Frank Beard, the longtime drummer of iconic rock band ZZ Top, has died at the age of 77. Following his passing, the band’s scheduled shows in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs have been canceled.
Frank Beard’s death prompted ZZ Top to cancel concerts in Utah and Colorado
The band confirmed Beard’s passing on its official website. It stated that the legendary drummer died at his ranch in Richmond, a community southwest of Houston, on August 17. The band said Beard died in hospice care at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, surrounded by family.
“Beard, together with guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill, was one of music’s most enduring line-ups, continuing until 2021 when Hill’s passing saw Elwood Francis join the band [which has] continued to tour throughout North America, Europe and South America to this day,” it further read. ZZ Top canceled its scheduled tour date in Salt Lake City, Utah, on August 18. The band also canceled its August 19 show in Colorado Springs.
Beard formed ZZ Top alongside Gibbons and Hill in 1969, laying the foundation for one of rock music’s most enduring bands. Gibbons and Hill defined the band’s image with their long beards, while drummer Beard stood out as the member without one.
Paying tribute to his longtime bandmate, Gibbons wrote, “Today, Elwood [Francis] and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas.”
With a career spanning more than five decades, ZZ Top established itself as one of rock music’s most successful bands. The group sold more than 50 million albums worldwide and earned three Grammy nominations. ZZ Top also scored six No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. In 2003, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, cementing its place in rock history.
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