ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard dies at 77

Frank Beard, who provided the rhythmic foundation for ZZ Top across five decades of performances and recordings, died Monday in hospice, according to a statement posted on the band's official website. He was 77.

Beard joined ZZ Top in 1968 and became an integral member of the Texas-based trio, which also featured guitarist Billy Gibbons and bassist Dusty Hill. The drummer's solid, blues-influenced percussion style proved instrumental to the band's signature sound throughout their career.

The group, formed in Houston, rose to international prominence in the 1970s and 1980s with chart-topping albums and hit singles. Their energetic live performances and distinctive visual identity—most notably the long beards worn by Gibbons and Hill—made them one of rock and roll's most recognizable acts.

Beard's tenure with ZZ Top spanned from the band's early days through numerous world tours and recording sessions, helping establish them as enduring figures in blues-rock music. The band did not provide additional details regarding his death or funeral arrangements.