Since Monday, the rock and roll community has been in mourning following the sad news that legendary ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard had passed away. Beard was a part of the legendary ZZ Top lineup that dominated music videos and concert stages for years. Their rise to fame and influence is an important part of ZZ Top history and legacy. Interestingly, he was the only band member who did not have a long beard, and his last name was Beard. Now, Billy Gibbons is the last surviving member of ZZ Top’s classic lineup. This is because bassist Dusty Hill also passed away in 2021.
For years, Frank Beard provided the essential, propulsive backbeat that drove global hits like La Grange and Sharp Dressed Man. His unwavering groove anchored the band through their raw Texas blues origins. Moreover, it powered their massive, synthesizer-heavy MTV-era resurgence. Beard’s passing may be the closing of another chapter of ‘that little old band from Texas’. However, Frank Beard’s drumbeats will continue to influence generations of musicians and fans.
The Birth of ZZ Top
ZZ Top’s origins date back to 1969 in Houston after local guitarist and visionary Billy Gibbons left the psychedelic rock group, the Moving Sidewalks. Gibbons wanted to create a heavier, more authentic Texas sound. After working with several lineups, he finally found the perfect formula with drummer Frank Beard and bassist Dusty Hill. The name ZZ Top came out of ideas that Gibbons had of combining the names of his favorite blues musicians, such as Z.Z. Hill and B.B. King. Originally wanting to call the band Z.Z. King, he decided it sounded too familiar to B.B. King’s name. Therefore, they swapped ‘King’ for ‘Top.’
The classic trio played their very first concert in 1970 and soon hit the road relentlessly under the management of Bill Ham. The combination of Gibbons’ guitar playing with Dusty Hill’s bass lines and the drum beats from Frank Beard created a sound like no other. This lineup would remain until Hill’s passing a little over five years ago.
Building the ZZ Top Sound
As mentioned, ZZ Top mainly built its sound on the blues, drawing influences from artists like Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. However, the trio helped to modernize the blues sound, combining it with a distinctive, heavier Southern groove. Billy Gibbons has always been an accomplished guitar player in his own right. He has even been cited as a favorite of Jimi Hendrix before ZZ Top was even formed. Gibbons’ blistering guitar solos were complemented greatly by the bluesy bass lines of Dusty Hill and the metronomic, steady drumming that only an accomplished musician like Frank Beard could provide. That distinctive approach to rhythm would become an important part of the Frank Beard legacy within ZZ Top.
The band’s debut album in 1971, ZZ Top’s First Album, and their sophomore effort a year later, Rio Grande Mud, showcased their dirty blues origins. However, it was not until 1973’s Tres Hombres that ZZ Top was finally launched into stardom. Featuring their trademark hit, “La Grange”, the album brought the band to the next level. It obtained a mainstream audience that would only be built upon for years to come. Two of the other songs from the album, “Jesus Just Left Chicago” and “Waitin’ for the Bus,” were also huge hits.
MTV Era
By the early 1980s, the music landscape was changing. MTV (Music Television) had risen to prominence, and it became important for singers and musical groups to be just as visually appealing as they were musically. ZZ Top were able to blend it perfectly with this musical transition. By this time, both Gibbons and Hill had grown full-length beards. This contrasted greatly with Frank Beard, who didn’t, despite his surname. Music videos were becoming the mainstream. ZZ Top was about to become a huge part of this new phenomenon.
ZZ Top’s 1983 album, Eliminator, spawned massive, chart-topping hits such as “Gimme All Your Lovin,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs.” By this time, the band’s bluesy, hard rock sound began to be combined with synthesizers, a tool that was very prevalent among many 1980s artists. This was in addition to the memorable music videos for the songs. With all three band members wearing sunglasses, combined with Gibbons’ and Hill’s chest-length beards, the band’s visuals were further complemented by furry guitars and the presence of fancy cars and tongue-in-cheek humor. Even though music videos are no longer a relevant platform for performing artists, the ones for ZZ Top’s “Legs”, “Sharp Dressed Man,” and many others are still viewed heavily today on YouTube. They are also shared all over social media.
Five Decades Together
Even after the 80s came to a close, ZZ Top continued to evolve their sound and remained a popular concert attraction for decades. This was strengthened by the band’s trio, which stayed together for five decades. In addition, musicians and artists from succeeding generations noted ZZ Top for their influence on their musical style and even joined them on stage at times. Even into their later years, Gibbons, Hill, and Beard were still able to maintain high-energy concerts. This kept multiple generations coming to see them well into the 21st century.
In 2004, one musician who influenced ZZ Top, Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones, paid his homage to the band. That year, Richards inducted ZZ Top into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Loss of Dusty Hill and Beard’s Final Years
The more than 50-year stability of the classic lineup shattered on July 28, 2021, when iconic bassist Dusty Hill passed away peacefully in his sleep at age 72. His death marked the first-ever personnel loss for the legendary trio. However, in accordance with Hill’s final wishes, the band refused to stop. Longtime guitar tech Elwood Francis stepped out from the wings to handle the bass duties. This kept the group’s relentless touring schedule active.
This change introduced major differences to the way in which the band worked. Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons now carried on the distinctively Texan beat that gave the band its characteristic style. During this period in the band’s life, Beard became even more important as the member playing the basic rhythms. Indeed, thanks to Beard’s Texas shuffle style and the way in which he played perfectly cued beats, ZZ Top was able to keep the distinctive feel of its music throughout its many lineup changes.
Beard’s musical legacy reflects his ability to remain understated. In fact, he never tried to perform the most elaborate solos. He always made sure that he adhered to the style of the band, serving the song by providing it with a beating rhythm.
Conclusion
In the end, ZZ Top had a huge influence on the development of American rock music by mixing Texas blues with hard rock and humor. Their music evolved over the years without changing the essence of blues that was a fundamental element of their style. One of the co-founders of ZZ Top, Frank Beard, played a very important role in building ZZ Top’s musical identity. He played the drums and gave the group’s music a particular rhythm. This let the guitar of Billy Gibbons and the bass of Dusty Hill shine.
Sources:
Reuters — “ZZ Top’s longtime drummer, Frank Beard, dies at 77”
The Guardian — “ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard dies aged 77”
Associated Press — “Frank Beard, drummer of boogie-rock trio ZZ Top, dies at 77″
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — ZZ Top
The Guardian — “Frank Beard obituary”
Editor’s Disclaimer: This article is a retrospective tribute to Frank Beard and his contributions to ZZ Top. Information regarding his death, career, and the history of ZZ Top was compiled from publicly available reporting and authoritative music-industry sources. Presence News does not claim ownership of referenced song titles, album titles, or other copyrighted material mentioned for informational purposes.
