Frank Beard, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer for the Texas boogie-rock trio ZZ Top, has died at the age of 77.
In March 2025, Beard temporarily left ZZ Top’s Elevation tour due to illness. He returned to the band and performed until August 2026 when he had to step away from the tour due to illness.
Beard died under hospice care at his ranch in Richmond on August 17, 2026, at age 77. He was the second member of the classic ZZ Top lineup to die, following bassist Dusty Hill in 2021. Billy Gibbons remains the sole surviving original member, along with current bassist Elwood Francis, who replaced Hill in 2021 at Hill’s request.
After achieving success with ZZ Top in the late 1970s, Beard spent large sums of money on drugs, including LSD, cocaine, and heroin. He later regretted the spending and said it damaged his relationships. He joined a rehabilitation program. He recalled: “I just wanted to get sober. I wanted to be like people I admired who could sit home and watch TV and go to bed and that was okay [for them]. ZZ Top went on hiatus for three years while Beard dealt with his addictions.
Beard married Debbie Meredith in November 1982. They had three children. He lived in Richmond, Texas, where he owned and operated the Top 40 Ranch. He golfed and was known locally for participation in tournaments and community events. Beard was long known as the only member of ZZ Top not to have a beard, but he grew a short one in 2013.
In the early 1990s, Beard entered sports car racing, competing in the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring