Frank Beard, the drummer who anchored the Texas rock trio ZZ Top for six decades, has died at 77, the Associated Press reported. The report said Beard died Tuesday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, while receiving hospice care. His family was with him, and no cause of death was provided in the account.
Beard’s death removes the last member of the classic ZZ Top trio whose public image combined blues-rock music with long beards, sunglasses and stage humor. He played with guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill, who died in 2021. Gibbons later continued touring with the group alongside bassist Elwood Francis.
The Associated Press quoted a tribute from Gibbons that remembered Beard as a close musical partner and friend. The two musicians had spent years building the band’s sound through heavy guitar, steady rhythm and songs that became part of American rock radio. Beard’s role was central to the group’s live performances even though his surname became an enduring joke because he was the only member of the trio without a long beard.
ZZ Top sold more than 50 million records, according to the AP obituary. The band also had six No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart and seven albums that reached the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. The group received three Grammy nominations during its career.
Beard’s final years were marked by health concerns that had been reported before his death. Fox News Radio reported earlier this month that the drummer was dealing with serious health issues. The newer AP report supplied the death information and family details, while the published accounts did not identify a medical cause.
