ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has stepped away from the band’s ongoing tour due to a health issue, the band announced in a statement on March 15. Beard’s temporary replacement has also been confirmed.
ZZ Top’s Official Statement
The iconic blues and rock band shared the news on social media, revealing that Beard, along with bandmates Billy F. Gibbons and Elwood Francis, has been part of the band’s Elevation Tour since March 5. Beard will be taking time off to focus on a health issue. In his absence, John Douglas, a longtime member of the ZZ Top team and an experienced drummer, will temporarily take over behind the kit.
Douglas has worked closely with the band in the past and has a strong relationship with Beard. Notably, he filled in for Beard in 2002 when the drummer had to undergo an emergency appendectomy while the band was in Paris. Douglas has been a drummer and percussionist for over 30 years and has worked with top bands such as Aerosmith, Pantera, Creed, and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Fans’ Reaction
Fans have expressed disappointment at the news, with some criticism directed at ZZ Top continuing the tour without Beard. However, many supporters have offered well-wishes for Beard’s recovery and voiced confidence in Douglas’s ability to fill in. One fan wrote on Instagram: “We love ZZ Top no matter what, and get well Frank!” Another supporter on X praised Douglas’s experience: “You don’t become a professional drummer’s technician without a passion for the instrument.”
Douglas, who has been working in the industry for decades, has customized drums and guitars for a wide range of famous bands. In 2023, he shared that when he first substituted for Aerosmith’s Joey Kramer in 2019, he was “not prepared at all,” but ultimately succeeded in the role.
ZZ Top’s Ongoing Tour
ZZ Top’s Elevation Tour is currently traveling across the U.S. and Canada, with dates scheduled through the end of August. Depending on the show, the band is being supported by acts such as The Sedonas, McKinley James, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, and The Wallflowers.
The Loudwire team joins fans in wishing Frank Beard a speedy recovery and good luck to John Douglas as he fills in during this time.
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