Longtime ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has died at the age of 77.

“It was announced today that Frank Beard, ZZ Top’s drummer for the past 56 years, has died. He was in hospice care when he passed away at his ranch in Richmond, TX with family members at his side,” the band’s publicist Bob Merlis said in a statement. It did not cite the reason for his death.

“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,” said ZZ Top front man Billy Gibbons.

Beard is the second member of the classic ZZ Top lineup to die, following bassist Dusty Hill in 2021. Gibbons remains the sole surviving original member.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame blues-rock band has a total of 15 studio albums to their credit during Beard’s tenure, with nine of them attaining RIAA gold or platinum status. The studio album Eliminator, released in 1983, was their biggest hit, having sold more than 10 million units in the United States.

Beard joined as the drummer of ZZ Top in 1969.

In March 2025, Beard temporarily left ZZ Top’s Elevation tour due to illness.

Following Beard’s death, ZZ Top canceled two shows of their The Big One! Tour that had been scheduled for Tuesday in Salt Lake City and Wednesday in Colorado Springs. The band will resume the tour this weekend with two dates in at Austin City Limits.

Source: RTT Music News