ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has died at the age of 77 at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, surrounded by his family.
A representative for the late drummer confirmed his death to Variety, stating that Beard was receiving hospice care at his home at the time of his passing.
ZZ Top founding member Billy F. Gibbons paid tribute to Beard in a statement published on the band's official Instagram account, describing him as a key figure in the group's enduring success.
"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."
Following Beard's death, the rock group announced the cancellation of its upcoming concert dates in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs. However, the band will move forward with scheduled performances at Austin City Limits as part of its current tour, titled The Big One! Tour.
The band statement confirmed that the group will resume the tour this weekend with two dates at Austin City Limits, a venue that held a special place in the drummer's heart and in a city that served as a second home for him.
Recent Health Struggles and Tour Absence
Beard joined ZZ Top shortly after its formation in 1969, but he faced increasingly apparent health challenges over the past year. The band was set to perform at the Hollywood Bowl earlier this month but was forced to cancel due to what was described at the time as unforeseen personnel matters. Rolling Stone later reported that the cancellation was due to Beard's declining health.
A year prior, Beard's health had already forced him to step away from the band's tour. In March 2025, management firm Shelter Music Group issued a statement announcing that the drummer was temporarily stepping away from the band's Elevation tour to attend to a health issue requiring his focus in the near term.
During his absence from the tour, Gibbons and bassist Elwood Francis recruited fellow Texan and longtime tech crew member John Douglas to fill in on drums. Douglas, a percussionist and drum technician who maintained a close relationship with Beard and his bandmates, had previously replaced Beard during a 2002 show in Paris when the drummer underwent an emergency appendectomy.
At the time of his temporary departure in 2025, Shelter Music Group noted that Beard was looking forward to a speedy recovery.
Decades of Musical Partnership
ZZ Top formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969, with Beard joining guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill shortly after its inception. The trio forged a musical partnership that endured for more than five decades.
Speaking about his bond with his bandmates in the 2019 documentary That Little Ol' Band from Texas, Beard expressed his deep satisfaction with the group's long-standing lineup, as reported by Rolling Stone.
"I would say, for me, I have found the people that I want to play with," Beard said in the documentary. "And I was able to do that at a very early age. I’m still satisfied with them. I’m satisfied with Dusty and I’m satisfied with Billy."
Beard added that throughout his long career with the group, he never wanted to leave or be replaced: "With these two guys, I’ve never wanted to quit, and I’ve never wanted to get fired."
Personal Struggles and Band Hiatus
Despite his musical success, Beard struggled openly with substance abuse during his career, acknowledging in later years that drug addiction severely damaged his personal relationships and finances.
"All the money I pissed off, that’s a regret," Beard confessed in the 2019 documentary. "I sold my original Ludwig kit to buy drugs with it. Relationships I f**ked up.. In the back of my mind, I knew I needed to kick heroin. I needed to stop doing cocaine. I had done it all, and I couldn’t go any further."
In the late 1970s, Beard checked himself into a rehabilitation facility to seek treatment. His decision to seek help led ZZ Top to take a three year hiatus from touring and recording.
"I just wanted to get sober," Beard recalled. "I wanted to be like people I admired that could sit at home and watch TV and go to bed."
Recalling that period during an interview with CBS News, Beard shared a lighthearted moment about how his bandmate reacted to his rehab stay. "In the late '70s, I entered rehab. Somebody asked Dusty what he was gonna do. 'Hey what are y'all gonna do, you know? Frank's in rehab.' And Dusty said, 'Well, I'm goin' fishing!'"
Gibbons maintained absolute loyalty to Beard throughout his recovery, refusing to look for a permanent replacement. "There is no other drummer. There's one guy!" Gibbons said.
Loss of Dusty Hill and Band Lineup
Beard's passing marks the second death among ZZ Top's classic lineup in recent years. Founding bassist Dusty Hill died in July 2021 at the age of 72.
Following Hill's death, longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis stepped in to play bass for the band, fulfilling Hill's explicit wishes before his passing. The group currently consists of Gibbons and Francis.
Commercial Success and Rock Hall Legacy
ZZ Top first achieved national prominence during the 1970s before reaching massive commercial heights in the 1980s. The blues rock band became instantly recognizable worldwide for the long beards worn by Hill and Gibbons, while drummer Frank Beard ironically sported only a mustache.
The band released its breakthrough album Tres Hombres in 1973, which peaked at number 8 on the Billboard 200 chart and featured hit singles such as La Grange and Jesus Just Left Chicago.
In 1983, ZZ Top released the multi-platinum album Eliminator, which yielded international hit singles including Gimme All Your Lovin', Sharp Dressed Man, and Legs.
Over a career spanning more than 50 years, ZZ Top released 15 studio albums and earned numerous industry awards. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
