In Memoriam

Frank Beard

June 11, 1949 – August 17, 2026 · aged 77

Blues Rock · Hard Rock

Frank Lee Beard was the steady, driving drummer—and famously the only member without a long beard—of the legendary Texas boogie-rock trio ZZ Top. Born in Texas in 1949, Beard was the rhythmic engine that powered the band's unstoppable, synchronized groove for over fifty years alongside Billy Gibbons and the late Dusty Hill. His tight, unflashy playing style perfectly anchored the band's gritty blues-rock roots on 1970s classics like 'La Grange.' When the band radically reinvented their sound in the 1980s, Beard seamlessly incorporated drum machines and synthesizers to create the slick, MTV-conquering pulse of 'Gimme All Your Lovin'' and 'Legs,' propelling them to global superstardom. Quietly sitting behind the kit while his bandmates took the spotlight, his impeccable timing was the glue of the group. Beard passed away on August 17, 2026, at the age of 77. The Texas boogie machine has lost its heartbeat.

Milestones

La Grange, Gimme All Your Lovin', Sharp Dressed Man

Also remembered in 2026

In Memoriam: all legends