“ZZ Top – Frank Beard” by oetting is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

ZZ Top’s longtime drummer, Frank Beard, has announced a break from the road. The lauded musician will step away from the band’s Elevation Tour for an undisclosed health procedure, according to the group’s official social media posts citing the change. 

The band labeled the official statement: “Frank Beard Taking Time Off ZZ Top’s Elevation Tour Four Health Procedure.” They added details: “Shelter Music Group, ZZ Top’s management, has announced the band’s drummer, Mr. Frank Beard, has temporarily stepped away from the current tour to attend to health issues requiring his focus in the near term.

“Beard, along with fellow ZZ Top members Billy F Gibbons and Elwood Francis, presently on the Elevation tour since March 5, have engaged fellow Texan and longtime tech member, percussionist and drummer John Douglas for the interim. 

The statement continued, “Mr. Douglas has maintained a close relationship with Beard and the bandmates, having served with the group in the past.” They added context, including Douglas’ previous role as a fill-in when Beard underwent an emergency appendectomy in Paris circa 2002. 

Beard has been associated with the band since the late ‘60s as a member of The Moving Sidewalks, transitioning into its modern-day ZZ Top title in July 1969. Notably, Beard contributed to their initial 1971 LP, ZZ Top’s First Album, credited under Rube Beard. 

Read the official statement below. For more information, visit www.zztop.com.