Frank Beard (ZZ Top) has passed away

Drummer Frank Beard of ZZ Top has passed away. He was struggling with some health issues that led to the cancellation of some of the shows of the band. The band has released the following statement. On behalf of Chaoszine’s team, our deepest sympathies to Frank’s family, friends and loved ones.

“Today, Elwood 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. His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top.” – Billy F Gibbons

Following Frank’s passing, ZZ Top has canceled its upcoming shows in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs. The band will resume its current The Big One! Tour this weekend with two dates in at Austin City Limits, one of Frank’s favorite venues and in a city that had been something of a second home for him.

Upcoming shows:

• Friday, August 21, 2026 – Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino, Eagle Pass, TX, US
• Saturday, August 22, 2026 – ACL Live At The Moody Theater, Austin, TX, US
• Sunday, August 23, 2026 – ACL Live At The Moody Theater, Austin, TX, US
• Wednesday, August 26, 2026 – Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids, MI, US
• Friday, August 28, 2026 – FireKeepers Casino Hotel, Battle Creek, MI, US
• Saturday, August 29, 2026 – The Mill, Terre Haute, IN, US
• Sunday, August 30, 2026 – Fraze Pavilion, Kettering, OH, US
• Tuesday, September 01, 2026 – Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre At Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, NY, US
• Thursday, September 03, 2026 – New York State Fair, Syracuse, NY, US
• Friday, September 04, 2026 – Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, VT, US
• Saturday, September 05, 2026 – Bank Of New Hampshire Pavilion, Gilford, NH, US
• Sunday, September 06, 2026 – Maine Savings Amphitheater, Bangor, ME, US
• Wednesday, September 09, 2026 – Lynn Memorial Auditorium, Lynn, MA, US
• Friday, September 11, 2026 – PNC Waterside Pavilion, Solomons, MD, US
• Saturday, September 12, 2026 – Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT, US
• Sunday, September 13, 2026 – Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis, MA, US
• Tuesday, September 15, 2026 – American Music Theatre, Lancaster, PA, US
• Wednesday, September 16, 2026 – Ferguson Center, Newport News, VA, US
• Friday, September 18, 2026 – Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre, Wilmington, NC, US
• Saturday, September 19, 2026 – Sweetland Amphitheatre, Lagrange, GA, US
• Sunday, September 20, 2026 – Peace Concert Hall – Peace Center, Greenville, SC, US
• Tuesday, September 22, 2026 – Anderson Music Hall, Hiawassee, GA, US
• Thursday, September 24, 2026 – Koka Booth Amphitheatre At Regency Park, Cary, NC, US
• Saturday, October 03, 2026 – The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands, TX, US
• Sunday, October 04, 2026 – The Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory, Irving, TX, US
• Wednesday, October 07, 2026 – Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville, TN, US
• Thursday, October 08, 2026 – Ascend Amphitheater, Nashville, TN, US
• Friday, October 09, 2026 – VyStar Pavilion, Port Wentworth, GA, US
• Monday, November 09, 2026 – Telemex Auditorium, Guadalajara, Mexico
• Wednesday, November 11, 2026 – Auditorio Nacional, Ciudad De México, Mexico
• Friday, November 13, 2026 – Banamex Auditorium, Monterrey, Mexico
• Monday, November 16, 2026 – Teatro Caupolican, Santiago, Chile
• Wednesday, November 18, 2026 – KTO Arena, Porto Alegre, Brazil
• Friday, November 20, 2026 – Igloo Super Hall, Curitiba, Brazil
• Saturday, November 21, 2026 – Suhai Music Hall, São Paulo, Brazil
• Tuesday, November 24, 2026 – Movistar Arena, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Beard has played on every album released by ZZ Top, beginning with “ZZ Top’s First Album” in 1971, and has been a part of the group for more than 55 years. When ZZ Top initially began, Beard went by the moniker “Rube.” He was listed under his true name on “Rio Grande Mud,” the band’s second album, but he was billed as “Rube Beard” on the first album and “Tres Hombres,” the band’s third album. He was listed as “Frank Beard” on all of the band’s albums following “Tres Hombres”. Ironically, Beard is the only member of ZZ Top without a beard; he typically sports just a moustache, but he did have a neat beard for a while in the 1990s.