Frank Beard’s Death Signals a Turning Point for ZZ Top

Longtime ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard died in August while receiving hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with his family at his side. The band’s representative, Bob Merlis, confirmed the death but did not disclose a cause. In the wake of his passing, ZZ Top cancelled its scheduled shows in Salt Lake City (August 18) and Colorado Springs (August 19). The group also called off an August 5 concert at the Hollywood Bowl, citing “unspecified health issues” that had forced Beard off the road earlier in the year. Despite the loss, the band announced that it will resume touring in Austin, a venue Beard favored, and continue the current “The Big One!” tour.

Detroit Free PressRock & Roll Hall of Famer Who Powered ZZ Top’s Signature Backbeat Dies at 77: RIP Frank Beard Express TribuneThe Jerusalem PostRolling StoneZZ Top Breaks Silence on Band’s Future After Drummer Frank Beard’s Death Newsweek

Frank Beard joined guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill in 1969 after meeting Gibbons in the Houston-based Moving Sidewalks. The trio solidified ZZ Top’s classic lineup, which endured for more than five decades. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. Beard’s health had become a recurring issue: he temporarily stepped away from touring in March 2025 for foot and ankle problems, and his condition prompted the abrupt Hollywood Bowl cancellation in early August 2026.

Frank Beard, longtime ZZ Top drummer, dead at 77

• ZZ Top has sold more than 50 million records worldwide.

Deadline Hollywood

• Six No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

Deadline Hollywood

• Seven albums have reached the Billboard 200’s Top 10.

Deadline Hollywood

• The 1983 album *Eliminator* earned diamond certification (over 10 million U.S. sales).

Deadline Hollywood

Representative Bob Merlis confirmed Beard’s death and the family’s presence at his side.

Detroit Free Press

The exact cause of Beard’s death has not been released. Some outlets refer to “unspecified health issues” that led to recent tour disruptions, while others simply note that no cause was disclosed. No official medical details have been provided, leaving the precise circumstances of his passing unclear.

Express Tribune

• “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. The band of which he was part for six decades is going to keep on keeping on as he had wished,” — Billy Gibbons, ZZ Top founder

Associated Press

ZZ Top’s tour is slated to resume on August 21 in Eagle Pass, Texas, and will continue through November 24, concluding with a South American leg that ends in Buenos Aires. The band plans to perform with a substitute drummer while honoring Beard’s legacy and maintaining the momentum of the “The Big One!” tour.

ZZ Top Breaks Silence on Band’s Future After Drummer Frank Beard’s Death