Frank Beard, Beardless Drummer for ZZ Top, Dies at 77
The only member of the Texas power trio without a beard, he propelled the band’s blend of boogie, Southern rock and blues for more than a half-century.
Frank Beard, the drummer for the rock band ZZ Top, has died at the age of 77. According to Billboard, he passed away on Monday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, while in hospice care, surrounded by family members. Beard had been with ZZ Top since 1969 and was a key part of the band's sound, playing on many of their classic hits.
Beard was the only member of ZZ Top without a beard and was known for his explosive and swinging drumming style. As Billboard noted, his drumming was crucial to the band's sonic identity, and he played a huge part in their success. The band became national rock stars in the mid-1970s with the release of their album "Tres Hombres", and went on to have hits with songs like "La Grange", "Tush", and "Legs".
Tributes have been paid to Beard by his bandmates, including lead singer Billy Gibbons, who said that the world had lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas, as reported by ABC News AU and CBS News.
Brief written by urgent.news from NYT Arts, Billboard, ABC News AU, CBS News, Deadline — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
