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These photos capture Frank Beard’s legendary journey with ZZ Top

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MUSIC
Frank Beard

These photos capture Frank Beard’s legendary journey with ZZ Top

Aug. 18, 2026Updated Aug. 19, 2026, 8:47 a.m. ET
Frank Beard, the Texas-bred drummer for ZZ Top for 56 years, has died at 77. The band's representative told USA TODAY Beard died Aug. 17, 2026, while in hospice care at his Texas ranch "with family members at his side." In early August, Beard dropped off ZZ Top's The Big One Tour due to health issues, after had to temporarily stepping away from the road in 2025 for an undisclosed medical problem. The band announced it would cancel its shows Aug. 18-19 and resume the tour Aug. 22-23 at ACL Live at The Moody Theater in Austin, Texas, "one of Frank's favorite venues and in a city that had been something of a second home for him." Look back at his career with the legendary band, starting here as he performs at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 8, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Frank Beard, the Texas-bred drummer for ZZ Top for 56 years, has died at 77. The band’s representative told USA TODAY Beard died Aug. 17, 2026, while in hospice care at his Texas ranch “with family members at his side.” In early August, Beard dropped off ZZ Top’s The Big One Tour due to health issues, after had to temporarily stepping away from the road in 2025 for an undisclosed medical problem. The band announced it would cancel its shows Aug. 18-19 and resume the tour Aug. 22-23 at ACL Live at The Moody Theater in Austin, Texas, “one of Frank’s favorite venues and in a city that had been something of a second home for him.”

Look back at his career with the legendary band, starting here as he performs at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 8, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Jonathan Ferrey, Getty Images

From left: Guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard of ZZ Top perform at the Georgia Southern College Coliseum on Oct. 10, 1973, in Statesboro, Georgia.

From left: Guitarist Billy Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill and drummer Frank Beard of ZZ Top perform at the Georgia Southern College Coliseum on Oct. 10, 1973, in Statesboro, Georgia.

Tom Hill, Getty Images

From left: Dusty Hill, Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard of ZZ Top circa 1975.

From left: Dusty Hill, Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard of ZZ Top circa 1975.

Gems, Redferns Via Getty Images

From left: Dusty Hill, Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top in 1980.

From left: Dusty Hill, Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top in 1980.

Richard E. Aaron, Redferns Via Getty Images

ZZ Top pose for a portrait in October 1983 in Austin, Texas.

ZZ Top pose for a portrait in October 1983 in Austin, Texas.

Aaron Rapoport, Getty Images

Members of ZZ Top show off their hands after making a cement imprint at Hollywood's Rock Walk Aug. 19, 1994. Shown, left to right, are Dusty Hill, Frank Beard and Billy F. Gibbons.

Members of ZZ Top show off their hands after making a cement imprint at Hollywood’s Rock Walk Aug. 19, 1994. Shown, left to right, are Dusty Hill, Frank Beard and Billy F. Gibbons.

Fred Prouser, Reuters

ZZ Top, with Frank Beard, performs on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC Studios on Nov. 6, 2003, in Burbank, California.

ZZ Top, with Frank Beard, performs on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” at the NBC Studios on Nov. 6, 2003, in Burbank, California.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Inductees Frank Beard, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top arrive at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 19th Annual Induction Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel March 15, 2004, in New York City.

Inductees Frank Beard, Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill of ZZ Top arrive at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 19th Annual Induction Dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel March 15, 2004, in New York City.

Frank Micelotta, Getty Images

From left: Musicians Dusty Hill, Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons perform during the 2nd annual VH1 Rock Honors held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 12, 2007, in Las Vegas.

From left: Musicians Dusty Hill, Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons perform during the 2nd annual VH1 Rock Honors held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 12, 2007, in Las Vegas.

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

ZZ Top's Frank Beard poses in pressroom during the 2nd annual VH1 Rock Honors held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 12, 2007, in Las Vegas.

ZZ Top’s Frank Beard poses in pressroom during the 2nd annual VH1 Rock Honors held at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 12, 2007, in Las Vegas.

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Frank Beard, left, Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top arrive at Spike TV's inaugural Guys Choice awards show in the Studio City area of Los Angeles on June 9, 2007.

Frank Beard, left, Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top arrive at Spike TV’s inaugural Guys Choice awards show in the Studio City area of Los Angeles on June 9, 2007.

GUS RUELAS, REUTERS

Frank Beard performs prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500 at the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California on Feb. 24, 2008, in Fontana, California.

Frank Beard performs prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Auto Club 500 at the Auto Club Speedway of Southern California on Feb. 24, 2008, in Fontana, California.

Stephen Dunn, Getty Images For NASCAR

ZZ Top band members Dusty Hill, Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard, right, arriving for the American Idol 2008 Finale at the Nokia theatre in Los Angeles May 21, 2008.

ZZ Top band members Dusty Hill, Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard, right, arriving for the American Idol 2008 Finale at the Nokia theatre in Los Angeles May 21, 2008.

CHRIS DELMAS, AFP Via Getty Images

Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Red Bull Racing meets ZZ Top members Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard (second right) and Dusty Hill during previews to the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on Sept. 24, 2009, in Singapore.

Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Red Bull Racing meets ZZ Top members Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard (second right) and Dusty Hill during previews to the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on Sept. 24, 2009, in Singapore.

Mark Thompson, Getty Images

Frank Beard talks to the media before performing at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 8, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Frank Beard talks to the media before performing at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 8, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Rusty Jarrett, Getty Images For NASCAR

From left: Dusty Hill, Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top perform at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 8, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas.

From left: Dusty Hill, Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top perform at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 8, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Chris Graythen, Getty Images

From left: Dusty Hill, Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons give the command for gentleman to start their engines prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 8, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas.

From left: Dusty Hill, Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons give the command for gentleman to start their engines prior to the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 8, 2009, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tom Pennington, Getty Images For NASCAR

Frank Beard performs on stage during a concert in the Azkena Rock Festival in the northern Spanish Basque city of Vitoria on June 20, 2015.

Frank Beard performs on stage during a concert in the Azkena Rock Festival in the northern Spanish Basque city of Vitoria on June 20, 2015.

ANDER GILLENEA, AFP Via Getty Images

From left: Dusty Hill, Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top perform on the Pyramid Stage during the Glastonbury Festival on June 24, 2016 in Glastonbury, England.

From left: Dusty Hill, Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top perform on the Pyramid Stage during the Glastonbury Festival on June 24, 2016 in Glastonbury, England.

Ian Gavan, Getty Images

ZZ Top plays the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater Thursday, July 30, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, following the death of bass player Dusty Hill. Frank Beard is seen on drums.

ZZ Top plays the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater Thursday, July 30, 2021, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, following the death of bass player Dusty Hill. Frank Beard is seen on drums.

Gary Cosby Jr., USA TODAY Network

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Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/entertainment/

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