Frank Beard, the steady rhythmic force behind the Texas boogie-rock trio ZZ Top, has died at the age of 77. Known for anchoring the band’s most iconic tracks, including “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” Beard passed away on Tuesday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas. According to publicist Bob Merlis, the musician was in hospice care at the time of his death, surrounded by his family.
Band co-founder and guitarist Billy Gibbons paid tribute to his longtime bandmate, noting that he and bassist Elwood Francis have lost both a collaborator and a dear friend. Gibbons described Beard as one of the most naturally innovative drummers in the industry and a true son of Texas, emphasizing that his signature backbeat was fundamental to the band’s success over their six-decade career. Per Beard’s own wishes, the group intends to continue performing.
The band’s legacy is defined by massive commercial success, including more than 50 million records sold and six singles that topped Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. Throughout their history, they secured three Grammy nominations and saw seven of their albums reach the Top 10 on the Billboard 200. In the 2019 documentary “ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas,” Beard reflected on his tenure, stating he had found the people he was meant to play with and never harbored a desire to quit or leave the group.
Beard’s influence extended across the drumming community, drawing praise from peers like Rage Against the Machine’s Brad Wilk, who cited Beard’s two-hand shuffle as a major inspiration, and former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum, who hailed him as a unique talent behind the kit. Originally from Frankston, Texas, Beard first connected with Gibbons through the band The Moving Sidewalks, later helping to recruit bassist and vocalist Dusty Hill. The trio officially formed in 1969, drawing inspiration from blues singer Z.Z. Hill and the British power trio Cream.
For over five decades, the band maintained its original lineup and a distinct aesthetic, characterized by dark sunglasses and, eventually, the long, bushy beards sported by Gibbons and Hill. This look, which became their trademark, was actually a byproduct of a three-year hiatus in 1976. During that time, the members traveled separately—Beard to Jamaica, Hill to Mexico, and Gibbons to France—and returned having neglected to shave, a look that ultimately stuck.
The group’s sound, often described as a blend of rock, blues, and funk, saw a major commercial breakthrough in 1973 with the album “Tres Hombres” and the hit “La Grange.” Their 1983 release, “Eliminator,” marked a shift toward a more produced sound, incorporating synthesizers and drum machines to create massive hits. This era also solidified their presence on MTV, where their music videos featuring custom roadsters and models became cultural staples. Rolling Stone noted in 2021 that the band stood out for their ability to embrace humor and irony, contrasting with the more serious, lip-syncing acts of the time.
Their music remained a fixture in Hollywood, appearing in films such as “Happy Feet,” “Evan Almighty,” “Air,” “I, Tonya,” “Dazed and Confused,” “From Dusk Till Dawn,” and “Armageddon.” In 2012, the band experienced a late-career resurgence when producer Rick Rubin helped craft their comeback album, “La Futura,” which reached No. 6 on the Billboard charts—their highest position since 1990.
In recent years, health challenges impacted the band’s touring schedule. In March 2025, the group announced via Instagram that Beard would take a temporary leave to address foot and ankle issues. The band subsequently canceled an August 5 concert at the Hollywood Bowl due to his declining health. Beard is survived by his wife, Debbie Meredith, and three children. The report also notes that 1 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. The report also notes that naming themselves in part after blues singer Z.Z, the trio formed ZZ Top in 1969. The report also notes that he joked: “These cats know their blues and they know how to dress it up, when Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards helped induct the trio into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. The report also notes that when I first saw them, I thought, ‘I hope these guys are not on the run, because that disguise is not going to work.’ ”. The report also notes that the best way to describe ZZ Top is we’re interpreters of a great American art form,” Gibbons told The Dallas Morning News. The report also notes that their debut release, “ZZ Top’s First Album,” came out in 1970. The report also notes that they broke through commercially with “La Grange,” a funky blues song on the album “Tres Hombres” that paid tribute to the Chicken Ranch, a brothel outside of the Texas town of La Grange that operated from 1905 until 1973 and was immortalized in the Broadway show and the film “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.” Gibbons has ascribed the power of “La Grange” to its simplicity – just two chords and, three years later.
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