Frank Beard Dead: ZZ Top's Drummer For Nearly Six Decades Years Was 77
Deadline
β’Tue, 18 Aug 2026 19:37:52 +0000
π° What Happened
Frank Beard, ZZ Top's drummer for nearly six decades, died on Monday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, while in hospice care. He was 77 and played on classics such as La Grange, Tush, Sharp Dressed Man and Legs. He was forced to leave ZZ Top's current tour in March due to an unspecified health issue, and the band cancelled a planned Hollywood Bowl concert this month as his health worsened.
π The Backstory
ZZ Top was formed in 1969 in Houston with Beard alongside singer-guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill. The boogie-blues trio became one of rock's most beloved bands, boosted by signature videos in heavy MTV rotation. They were among the longest-tenured original lineups in rock until Hill died in 2021, and released 15 studio albums selling more than 25 million records.
π― Why It Matters
Beard was the last surviving member of ZZ Top's classic lineup, making his death a final chapter for one of rock's most enduring and beloved trios. It marks the end of an era for the band's iconic boogie-blues sound and its unmistakable stage image.
Frank Beard, ZZ Top's drummer for nearly six decades, died on Monday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, while in hospice care. He was 77 and played on classics such as La Grange, Tush, Sharp Dressed Man and Legs. He was forced to leave ZZ Top's current tour in March due to an unspecified health issue, and the band cancelled a planned Hollywood Bowl concert this month as his health worsened.
ZZ Top was formed in 1969 in Houston with Beard alongside singer-guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill. The boogie-blues trio became one of rock's most beloved bands, boosted by signature videos in heavy MTV rotation. They were among the longest-tenured original lineups in rock until Hill died in 2021, and released 15 studio albums selling more than 25 million records.
Beard was the last surviving member of ZZ Top's classic lineup, making his death a final chapter for one of rock's most enduring and beloved trios. It marks the end of an era for the band's iconic boogie-blues sound and its unmistakable stage image.