Frank Beard, Beardless Drummer for ZZ Top, Dies at 77
New York Times · LC · trust 47/100
The only member of the Texas power trio without a beard, he propelled the band’s blend of boogie, Southern rock and blues for more than a half-century.
Listen · 1:29 min Share full article 2 Frank Beard performing with ZZ Top in Salina, Kan., in August 2025. Credit... Gary Miller/Getty Images By Ishani Desai
Mr. Beard’s bandmate Billy Gibbons announced the death on social media. He did not cite a cause or say where Mr. Beard died.
“Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator,” Mr. Gibbons wrote, referring to Elwood Francis, ZZ Top’s bassist since 2021, “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.”
Starting in the early 1970s, ZZ Top’s powerful blend of boogie, Southern rock and blues made them arena rock stars. The band found a new level of fame in the 1980s, after Mr. Gibbons and the bassist Dusty Hill grew their signature 20-inch beards and produced a series of synthesizer-driven singles — notably “ Legs ” and “ Sharp-Dressed Man ” — that entered heavy rotation on MTV.
(That Mr. Beard was the only member of ZZ Top without a beard — he limited himself to a mustache — was a source of humor for fans.)
An earlier version of this obituary misstated the day Frank Beard of ZZ Top died. It was Monday, Aug. 17, not Tuesday, Aug. 18.
We acknowledge mistakes in our reporting with corrections. If you spot an error, please let us know at corrections@nytimes.com . Learn more .
Ishani Desai is a reporter covering breaking news and other topics, and a member of the 2026-27 Times Fellowship , a program for journalists early in their careers.
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