Sad news today that ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has passed away. He died on Monday at a hospice in Richmond, Texas. Beard’s last appearance in Bonn was at Kunstrasen in July 2024 (see picture). Beard stepped away from the band in March 2025 because of unspecified health issues after being their drummer since the band’s formation alongside bassist Dusty Hill who died in 2021 and Billy Gibbons. It was a formation that lasted for over half a century and brought many hits, most famously ‘Sharp Dressed Man’ and ‘Gimme All Your Loving’ from the mega-selling Eliminator album.

It will always be the ultimate conundrum that whilst Hill and Gibbons sported trademark long beards, Beard himself never did. But that was a part of the band’s success – a mix of visual gimmickery (remember those plush covered revolving guitars) that fitted perfectly with MTV in its heyday and great Pop/Rock songs that were unmistakably ZZ and no-one else.

When Dusty Hill passed away in 2021 the band pulled in long-time road crew member Elwood Francis as replacement. Whether the band will continue with just Billy Gibbons as original member? Gibbons had this to say:

“Today, Elwood 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,” Gibbons said. 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”

His (Beard’s) 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”