Frank Beard, the longtime drummer whose powerful, steady rhythms helped define the sound of ZZ Top for more than five decades, has died at the age of 77. Beard died on August 17, 2026, at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, while receiving hospice care and surrounded by members of his family, according to reports citing the band’s representative. A specific cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. His death marks another major loss for a group whose remarkably stable lineup became one of the most recognizable and enduring in American rock history.
Beard’s death followed a period in which health problems had affected his ability to perform with ZZ Top. The group had canceled an August performance at the Hollywood Bowl because of Beard’s health, while drummer Michael Monahan had performed in his place during periods when Beard was unable to tour. Beard had also stepped away from some performances during 2025 because of health issues. Although details about his final illness remained private, the circumstances surrounding his death indicate that he had been receiving hospice care before passing away with his family nearby.
Born Frank Lee Beard in Texas on June 11, 1949, Beard became an essential part of the lineup that would turn ZZ Top into an international rock institution. The band was formed in Houston in 1969, with guitarist and singer Billy Gibbons at its center. Beard joined during the group’s earliest period, and bassist Dusty Hill soon completed the classic trio. Together, Gibbons, Hill and Beard developed a distinctive combination of Texas blues, boogie and rock that would remain at the heart of the band’s identity for decades.
