ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard to Miss Upcoming Tour Due to Health Issue

Feature Photo: Geoffrey Clowes / Shutterstock.com

Update: Frank Beard died on August 17, 2026, at the age of 77. ZZ Top announced that he died while in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family members at his side.

This story was first published in March 2025, when Beard temporarily stepped away from ZZ Top’s Elevation tour because of a health issue. He returned to the stage with ZZ Top on June 1, 2025, after the foot and ankle issues that had kept him off the road were resolved. The report below reflects the circumstances at the time it was first published.

ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard, the rhythmic heartbeat behind the iconic Texas trio for over five decades, announced that he would temporarily step away from the band’s ongoing “Elevation” tour due to a health issue requiring immediate attention. The band’s management, Shelter Music Group, confirmed the news on March 15, 2025, leaving longtime fans concerned yet hopeful for Beard’s speedy recovery.

The legendary Houston-based group, which first roared onto the rock and roll scene in 1969, established their definitive lineup shortly thereafter when Frank Beard replaced original drummer Dan Mitchell. Beard, alongside vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist-vocalist Dusty Hill, cultivated a gritty blues-rock sound that would soon define an era. Albums such as Tres Hombres (1973) and Fandango! (1975) quickly cemented ZZ Top’s reputation, bolstered by signature hits like “La Grange” and “Tush,” staples on classic rock airwaves to this day.

Following bassist Dusty Hill’s passing in 2021 at the age of seventy-two, ZZ Top faced the daunting task of continuing without their beloved bandmate. Honoring Hill’s wishes, they recruited their trusted guitar technician, Elwood Francis, to fill his role. With Beard sidelined temporarily, Billy Gibbons remained the sole founding member actively touring, marking a significant moment for a band that remarkably maintained its classic lineup for more than fifty years.

Stepping in to fill Beard’s considerable shoes behind the drum kit was percussionist John Douglas, a trusted friend of the band and fellow Texan. Douglas was no stranger to ZZ Top’s legacy, having previously substituted for Beard during an emergency appendectomy in Paris back in 2002. According to the band’s statement, Douglas maintained a close personal relationship with Beard and his bandmates, ensuring a smooth transition as the tour progressed.

ZZ Top’s Elevation tour continued into 2025 with a new leg beginning in March, with dates scheduled across North America before shows in Australia and New Zealand. Though Beard’s return date remained uncertain when this story was published, ZZ Top intended to carry forward their legacy of electrifying live performances, characterized by their signature blend of blues-infused rock and sly Texas charm.

Since their formation, ZZ Top has not only achieved staggering commercial success, selling more than fifty million records worldwide, but has also left an indelible mark on popular culture. Their music videos for songs like “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs” dominated MTV in the 1980s, transforming them into global superstars. They earned three MTV Video Music Awards, and in 2004, ZZ Top was deservedly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Billy Gibbons himself has earned accolades for his musicianship, with critics ranking him among the greatest guitarists in rock history.

Offstage, ZZ Top has consistently demonstrated their commitment to giving back, actively supporting charities such as Childline, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and the Delta Blues Museum. While fans undoubtedly felt the absence of Beard during this stretch of shows, the band’s resilient spirit remained intact, as did the enduring affection of audiences around the globe who eagerly awaited Beard’s return to his rightful spot behind the drums.