Frank Beard, Drummer of ZZ Top, Passes Away at 77

Frank Beard, the drummer of Texas-based boogie rock band ZZ Top, passed away at the age of 77. Known for creating rhythms for the band’s hits like “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” Beard died at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, on Tuesday. He was receiving palliative care and was surrounded by family at the time of his death, according to his publicist, Bob Merlis.

Billy Gibbons, co-founder and guitarist of the band, who is currently on tour with bassist Elwood Francis, paid tribute to Beard in a statement. “Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally inventive drummers, and a true Texan. His distinctive backbeat was key to keeping ZZ Top at the top. The band that he was a part of for six decades will continue, as he wished,” Gibbons said.

ZZ Top sold over 50 million albums and had six singles reach number 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. Seven of their albums made it to the Top 10 of the Billboard 200, and they received three Grammy nominations.

Reflecting on his career, Beard stated in the 2019 documentary “ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas,” “I found the people I was meant to play with. I never wanted to quit and never wanted to be fired.”