Frank Beard, the drummer of the Texas boogie-rock band ZZ Top, known for his rhythm in hit songs like “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs,” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” has passed away at the age of 77. He died at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, surrounded by family members, while in hospice care, as confirmed by publicist Bob Merlis. Band co-founder and guitarist Billy Gibbons, currently on tour with bassist Elwood Francis, paid tribute to Beard, highlighting his innovative drumming and his significant role in ZZ Top’s success over the six decades they worked together.
ZZ Top, renowned for selling over 50 million records and securing six No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, has had seven albums in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 and received three Grammy Award nominations. Beard, in the 2019 documentary “ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas,” expressed his passion for playing with the band, emphasizing his lifelong commitment to the group.
Originating from Frankston, Texas, Beard first met Gibbons in a band called The Moving Sidewalks and later introduced bassist and vocalist Dusty Hill, with whom he had collaborated in several bands. The trio formed ZZ Top in 1969, drawing inspiration from blues singer Z.Z. Hill and bands like Cream and Jimmy Reed. Their iconic appearance, characterized by long beards for Gibbons and Hill, along with sunglasses, remained consistent throughout their more than five-decade career.
ZZ Top’s music, known for its witty and playful lyrics, gained popularity in Hollywood and featured in various movies, such as “Gimme All Your Lovin'” in “Happy Feet” and “Sharp Dressed Man” in “Evan Almighty.” The band’s sound, described as a fusion of rock, blues, and funk, created a unique musical style identified as a “steaming-hot Houston stew.” Their breakthrough hit “La Grange” in 1973, from the album “Tres Hombres,” paid homage to the Chicken Ranch, a historic brothel in La Grange, Texas.
Over the years, ZZ Top continued to produce hits like “Tush” and “Cheap Sunglasses,” with their 1983 album “Eliminator” marking a shift towards a more produced sound, incorporating synthesizers and drum machines. The band’s stage performances, featuring a Texas-shaped stage, live rattlesnakes, and a longhorn steer, added to their iconic status in the music industry.
The evolution of ZZ Top’s signature bearded look was an unexpected outcome of a hiatus the band took in 1976, during which the members grew beards unknowingly. The band’s image resonated well with fans, especially during the rise of MTV, where their music videos, directed by Tim Newman, became popular.
In 2012, producer Rick Rubin helped revitalize ZZ Top’s sound with the album “La Futura,” which saw success on the Billboard chart. Beard’s passing follows the death of bassist Dusty Hill in 2021, as well as his temporary departure from the band’s tour in 2025 due to health issues. Frank Beard is survived by his wife, Debbie Meredith, and three children.
