ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard dies aged 77

Drummer Frank Beard, a longtime member of the blues-rock band ZZ Top, has passed away at the age of 77. The band announced the news on their website, stating that Beard died on Monday in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family present. No specific cause of death was provided. Due to his sudden passing, the band had to cancel tour dates in Utah and Colorado this week.

ZZ Top, established in 1969, has released a total of 19 studio and four live albums, with popular singles including Gimme All Your Lovin, Sleeping Bag, and Viva Las Vegas. Founding members Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill remain with the group, with Elwood Francis taking over bass duties following Hill's death in 2021. Drummer Frank Beard, known as "The Man With No Beard," played a crucial role in the band's rhythm section, contributing to hits like La Grange, Tush, and Cheap Sunglasses.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and continues the band's touring schedule, with plans to resume the The Big One! Tour at Austin City Limits.