Frank Beard, the Texas-born drummer who provided the rhythmic backbone for ZZ Top for 56 years, has died at the age of 77. A representative for the band confirmed that Beard passed away on August 17 while in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family members by his side.
Beard’s health had recently impacted his touring schedule. Earlier in August, he stepped away from “The Big One Tour,” with Michael Monahan brought in as a replacement. This followed a 2025 medical leave during which Beard had to pause performances to address an undisclosed issue involving his foot and ankle. Following his passing, the band announced the cancellation of shows scheduled for August 18-19, with plans to resume the tour on August 22-23 at ACL Live at The Moody Theater in Austin—a venue noted as one of the drummer’s favorites in a city he considered a second home.
Born on June 11, 1949, in Frankston, Texas, Beard became a defining member of the trio alongside Billy Gibbons and the late Dusty Hill, who passed away in 2021. With Beard’s death, Gibbons remains the sole surviving member of the band’s most iconic lineup. Ironically, while the band became famous for the long, flowing beards sported by his bandmates, Frank Beard was the only member who did not maintain that signature look, typically opting for a mustache and curls.
Beard’s tenure with the group began shortly after the band’s formation in 1969. While he was not the group’s original drummer—a role held by Dan Mitchell during the band’s initial recordings like “Salt Lick”—he was quickly integrated into the lineup. He had previously played with Dusty Hill in various outfits, including the Warlocks, the Outlaws, the Cellar Dwellers, and American Blues.
The chemistry between the members was immediate and intense. In the 2019 documentary “ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas,” Beard recounted his first meeting with Gibbons, where he insisted they head to a rehearsal studio for an eight-hour jam session. “I was jacked up on speed,” Beard admitted in the film, joking that he pushed Gibbons to play until his tongue nearly gave out. Gibbons recalled the encounter fondly, noting that Beard played with such fierce determination that he knew instantly he had found the right drummer.
The trio’s unique blend of blues, boogie, and rock defined their sound throughout the 1970s, yielding hits like “La Grange” and “Tush.” As the 1980s arrived, the band successfully transitioned into the MTV era, incorporating catchier melodies into their gravelly rock style. This evolution led to massive commercial success with albums like “Eliminator” and “Afterburner,” which featured iconic music videos for tracks such as “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” “Rough Boy,” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’.”
Throughout his career, Beard was credited under various names, including “Rube Beard” on the band’s 1971 debut album and their third release, “Tres Hombres.” His contributions were instrumental in the band’s enduring legacy, which was formally recognized with their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. The report also notes that the band’s representative shared in a statement to that Beard died Aug. The report also notes that in 1966, Gibbons and drummer Dan Mitchell formed The Moving Sidewalks and dropped the album “Flash” in 1969.