Published 2 days ago • loading... • Updated 8 hours ago
The 5 Best Frank Beard Drum Solos That Cement His Place In Music History
Beard’s drumming powered ZZ Top’s biggest hits and helped the Texas trio sell more than 50 million records, band tributes said.
On Monday, ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard died at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, at age 77, with publicist Bob Merlis confirming he passed away in hospice care with family at his side.
Formed in 1969 as the 'Little Ol' Band From Texas,' the trio of Beard, Billy Gibbons, and Dusty Hill maintained their original lineup for more than five decades, collectively spending 52 years in the saddle.
The 1983 album 'Eliminator' sold 10 million units and yielded hits including 'Legs,' 'Sharp Dressed Man,' and 'Gimme All Your Lovin',' while Beard's snare-heavy, motoring shuffle defined the band's definitive 1980s motif.
Band co-founder Billy Gibbons hailed Beard as 'one of the most naturally innovative drummers' and a 'true son of Texas,' confirming the band will 'keep on keeping on' to honor his legacy.
Recognized by Guinness World Records for the longest-running original lineup, the band cemented its cultural status by bringing 'cool' to Texas, leaving Beard's legacy as a master musician who shaped the group's enduring artistic identity.