Godspeed Frank Beard of ZZ Top

Frank Beard, the drummer for rock band ZZ Top, died on August 17, 2026, at the age of 77. Frank Beard was born on June 11, 1949, in Frankston, Texas. He grew up in Irving, Texas. He met future ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill as teens when their bands were both playing in Fort Worth. He later played with Dusty Hill and Dusty Hill's brother Rocky Hill in the band American Blues. It following the release of ZZ Top's debut single, "Salt Lick," that Frank Beard replaced the band's original drummer, Dan Mitchell. Dusty Hill would replace the band's bassist Lanier Grieg not that long afterwards.It was not long after Dusty Hill joined ZZ Top that they signed with London Records. Their debut album, ZZ Top's First Album, was released in 1971. Their single "Francine," from their second album Rio Grande Mud, became their first to break the Billboard Hot 100. "Tush," from their fourth album Fandango, went to no. 20 on the chart. For many years, it remained their highest charting single.ZZ Top would…