ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has died at 77 after facing health problems in recent years. The longtime musician died Monday, August 17, at his ranch in Richmond, Texas , after a stay in hospice care, with family members by his side. ZZ Top confirmed his death on Tuesday, August 18, and canceled upcoming shows in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs.
The exact cause of death has not been made public.
The band said it will continue its tour this weekend in Austin, where Beard had strong ties.
ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons confirmed the loss alongside bassist Elwood Francis, who joined the band after Dusty Hill died in 2021. He joined ZZ Top in 1969, soon after the group was formed, and remained its drummer through decades of albums and tours. The exact cause of Frank Beard’s death has not been revealed. The Fort Bend County Medical Examiner confirmed that his death was reported Monday, while his band’s publicist said he was in hospice care at his Texas ranch when he died.
Because of his health issues, zZ Top canceled its August 5 concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Because of another health problem, which was later reported to involve his foot and ankle, the drummer had also stepped away from the band during its 2025 Elevation tour. Beard’s health had become a concern in the weeks before his death. The band had continued performing with a temporary replacement during Beard’s recent absence. His death now means ZZ Top will move forward without the drummer who had been part of the group for more than five decades. His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top. The tribute also reflected how important Beard was to the band’s sound. Following Beard’s death, ZZ Top canceled its scheduled concerts in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs.
The band said it would still continue its tour this weekend at Austin City Limits. In a statement shared by the band, Gibbons said: “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.
