Frank Beard Death Houston TX Obituary: ZZ Top Drummer Dies at 77 After Decades in Rock Music
Frank Beard, the longtime drummer whose steady rhythm helped define the unmistakable sound of ZZ Top, has died at age 77. His passing marks the loss of one of the most enduring figures in American blues rock.
Beard died on August 17, 2026, while receiving hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family members by his side, according to a statement from ZZ Top representatives. A cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
Born June 11, 1949, in Frankston, Texas, Beard became a professional drummer before joining ZZ Top in 1969 alongside Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill. For more than five decades, he remained at the heart of the band’s rhythm section, contributing to its distinctive blend of blues, rock and boogie.
With ZZ Top, Beard performed on songs including “La Grange,” “Tush” and “Sharp Dressed Man,” helping the group become an international rock institution. The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
In recent weeks, Beard had faced health problems that affected ZZ Top’s touring schedule. The band canceled several performances as he stepped away from the road.
Beard’s death leaves Billy Gibbons as the only surviving member of ZZ Top’s classic trio following Dusty Hill’s death in 2021.
For generations of listeners, Beard’s playing was an essential part of ZZ Top’s sound. His contribution extended far beyond the drum kit, becoming part of the musical identity that made the band unforgettable.
Frank Beard will be remembered as a masterful drummer, a Texas rock original and a musician whose work helped shape one of America’s most recognizable bands. His rhythms will continue to live through the music he leaves behind.
