Entertainment
ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard Dies at 77
Frank Beard, the longtime drummer of American rock band ZZ Top, has died at the age of 77. Beard died Tuesday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, whi...
By Wavers Multimedia
Beard died Tuesday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, while receiving hospice care, with members of his family by his side, according to his publicist, Bob Merlis.
He was best known as the drummer of ZZ Top, the Texas boogie-rock trio he helped turn into one of the most recognisable rock acts in the United States. Beard provided the rhythm behind some of the band's biggest songs, including “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’.”
Beard joined ZZ Top in 1969 alongside guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill. The trio maintained its original lineup for more than five decades before Hill died in 2021.
Although Gibbons and Hill became famous for their long beards and distinctive stage appearance, Beard was famously the member who usually did not wear one.
ZZ Top achieved major commercial success during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly after the release of albums such as Tres Hombres and Eliminator. The band became known internationally for its combination of blues, rock and boogie, as well as its memorable music videos.
The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. It has sold more than 50 million records worldwide, according to the Associated Press.
Beard had recently stepped away from touring because of health problems. His death comes while ZZ Top was on a US tour, with the band cancelling upcoming performances following the news.
Gibbons paid tribute to his longtime bandmate, describing Beard as a highly innovative drummer and a close friend.
Beard is survived by his wife and three children.