Frank Beard, ZZ Top Drummer, Dies at 77

Frank Beard, the drummer for the legendary southern rock band ZZ Top, has died at the age of 77. He passed away in an hospice, a palliative care facility, and the cause of death has not been disclosed. Beard co-founded ZZ Top in Texas in 1969 with bassist Dusty Hill (who died in 2021) and guitarist Billy Gibbons. Notably, Beard was the only member without a long beard, which led to many jokes among fans given his surname means 'beard' in English. ZZ Top's music was heavily influenced by blues, boogie, country, and funk, with their most famous song 'La Grange' exemplifying this style. In the 1980s, they incorporated synthesizers, achieving their greatest success with the 1983 album 'Eliminator', which includes the hit 'Sharp Dressed Man'. Beard's drumming provided the rhythmic foundation for ZZ Top's live performances, which were known for the theatrical antics of Hill and Gibbons, who moved in unison and spun their guitars using a special belt attachment. In a statement announcing Beard's death, Gibbons said that Beard's drumming 'was the key to keeping the ZZ at the Top'. ZZ Top remains active; a concert on August 5 was abruptly canceled, and the next two performances have also been canceled. The tour will resume over the weekend with a substitute drummer.