ZZ Top to Continue Touring After Frank Beard Death

ZZ Top has announced that the band will continue following the death of their original drummer, Frank Beard, on Monday. Beard passed away at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, while in hospice care with family members at his side, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.

Beard’s death led to the immediate cancellation of ZZ Top tour dates scheduled in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs. However, the band announced that they will resume their current The Big One! Tour with two dates at Austin City Limits.

Billy Gibbons Honors Frank Beard

Billy Gibbons is now the only original member left in ZZ Top. Bassist Dusty Hill died in July 2021 and was replaced by the band’s guitar tech Elwood Francis. Gibbons shared a statement regarding his longtime bandmate.

“Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas,” Gibbons said in a press release. “His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top. The band of which he was part for six decades is going to keep on keeping on as he had wished.”

Health Struggles and Tour Replacements

Beard served as ZZ Top’s drummer for 56 years. He previously stopped touring with the band in March 2025 following an announcement of unspecified health issues. During that period, he was replaced by tech team member John Douglas, who had previously filled in for him on a 2002 European tour. After returning in September, Beard remained mostly absent from the band’s 2026 performances, with Michael Monahan stepping in as his replacement drummer.

Upcoming Tour Dates

Following their return to Austin City Limits, ZZ Top’s itinerary includes stops across the United States as well as international dates in Mexico, Chile, Brazil, and Argentina before concluding the current run on November 24 in Buenos Aires.

Related reading: ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard Dies At 77