In brief
Frank Beard, the longtime drummer of ZZ Top, passed away on 18 August 2026 at his ranch in Richmond, Texas. The band’s official statement announced his death in hospice care, with his family present. The news prompted a cancellation of scheduled shows in Utah and Colorado, with plans to resume touring in Austin later the same week. ZZ Top has toured globally for decades, with Beard’s steady backbeat underpinning hits such as “Gimme All Your Lovin” and “La Grange.” His absence is felt by bandmates and fans alike as the end of a seven‑decade partnership.
Frank Beard, the longtime drummer of the iconic blues‑rock band ZZ Top, has died at the age of 77.
According to a statement released on the band’s website, Beard passed away on Monday in hospice care on his ranch in Richmond, Texas. Family members were at his bedside during the final hours.
The death of the musician caused the cancellation of ZZ Top’s scheduled performances in Utah and Colorado this week. The group announced that it would resume its current tour later in the month, scheduling shows in Austin City Limits, a venue long favoured by Beard.
ZZ Top, founded in 1969, has released 15 studio albums and four live recordings. Hits like “Gimme All Your Lovin”, “Sleeping Bag” and “Viva Las Vegas” made the band a long‑standing force in rock. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 and continues to tour internationally.
After the death of bassist Dusty Hill in 2021, the band welcomed Elwood Francis to replace him. In his tribute to Beard, vocalist Billy Gibbons said, “Today the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a true son of Texas.”
