Frank Beard ZZ Top Drummer Passes | Austin News

Austin News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 19, 2026 · 1m

ZZ Top’s legendary drummer Frank Beard, the steady heartbeat behind the band’s iconic sound for over fifty years, has passed away at 77. A beloved figure in Texas rock, Beard was with ZZ Top from their earliest days, helping forge the classic lineup that defined a generation. His death, confirmed while he was in hospice at his Texas ranch, has sent shockwaves through the music world. Billy Gibbons paid heartfelt tribute, calling him a “great friend and collaborator,” while fans remember his unmistakable drumming style — and his famously mismatched name with the band’s wild image. The band has…