Frank Beard, a forming member of ZZ Top, died on Monday. The band is expected to continue its tour through November.
Frank Beard was a founding member of the iconic Houston-born rock band ZZ Top and served as its drummer for over 50 years. On Monday, it was announced that Beard had died at the age of 77 and “was in hospice care when he passed away at his ranch in Richmond, TX with family members at his side.” As of writing, an official cause of death has not been released.
Guitarist Billy Gibbons, who created the band in 1969 alongside Beard and bassist Dusty Hill, said in a statement, “Today, Elwood [Francis] 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. His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top. The band of which he was part for six decades is going to keep on keeping on as he had wished.”
Beard, Gibbons, and Hill remained the band’s core trio for decades, becoming one of the longest-running groups in rock music history to retain the same members. ZZ Top had cemented itself in popular culture with hits like “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Gimme All Your Lovin,” and “Legs,” and were known for their extremely long beards. Ironically though, Beard was the only member to not have one, despite his last name.
In 2003, the trio and their bandmates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and they have continued touring on and off over the years with a variety of lineups. On July 28, 2021, bassist Dusty Hill died in his sleep at his Houston home at the age of 72. The last time he, Gibbons, and Beard played together was on July 18 of that same year. They performed in Louisville, Kentucky at Iroquois Amphitheater, playing all their hits for an adoring crowd.
ZZ Top is currently touring across the United States on its “The Big One! Tour,” though Beard had not been performing with the group at the time of his death. He hadn’t toured since March 2025, when the group released a statement saying that Beard was dealing with health issues and would no longer be on the road with them.
When announcing his death, ZZ Top stated it would be canceling two shows this week—one in Salt Lake City on Tuesday and one in Colorado Springs on Wednesday—leaving many to wonder if the entire tour would be called off in the wake of Beard’s death. However, ZZ Top has since announced they will be continuing on with their remaining tour dates through the end of November.
The band hasn’t made an official statement regarding tour dates beyond Aug. 23
When ZZ Top canceled two shows after the devastating news of Frank Beard’s death, fans were wondering if “The Big One! Tour” would cancel additional dates as Billy Gibbons and other touring members of the band mourned their loss.
In an update posted on X (formerly Twitter), the band wrote, “Following Frank’s passing, ZZ Top has canceled its upcoming shows in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs. The band will resume The Big One! Tour this weekend with two dates at Austin City Limits, one of Frank’s favorite venues in a city he considered a second home.”
It appears as though they will proceed as planned for the remaining dates of the tour, including an October 3 stop in The Woodlands and an October 4 stop in Irving. The current lineup includes Billy Gibbons as guitarist and vocalist, Elwood Francis as bassist, and Michael Monahan as drummer.
Additional updates and details may be shared on the band’s social media accounts in upcoming days. Click here for the links to their Instagram, Facebook, X, and more.
