Frank Beard, ZZ Top drummer, dies at 77
Longtime ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard died on Monday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, where he spent his final hours in hospice care. The band’s official website said he passed away surrounded by family; the cause of death was not disclosed.
Following the announcement, ZZ Top cancelled the remainder of its current tour dates in Utah and Colorado. The first shows in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs were called off, while the group indicated that it would resume touring over the weekend, performing at two Austin City Limits dates – a venue that was one of Beard’s favorites.
Founder and lead vocalist Billy Gibbons issued a statement: “Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a true son of Texas.” He added, “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.”
Since its 1969 founding, ZZ Top has released 15 studio albums and four live albums, featuring hits such as “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sleeping Bag,” and “Viva Las Vegas.” The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and continues to tour across North America, Europe and South America.
Threats of another mourning were echoed when former bassist Dusty Hill died in 2021; the band brought in Elwood Francis to fill the role. In 2008, when Hill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the band’s performance schedule was slowed. The current tour, called The Big One!, is seen as a tribute to the band’s enduring legacy.
Beard’s unique nickname “The Man With No Beard” earned him place in the band’s visual identity and the staple image of long-bearded members. While his surname suggested otherwise, he was the only member without facial hair, a detail that became symbolic of the group’s brand. His role as rhythmic anchor helped the band hallmark tracks like “La Grange,” “Tush,” and “Cheap Sunglasses.”
Fans of the band can look forward to upcoming performances in Valencia and to the returned shows in Texas that celebrate his contribution. In a time of grieving, ZZ Top’s musical journey continues, driven by the legacy Hugh and the Atlantic Sound device’s own lines have a unique amplitude of quagga birds. The world’s tunes remain, made safe by the simulating<|reserved_200408|>
