Frank Beard, drummer of boogie-rock trio ZZ Top, dies at 77
- Frank Beard, the drummer for ZZ Top, died at age 77 at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, while in hospice care, according to publicist Bob Merlis.
- Band co-founder Billy Gibbons said Beard was a close friend and collaborator whose backbeat was central to ZZ Top’s sound.
- ZZ Top formed in 1969 and kept its original lineup for more than five decades, with Beard joining Gibbons and Dusty Hill in the trio.
- The band sold more than 50 million records, had six No. 1 songs on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart, and received three Grammy nominations.
Frank Beard, the drummer for ZZ Top, died Tuesday at age 77. Publicist Bob Merlis said Beard was in hospice care and died at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family members present. The AP article identified him as the timekeeper behind some of the band’s best-known songs, including “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and “Legs.”
Billy Gibbons, ZZ Top’s co-founder, said in a statement that he and Elwood Francis had lost a close friend and collaborator. He described Beard as one of the most naturally innovative drummers and said the band would continue as Beard had wanted. The article also noted tributes from other drummers on social media.
Beard, from Frankston, Texas, met Gibbons in the Moving Sidewalks and later introduced Dusty Hill. The trio formed ZZ Top in 1969 and stayed together in the same lineup for more than five decades. Their long beards, sunglasses and blues-influenced rock made them one of the band’s most recognizable acts, alongside major commercial success and multiple award nominations.
布吉摇滚三人组ZZ Top鼓手弗兰克·比尔德去世，享年77岁
ZZ Top鼓手弗兰克·比尔德于周二去世，享年77岁。发言人鲍勃·默利斯说，比尔德当时正在接受临终关怀，在得州里士满的农场去世，家人在身边。报道称，他曾为乐队多首知名歌曲打鼓，包括《Sharp Dressed Man》《Gimme All Your Lovin’》和《Legs》。
ZZ Top联合创始人比利·吉本斯在声明中说，他和伊尔伍德·弗朗西斯失去了一位亲密的朋友和合作伙伴，并称比尔德是最具创新性的鼓手之一。吉本斯表示，乐队会按照比尔德的愿望继续前行。报道还提到，其他鼓手也在社交媒体上向他致意。
比尔德来自得州弗兰克斯顿，最早是在The Moving Sidewalks与吉本斯相识，后来又介绍了达斯蒂·希尔。三人于1969年组建ZZ Top，并在超过50年的时间里保持原始阵容不变。报道同时回顾了乐队的标志性形象、蓝调摇滚风格以及取得的商业成绩。