ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard Has Died

Frank Beard, drummer for ZZ Top for the past 56 years, died Monday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family at his side. He was 77. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Beard is the second of the band’s classic lineup to die, following bassist Dusty Hill, who passed away in 2021 at age 72. Elwood Francis subsequently joined ZZ Top as the band’s bass player.

Born Frank Lee Beard on June 11, 1949, in Frankston, Texas, he was raised in Irving, Texas. As a youngster, he took up drums, drawing influences from The Beatles and later from seeing blues legends in Dallas clubs. Around this time Beard performed with Hill, including a stint backing Lightnin’ Hopkins.

Beard, guitarist Billy F Gibbons and Hill came together as ZZ Top in Houston in 1969. The classic lineup debuted on February 10, 1970, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Beaumont, Texas, and remained unchanged for more than 50 years.

Over that span, ZZ Top released numerous well-received albums, issuing their debut LP, ZZ Top’s First Album, in 1971. Their third album, 1973’s Tres Hombres, was the trio’s initial breakout success on the heels of tracks like “La Grange,” “Jesus Just Left Chicago” and “Waiting For The Bus.”

Their commercial peak came with 1983’s Eliminator, which produced the hits “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs.” The band was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.

Visually, Beard stood apart from his bandmates. Though Gibbons and Hill were known for their long beards, Beard himself went largely beard-less. Beard battled addiction earlier in his career but got sober during one of the band’s extended hiatuses. He married Debbie Meredith in 1982 and the couple’s twin sons, Rory and Nico, were born in 1985.

Beard’s death followed a series of health struggles. In March 2025, the band announced Beard was temporarily stepping away from touring to address an unspecified health problem, later revealed to be “foot and ankle issues.” The band’s longtime crew member, drummer/percussionist John Douglas, filled in for Beard. Last week, ZZ Top abruptly canceled a scheduled performance at the Hollywood Bowl.

ZZ Top also canceled shows scheduled this week in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs following Beard’s death. The band’s The Big One! Tour is set to resume on Friday, August 21 in Eagle Pass, Texas, followed by two shows in Austin.

“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. “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.”