Frank Beard, the iconic drummer for ZZ Top who helped define the band’s signature sound for more than five decades, has died at age 77.
Beard died on August 17 while in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family members by his side, the band’s representative confirmed.
However, he had just quit playing for ZZ Top’s “The Big One Tour” because of health problems; his substitute is Michael Monahan.
Beard joined forces with guitarist Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill in 1969, thus creating one of the longest-lasting bands in rock music. The band continued until the death of Hill in 2021, after which ZZ Top got Elwood Francis as its member.
Their first performance took place on February 10, 1970, at Knights of Columbus Hall in Beaumont, Texas. In total, during their career, ZZ Top received 11 gold records, seven platinum records, and “Eliminator,” which was released in 1983, became a diamond record with more than 10 million units sold.
Beard struggled with substance abuse early in his career but returned sober after a band hiatus. The specific cause of Beard’s death has not been publicly disclosed by his family or the band’s representatives.
2026-08-19 00:57:00
