ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard Dead at 77 — The Backbeat That Kept Texas Boogie AliveThe sharp-dressed man of the drums is gone.
Frank Beard, the longtime drummer of ZZ Top and the only member of the classic trio who never grew the legendary beard, has died at age 77. He passed on August 17, 2026, in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, surrounded by family.Billy Gibbons’ statement said it best: “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… is going to keep on keeping on as he had wished.”Beard joined the band in 1969/1970 and stayed for 56 years — through every era of fuzzy Texas blues-rock, from “La Grange” and “Tush” to the MTV explosion of “Legs” and “Sharp Dressed Man.” He was the engine that made the little ol’ band from Texas groove so hard for more than half a century. After Dusty Hill’s death in 2021, Beard and Gibbons carried the flag with Elwood Francis on bass.Health issues had forced him to sit out recent shows (including the Hollywood Bowl), and the band cancelled a couple of dates this week out of respect. They plan to resume the tour this weekend in Austin — one of Frank’s favorite cities — as he would have wanted.Rest in power, Frank. That backbeat will keep rolling forever.(Full rock obituaries and classic tracks spinning now on Mendezee Radio — only at mendezee.com.)
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