#SHOWBIZ: ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard dies at age 77
NEW YORK: Frank Beard, the longtime drummer of American rock-blues group ZZ Top, has died at the age of 77, the band and their publicist announced Tuesday.
Frank Beard, the legendary drummer for the iconic American rock-blues group ZZ Top, passed away at the age of 77 on Tuesday, according to the band and their publicist. Known for his iconic beats on hits like "La Grange" and "Sharp Dressed Man," Beard had taken a break from touring the previous year due to undisclosed health problems.
ZZ Top's lead singer, Billy Gibbons, described Beard as a "great friend and collaborator," praising his innovative drumming and Texas roots. The band, which he was a part of for six decades, expressed their commitment to continuing their career as Beard had wished. Beard was in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, surrounded by his loved ones when he sadly departed.
Born in Frankston, Texas in 1949, Beard joined ZZ Top in 1969 and witnessed the transformation of the three-man band from heavy blues to their experimental synthesizer sound in the 1980s. The group gained widespread fame for their popular music videos, including "Gimme All Your Lovin," winning three MTV Video Music Awards. In 2021, ZZ Top's original bassist, Dusty Hill, also passed away.
Following Beard's death, the band canceled performances in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs and announced they would continue shows at Austin City Limits in Texas, a venue and city dear to Beard.
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