Frank Beard, the ZZ Top drummer whose name became one of rock's enduring ironies as the band's only member usually without a beard, has died at 77. The Texas musician spent more than five decades anchoring the trio's blues-rock sound, playing on every ZZ Top studio album and helping turn the band into one of America's most successful rock acts. A cause of death was not immediately released.
ZZ Top founder Billy Gibbons said in a statement: “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. His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top. The band of which he was part for six decades is going to keep on keeping on as he had wished.” David Wild, host of the "Wild About Music" podcast, posted on X, "#RIPFrankBeard, one tres hombres who made great rock & roll that was Texas-sized." Greg Renoff, a historian music biographer, wrote on X, "RIP Frank Beard of @ZZTop thanks for all the killer grooves" This is a breaking news article.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
