'70s Rock Legend and Hall of Fame Band Member Turns 77
Frank Beard, one of the longtime members of the legendary band ZZ Top, is marking a major milestone as he turns 77.
Born on June 11, 1949, the Texas native is widely recognized for his distinctive musical style, especially his "Texas Shuffle" drumming and electrifying solos that gave the group its powerful rhythmic backbone.
With his decades-long career in music and legendary status in the rock scene, here's a look back at his remarkable journey.
Like many legendary musicians, Beard started with humble beginnings and big dreams before eventually making a name for himself on the global stage.
He started as a member of several underground bands, including The Cellar Dwellers, The Hustlers, The Warlocks, The Outlaws and the impostor band The Zombies alongside Dusty Hill, who later became his bandmate in ZZ Top.
At the time, the duo briefly toured as part of a fake "Zombies" lineup since the original group had disbanded after releasing the album Odessey and Oracle.
The duo, along with an unscrupulous promoter, took this as an opportunity to create a fake touring group, with Mark Ramsey and Sebastian "Seab" Meador later joining the lineup.
"I was told [the Zombies] didn't exist - that they were only a studio sound," Ramsey told BuzzFeed in 2016. "I was just excited and flattered. I'd only been playing for a few years and the other guys were pro-level at that point. I didn't look at it as anything more than a chance to have some fun, hang out with some cool guys, learn some songs, go somewhere outside of this Hillbillyville, and earn a little money."
After a series of successful tours, the Zombies scam came to an end following legal issues and media exposure.
This prompted Frank Beard to move on to another band and he was fortunate enough to become part of ZZ Top, which was under restructuring at the time.
After replacing drummer Dan Mitchell, he recommended Hill for the group after bassist Billy Ethridge left due to personal issues.
The trio achieved major success after releasing their third studio album, Tres Hombres, in the early 1970s.
From then on, the band's iconic songs became staples of rock music as several of their singles charted internationally.
This includes "Legs" and "Sleeping Bag", their highest-charting songs, with both peaking at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Following their commercial success, ZZ Top, with the lineup consisting of Gibbons, Beard and Hill, earned several historic distinctions.
This includes setting a Guinness World Record for being the longest-running active rock group with no lineup changes.
They maintained their core trio for more than five decades.
On top of this, the band was formally inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004.
Related: '70s Rock Legend Once Refused $1 Million Offer to Change Iconic Look
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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 8:57 AM.