ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard Dies at 77

Frank Beard, the longtime drummer of rock band ZZ Top, has died at the age of 77, the group announced on Tuesday.

Beard died while receiving hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, surrounded by family, according to a statement from the band. No cause of death was given.

Beard spent 56 years behind the drum kit for ZZ Top, helping establish the distinctive sound of one of rock music's most enduring groups. He joined guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill in 1970, forming a trio that remained together until Hill died in 2021. Elwood Francis subsequently joined the band as bassist.

Gibbons paid tribute to Beard as a close friend, collaborator and musician whose distinctive drumming was central to ZZ Top's sound.

"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.

He added that Beard's unmistakable backbeat had been fundamental to the band's success and said ZZ Top would continue performing in keeping with Beard's wishes.

The band cancelled its scheduled performance in Salt Lake City on Tuesday and a show in Colorado Springs on Wednesday following Beard's death. ZZ Top is expected to return to the stage in Austin, Texas, this weekend.

ZZ Top became an international sensation during the 1980s, when the band was heavily featured on MTV during the golden era of music videos. Gibbons and Hill became famous for their long beards, sunglasses and distinctive image, while Beard generally appeared clean-shaven, creating a visual contrast within the trio.

The band's catalogue includes major hits such as "Sharp Dressed Man" and "Legs", helping cement ZZ Top's place in rock history.

ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. During the ceremony, Beard reflected on his extraordinary career and expressed gratitude for the life he had experienced through music.

"All I have to say is that most of my life has been a pleasant surprise, and so is this. Thank you," Beard said at the induction ceremony.