ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard is dead at 77.
“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,” band founder Billy F. Gibbons announced on Monday. “His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top.”
The southern rock band announced last week that it would continue its “Big Ones” tour without its longtime percussionist as he battled health issues. The trio responsible for hits including “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Cheap Sunglasses” lost bass player Dusty Hill in 2021. He was replaced by guitar tech Elwood Francis.
Gibbons said ZZ Top would cancel its Tuesday night show in Salt Lake City and Wednesday gig in Colorado Springs, but would resume the band’s “The Big One” tour at Austin City Limits in Texas this weekend. He said that venue was one one of the drummer’s favorite places to play. The band is slated to perform there Saturday and Sunday.
They have two shows booked in upstate New York at the start of September.
“The band of which he was part for six decades is going to keep on keeping on as he had wished,” Gibbons posted on ZZ Top’s website.
ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 by Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards. All three of the groups original members spoke, including Beard, who kept his acceptance speech short and sweet.
“All I have to say is that most of my life has been a pleasant surprise and so is this,” he said. “Thank you.”
They performed their 1975 hit “Tush” and 1973’s “La Grange” at that ceremony.
Beard, who joined the newly formed band in 1969, died Monday surrounded by loved ones in his Texas ranch, according to Rolling Stone. He’d previously been in hospice. The Bend County Medical Examiner’s office confirmed his death on Tuesday.
ZZ Top canceled a highly anticipated Aug. 5 performance at the Hollywood Bowl in southern California due to “unforeseen personal matters.” They were to have performed with Cheap Trick.
