted.