Frank Beard, the longtime drummer for the rock band ZZ Top, died Monday at the age of 77. The band confirmed his death to CBS News, stating that he passed away at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, surrounded by family members.
According to a statement from the band's publicist, Beard was in hospice care at the time of his death. A specific cause of death was not immediately released by the band or his representatives.
Beard was a founding member of ZZ Top, forming the group in 1969 alongside guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill. Following Hill's death in 2021, Beard and Gibbons continued the band with Elwood Francis, Hill's former bass technician. Gibbons described Beard in a social media statement as an "innovative drummer" whose "signature backbeat" was central to the band's sound.
In response to Beard's death, the band announced the cancellation of two scheduled performances in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. The group stated that they intend to resume their tour this coming weekend with a performance at Austin City Limits in Austin, Texas.
The band’s decision to continue their tour starting this weekend in Austin reflects a significant change in the group's lineup and operation. The loss of Beard leaves Billy Gibbons as the sole original member of the trio that performed together for over 50 years. For the band's crew and the venues involved, this transition requires immediate logistical adjustments to accommodate a new drummer or a change in the performance format, though the band has not yet announced who will fill the drummer's role for the remaining dates.
The passing of Beard follows the 2021 death of bassist Dusty Hill, marking the end of the original three-member configuration that defined ZZ Top's recording and touring history since the late 1960s. For the music industry and fans of the genre, the loss represents the end of an era for one of Texas's most recognizable musical exports. The band’s next scheduled activity is the performance at Austin City Limits this coming weekend, where they will appear at a venue the band described as one of Beard's favorites.