Known for hit songs like “Legs”, “Sharp Dressed Man”, and “Tush”, ZZ Top not only sold over 50 million albums over the last 56 years, but the band also landed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. And throughout that time, the lineup consisted of Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard, and Dusty Hill, who passed away in 2021. But over the last several months, fans of the band wondered about Beard, who stepped away for unexplained reasons at the time. But now, with the drummer returning, ZZ Top decided to reveal exactly what happened.
Making his way back to the stage for the Elevation tour with Gibbons and Elwood Francis, the band’s management decided to share what happened to Beard to cause him to leave. Although fans speculated about the reason, it seemed to focus around a foot and ankle injury. “The band’s management revealed that the foot and ankle issues that [Beard] had been dealing with have been resolved.”
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Back to full health, Beard was excited to get back behind the drums for the North American run of their tour. With the tour expected to run until October, the seasoned band will complete their tour with 52 appearances and countless happy fans.
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ZZ Top Thrilled To Have Frank Beard Back
As for Gibbons, he was excited to welcome Beard back to the stage, insisting, “We’re happy that Frank is back with Elwood and yours truly… We missed him and are looking forward to turning it up and rocking out with him, as has been the case for the last few hundred or so decades.” He continued, “His complete recovery is cause for celebration and that’s just what we intend to do on an open-ended basis. Welcome back, pardner!”
Even Beard, who doesn’t care to speak a great deal, broke his silence. But keeping with his style, he only said, “It’s good to be back. See you out there.”
Continuing to perform and entertain for almost six decades, Gibbons explained their reasoning for still going. “We love getting out there and turning it up. [T]his tour’s been a ride so far and we don’t want it to end anytime soon.”
(Photo By Brandon Nagy/Shutterstock)