Drummer Frank Beard of ZZ Top dies at age 77

Frank Beard, the drummer for rock band ZZ Top, died on August 17, 2026. He was 77 years old. Beard passed away at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with his family beside him. He had been receiving hospice care.

Beard was born in Frankston, Texas, in 1949. He helped start ZZ Top in 1969 and played with the band until 2025. Guitarist Billy Gibbons said Beard was one of the most naturally gifted drummers he had known, and that his drumming style defined the band's sound.

ZZ Top entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. The band recorded 15 studio albums during Beard's time. Following his death, the band cancelled upcoming shows in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs.