Frank Beard dead: ZZ Top drummer dies aged 77 as bandmate pens emotional tribute

ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has sadly died at the age of 77, his band has confirmed. In a statement shared by the group, ZZ Top frontman Billy F. Gibbons shared an emotional tribute to "a great friend and collaborator" who he says played a key part in their musical success. "Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drumers and a great and true son of Texas.

"His signature backbeat was key to key to keeing ZZ on top," he gushed in the band's Instagram post. The group added that they will be cancelling their upcoming shows in Salt Lake Cuty and Colorado Springs following his passing, but will move forward with upcoming shows in Austen City Limits, a venue which held a special place in Beard's heart.

"The band will resume its current The Big One! Tour this weekend with two dates in Austin City Limits, one of Frank's favourite venues and in a city that had been something of a second home for him," the statement went on. Beard first joined the rock band in 1969, but last year he was urged by fans to put his drumsticks to bed after he pulled out of the band's tour due to a health issue.

A statement from the band's management, Shelter Music Group, announced at the time that Beard "temporarily stepped away from the current tour to attend to a health issue requiring his focus in the near term. Beard, along with fellow ZZ Top members Billy F Gibbons and Elwood Francis, presently on the Elevation tour snce March 5, have engaged fellow Texan and longtime tech member, percussionist and drummer, John Douglas, for the interim."

The statement added that Douglas "has maintained a close relationship with Beard and the bandmates" and previously replaced Beard in a Paris performance back in 2002 when the drummer was forced to pull out of the show at the eleventh hour for an emergency appendectomy.

The loss comes less than a month after the band cancelled a concert hours before they were set to take the stage. The group were set to perform at the Hollywood Bowl earlier this month but was forced to cancel due to "unforeseen personnel matters." The statement also contained a comment from Billy Gibbons, who said: "Insurmountable obstacles require cancelling our Hollywood Bowl performance."

"Friends, fans and followers of ZZ Top are the best in the business, and the band is counting on everyone to bear with us for this brief interruption." The group first rose to stardom back in the 1970s and reached new heights in the 1980s. Their signature look was the lengthy beards of the two band members, Hill and Gibbons.

ZZ Top released Tres Hombres in 1973, which reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, with top hits including La Grange and Jesus Just Left Chicago. On their album Eliminator, they had massive hits such as Gimmie All Your Lovin' and Sharp Dressed Man, as well as Legs.

ZZ Top's discography spans 15 albums, several of which have won awards. In 2004, the group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.