RICHMOND, Texas — Frank Beard, the longtime drummer whose unmistakable rhythm helped power ZZ Top for more than five decades, has died at the age of 77.
Beard died on August 17, 2026, at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, while receiving hospice care, with his family by his side, according to the band and his publicist. His cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
His death marks the loss of one of the defining figures of Texas rock—and the end of an extraordinary 56-year run with ZZ Top.
The drummer behind the ZZ Top sound
Beard joined ZZ Top in 1969, alongside guitarist and vocalist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill. The trio would go on to become one of the most recognizable acts in American rock history.
For decades, Beard’s drumming provided the steady, hard-driving foundation beneath ZZ Top’s blues-infused boogie rock. The band became internationally known for songs including “La Grange,” “Tush,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’.”
The group’s commercial breakthrough reached another level with the 1983 album “Eliminator,” which blended ZZ Top’s blues-rock roots with synthesizers, drum machines and a highly distinctive visual style that became a fixture on MTV.
ZZ Top ultimately sold more than 50 million records worldwide, earned multiple Grammy nominations and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
A strange twist: The “bearded” band member who wasn’t bearded
Beard’s name became one of rock’s enduring jokes.
While Gibbons and Hill were famous for their enormous beards, Beard himself was generally clean-shaven—making him the unlikely “beardless” member of ZZ Top.
The contrast became part of the band’s identity and added to the humor surrounding a group already known for its distinctive image, elaborate music videos and larger-than-life Texas persona.
But behind the visual gimmick was a drummer whose contribution was fundamental to the band’s sound.
Health struggles preceded his death
Beard’s death comes after a period of health problems that had affected his ability to tour.
He stepped away from ZZ Top’s touring schedule during periods of illness, with substitute drummers filling in for him. Reports said he had recently been dealing with health issues before his final hospitalization and hospice care.
ZZ Top had been on its “The Big One!” tour when Beard’s health deteriorated. Following his death, the band canceled several performances before announcing plans to continue playing, consistent with Beard’s wishes.
Billy Gibbons pays tribute to his longtime bandmate
Gibbons mourned Beard as more than simply a drummer.
The ZZ Top guitarist described him as a great friend and collaborator, while praising his creativity and musicianship.
Gibbons also indicated that the band intends to continue performing.
That decision carries particular emotional weight because Beard was the final drummer of ZZ Top’s classic three-man lineup following the death of bassist Dusty Hill in 2021.
Hill had played alongside Beard and Gibbons for decades. After Hill’s death, Elwood Francis became the band’s touring bassist and later a member of the group’s continuing lineup.
From Texas clubs to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Beard’s career was deeply connected to Texas music.
Before ZZ Top, he played with several groups and crossed paths with Dusty Hill in the Texas music scene. His partnership with Hill eventually helped lay the foundation for what would become one of rock’s most enduring rhythm sections.
When ZZ Top was formed in Houston in 1969, few could have predicted that the lineup would remain together for more than half a century.
Yet Beard, Gibbons and Hill became one of the longest-running original lineups in rock history.
Their music crossed generations, moving from blues clubs and album-oriented rock radio to MTV and eventually modern streaming platforms.
What happens to ZZ Top now?
Beard’s death leaves Billy Gibbons as the only surviving member of ZZ Top’s classic lineup.
The band has already demonstrated that it intends to continue rather than retire, following the philosophy established after Hill’s death.
But Beard’s absence changes the emotional landscape of the group.
For longtime fans, the unmistakable ZZ Top sound was built around three personalities: Gibbons’ guitar, Hill’s bass and Beard’s drums.
With Beard now gone, every future performance will carry the weight of that history.
Frank Beard was not merely the drummer standing behind ZZ Top.
For 56 years, he was part of the heartbeat of one of rock music’s most enduring bands.
And now, one of Texas rock’s most familiar rhythms has fallen silent.
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