ZZ Top returned to the stage at Austin City Limits Live on Saturday following the death of their drummer Frank Beard at age 77.
Bandmates Billy F. Gibbons and Elwood Francis performed at the Texas venue with new drummer Michael Monahan playing in Beard's place for the group's first concert since his passing.
Beard passed away last week while in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, surrounded by his family, a representative confirmed to Variety.
In a video posted by Ultimate Classic Rock, frontman Gibbons introduced Monahan to the audience during Saturday's show, explaining that Beard had personally referred the musician to the band prior to his death.
"I guess some of you probably know, there's a new man in town," Gibbons told the audience. "It all started about a little while back, Elwood and I got an unexpected call from our dear Frank Beard, our dear drummer for 50 years."
Gibbons shared Beard's humorous request regarding his physical health. "I've never heard him admit, he said 'You know, my bass drum's foot a little weak, can you get my man to take over?' I said, 'Oh yeah, yeah, he's been doing pretty good.' Frank said, 'Yeah that's what worries me.'"
Addressing the crowd, Gibbons added: "But we all here for a celebration. You know what's going on. So y'all have a good time."
Prior to taking the stage, Gibbons paid tribute to Beard in a statement posted to the band's official Instagram account, remembering his five decades with the drummer.
"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. His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top," Gibbons said.
The band confirmed in the statement that it would resume its current concert series, titled The Big One! Tour, with two dates at Austin City Limits Live, describing the location as one of Beard's favorite venues in a city that served as a second home for him.
Beard had previously stepped away from live performances in March 2025 during the band's Elevation tour due to illness. Following his departure from the tour, Gibbons and bassist Francis continued performing internationally, including a concert in Madrid in July 2026.
Frank Beard's Life and Battle With Addiction
Beard spoke candidly about his struggles with substance abuse during interviews for the 2019 documentary That Little Ol' Band from Texas, as reported by Rolling Stone.
He admitted that drug addiction severely damaged his personal relationships and led him to sell his original drum kit to buy substances.
"All the money I pissed off, that’s a regret," Beard said in the 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."
Reflecting on his motivation to recover, Beard added: "I just wanted to get sober. I wanted to be like people I admired that could sit at home and watch TV and go to bed."
Beard entered a rehabilitation facility in the late 1970s, during which time ZZ Top paused all activities and went on a three-year hiatus while he achieved sobriety.
In an interview with CBS News, Beard recalled how late bandmate Dusty Hill reacted when asked about the group's plans during 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 refused to search for another drummer while Beard was in rehab, saying at the time: "There is no other drummer. There's one guy!"
Despite his struggles, Beard expressed immense gratitude for his bandmates in the 2019 documentary. "I would say, for me, I have found the people that I want to play with. 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," he said.
"With these two guys, I’ve never wanted to quit, and I’ve never wanted to get fired," Beard added.
Band Legacy and History
ZZ Top formed in 1969 in Texas and rose to global prominence throughout the 1970s and 1980s, becoming widely recognized for the signature long beards grown by Hill and Gibbons.
The band achieved major commercial success with their 1973 album Tres Hombres, which reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 chart and spawned hit singles including La Grange and Jesus Just Left Chicago.
Their hit 1983 album Eliminator delivered massive singles including Gimme All Your Lovin', Sharp Dressed Man, and Legs.
Over their career, ZZ Top produced 15 albums, earned multiple awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
Beard's death is the second major loss for the group in recent years, following the passing of founding bassist Dusty Hill at age 72 in 2021, after which Elwood Francis joined as permanent bassist alongside Gibbons.
