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Frank Beard, the longtime drummer for Houston rock band ZZ Top, died Tuesday, Aug. 18, at age 77. The Frank Beard death was confirmed by the band and his publicist, Bob Merlis.
Beard died at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, while receiving hospice care. Family members were by his side. A specific cause of death had not been announced as of Wednesday.
Frank Beard’s signature sound shaped ZZ Top
Beard joined guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill as ZZ Top took shape in Houston in 1969. His steady backbeat became a defining part of the band’s blues, boogie and hard-rock sound.
The trio built an international audience with songs including “La Grange,” “Tush” and “Cheap Sunglasses.” Later hits included “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs.”
Gibbons remembered Beard as a close friend, collaborator and naturally innovative drummer. He said Beard’s signature backbeat helped keep “ZZ on top.”
“The band of which he was part for six decades is going to keep on keeping on as he had wished,” Gibbons said.
ZZ Top sold more than 50 million records during Beard’s career. The group also placed six songs at No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted Beard, Gibbons and Hill in 2004. The honor recognized a remarkably stable lineup that had performed together for more than three decades.
Hill died in 2021 at age 72. Elwood Francis, the band’s longtime guitar technician, later assumed bass duties.
Concert plans following Frank Beard death
ZZ Top canceled its Aug. 18 concert in Sandy, Utah, and its Aug. 19 performance in Colorado Springs. Those cancellations followed Beard’s death and earlier concerns about his health.
The group also canceled an Aug. 5 Hollywood Bowl appearance. Organizers initially cited personnel matters, while later statements connected the cancellation to Beard’s health.
However, the band said its wider The Big One! Tour will continue. ZZ Top plans to resume performances with two Texas concerts at ACL Live at The Moody Theater in Austin.
The first Austin show is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. A second performance is set for 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23. Keyboardist Mike “The Drifter” Flanigin is listed as the supporting act.
Additional dates remain posted on the official ZZ Top tour calendar. They include stops in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New York, Vermont and several other states through September.
The band had already performed some recent concerts without Beard because of his health problems. ZZ Top has not announced a permanent drummer to succeed him.
Concert listings can change quickly following a major announcement. Ticket holders should check directly with venues or authorized ticket sellers for refund, rescheduling and performance updates.
Beard is survived by his wife, Debbie Meredith, and three children. His death marks another major loss for Texas music. However, his unmistakable rhythm remains part of ZZ Top’s enduring connection to Houston and rock audiences worldwide.