Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer Frank Beard, the longtime beat behind ZZ Top’s signature sound, has died at the age of 77. Beard passed away at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, while in hospice care, according to the band’s publicist.
A member of ZZ Top for more than five decades, Beard helped power classics like La Grange, Tush, Sharp Dressed Man, Gimme All Your Lovin’, and Legs. Despite being the only member of the band without a trademark beard, his unmistakable groove was a key part of ZZ Top’s success.
In a statement, guitarist Billy Gibbons called Beard “one of the most naturally innovative drummers” and said his “signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top.”
