ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard Dies at 77

ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has died at 77 in a Texas ranch hospice with family by his side; an exact cause of death was not disclosed. Beard, who joined ZZ Top in 1969 to form the classic trio with Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill, helped craft the band's Texas boogie and backbeat that powered hits like La Grange and Sharp Dressed Man. Following his passing, the band canceled recent shows in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs but said the tour would resume at Austin City Limits, one of Beard's favorite venues. Frontman Billy Gibbons posted a heartfelt tribute calling Beard a great friend and one of the most innovative drummers, noting his pivotal role in ZZ Top's enduring success. Dusty Hill's 2021 death left Gibbons as the sole surviving member of the classic lineup, and Beard's death marks another major change for the group, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Beard was known for being the only member of the classic trio without a long beard, a notable contrast to his bandmates’ iconic look.