Frank Beard, the drummer of ZZ Top for five and a half decades, has died at 77. Beard passed away Monday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, surrounded by family members while in hospice care.
Beard anchored one of rock's most durable lineups, providing the rhythmic foundation for ZZ Top's blues-rock sound across 56 years. The Texas trio, completed by Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill, became known for their stripped-down, groove-heavy aesthetic and iconic visual presentation. Beard's steady, understated drumming proved essential to the band's formula, particularly on signature tracks like "La Grange" and "Tush," which relied on his muscular but precise timekeeping.
ZZ Top formed in 1969 and became one of the longest-running bands in rock history, performing with remarkable consistency through changing musical trends. The band sold millions of albums worldwide and built a devoted fanbase that spanned generations. Their 1983 album "Eliminator" became a massive commercial success, driven by MTV's embrace of their music videos during the network's formative years.
Beard's tenure with the band remained unbroken even as other rock institutions fragmented or reformed. His reliability and musicianship allowed ZZ Top to maintain their reputation for explosive live performances. The band continued touring regularly, with Beard behind the drums, until recent years.
The loss of Beard marks the first member of the classic ZZ Top lineup to pass away. Dusty Hill, the bass guitarist and co-vocalist, died in July 2021 at age 72. His death prompted immediate uncertainty about the band's future, but Gibbons later confirmed ZZ Top would continue with a new bassist.