ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard dies at 77

ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has died at the age of 77, the band confirmed through a spokesperson who told The Guardian that Beard died on August 17 in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas. The spokesperson said Beard’s family was by his side at the time of his death.

The announcement places Beard’s passing at mid-August, with the report published August 18. The Guardian said the band’s spokesperson characterized Beard as a “great friend and collaborator,” describing him as a long-running partner in the group’s work and performances.

According to the same account, Beard played with ZZ Top for 56 years. That duration reflects the span of the band’s career alongside the steady role of a drummer in live shows and studio sessions, while also keeping a central position in the group’s lineup over multiple decades.

The Guardian reported that Beard died in hospice care, a detail that indicates end-of-life treatment in a medical setting focused on comfort rather than curative care. The report also said Beard was at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, and that his family remained with him.

The ZZ Top spokesperson did not add further public details about Beard’s condition or what led to his hospice stay. The Guardian story framed the death as a family moment and a professional loss for the band, without providing additional information about any planned ceremonies or immediate changes to ZZ Top’s schedule.

For fans and music venues that have followed ZZ Top’s touring presence, Beard’s death marks the loss of a longtime band member whose work has been part of the group’s public identity for more than half a century. Any next steps, including how the band marks his departure or adjusts upcoming appearances, will likely be handled through official ZZ Top communications.