ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard Dies 2 Weeks After Canceled LA Show

Frank Beard, the drummer for rock band ZZ Top, died Tuesday at the age of 77.

Beard was in hospice care he died at his ranch in Texas, with family members at his side, according to publicist Bob Merlis. Band co-founder and guitarist Billy Gibbons, on tour with bassist Elwood Francis, hailed Beard in a statement.

"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 wrote.

Beard's death came less than two weeks after the band was set to perform at the Hollywood Bowl. The show was canceled a day before due to what Gibbons described at the time as "insurmountable obstacles." Organizers said it had to do with personnel matters.

On Tuesday, the band announced it has canceled its upcoming shows in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs. But it plans to resume touring this weekend with two performances at Austin City Limits — "one of Frank’s favorite venues and in a city that had been something of a second home for him," the band wrote in a social media post.

After ZZ Top's bassist, Dusty Hill, died in 2021, Gibbons and Beard continued touring. Francis, the band's longtime guitar tech, stepped in on bass.

The band announced in March 2025 that Beard would temporarily step away from the band’s tour to tend to foot and ankle problems. At that time, drummer John Douglas filled in.

Formed in 1969, ZZ Top sold more than 50 million records and had six singles that reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. Seven of their albums have been in the Billboard 200’s Top 10 and they earned three Grammy Award nominations.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.