ZZ Top paid tribute to their “dear drummer” Frank Beard on Saturday night, marking the band’s first performance since his death at 77.
Beard died last week while receiving hospice care, but his presence loomed large as longtime bandmates Billy F. Gibbons and Elwood Francis took the stage at a Texas venue that carried deep personal meaning for him.
The rock veterans honored Beard during their return to Austin City Limits Live, where they performed with a new drummer stepping in behind the kit.
In video posted by Ultimate Classic Rock, Gibbons introduced the audience to their their new drummer, Michael Monahan, a musician referred to the group by Beard himself.
“I guess some of you probably know, there’s a new man in town,” Gibbons told the crowd as he addressed the lineup change.
“It all started a little while back,” he continued. “Elwood and I got an unexpected call from our dear Frank Beard, our dear drummer for 50 years.”
ZZ Top honored their “dear drummer” Frank Beard as they returned to the stage for the first time following his death at 77; Elwood Francis and Billy Gibbons are pictured performing in Madrid in July 2026
Beard, seen performing at Stagecoach in 2023, stepped away from the spotlight in March 2025 due to illness during ZZ Top’s Elevation tour
Gibbons recalled Beard making a rare admission about his health, saying, “I’ve never heard him admit it. He said, ‘You know, my bass drum foot’s a little weak. Can you get my man to take over?’ I said, ‘Oh yeah, yeah, he’s been doing pretty good.’ Frank said, ‘Yeah, that’s what worries me.’”
‘But we all here for a celebration. You know what’s going on. So y’all have a good time.’
Beard was in hospice care at his Richmond, Texas, ranch at the time of his death, a representative for the late drummer confirmed to Variety. He had family by his side.
Gibbons paid tribute to the long-time drummer in a statement posted to their Instagram account, calling Beard a ‘great friend and collaborator’ who was a key part of their success.
‘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. His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top,’ Gibbons said.
‘The band will resume its current The Big One! Tour this weekend with two dates at Austin City Limits, one of Frank’s favorite venues and in a city that had been something of a second home for him,’ the statement said.
ZZ Top formed in 1969 and now consists of bassist Francis and Gibbons.
The group’s huge hits include Gimme All Your Lovin’ and Sharp Dressed Man
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The group have forged a bond that has lasted for decades.
‘I would say, for me, I have found the people that I want to play with. And I was able to do that at a very early age. I’m still satisfied with them. I’m satisfied with Dusty and I’m satisfied with Billy,’ Beard said in the 2019 documentary, That Little Ol’ Band from Texas, according to Rolling Stone.
‘With these two guys, I’ve never wanted to quit, and I’ve never wanted to get fired.’
Beard also grappled with substance abuse, admitting drugs ‘f**ked up’ relationships and led to him selling a drum kit to buy more substances.
‘All the money I pissed off, that’s a regret,” he said in the documentary. “I sold my original Ludwig kit to buy drugs with it. Relationships I f**ked up … In the back of my mind, I knew I needed to kick heroin. I needed to stop doing cocaine. I had done it all, and I couldn’t go any further.’
Beard eventually sought treatment at rehab, during which time the band entered a three year hiatus.
‘I just wanted to get sober,’ he recalled in the documentary. ‘I wanted to be like people I admired that could sit at home and watch TV and go to bed.’
The band went on a break for three years as Beard became sober.
‘In the late ’70s, I entered rehab. Somebody asked Dusty what he was gonna do. ‘Hey what are y’all gonna do, you know? Frank’s in rehab.’ And Dusty said, ‘Well, I’m goin’ fishing!'” Beard recalled during an interview with CBS News.
Gibbons said he never considered replacing Beard with another drummer: ‘There is no other drummer. There’s one guy!’ he said.
The iconic band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004
Beard is just the latest death the band has had to cope with in recent years.
In 2021, founding member Dusty Hill passed at age 72. He was replaced by Elwood Francis.
ZZ Top became popular in the 1970s and did very well in the 1980s. Their signature was very long beards on two of the band members, Hill and Gibbons.
ZZ Top released Tres Hombres in 1973, which reached the No. 8 position on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
Their top hits from that were La Grange and Jesus Just Left Chicago.
On their album Eliminator, they had the massive hits Gimme All Your Lovin’ and Sharp Dressed Man as well as Legs.
ZZ Top’s discography spans 15 albums, several of which won awards.
In 2004, ZZ Top was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
