Dolly Parton wasn’t the only tragic death to shock the music scene last month. ZZ Top’s long-term drummer, Frank Beard, recently passed away at the age of 77, and hard rock fans have been diving deep into the algorithms to share their favorite performances from the late legend.
But it’s not just throwback clips from ZZ Top’s 1980s heyday that are making the rounds. A recent performance from 2024 is catching hype for being one of Frank’s final live performances, a testament to his perpetual talent amidst health battles that threatened to devastate his career. With more than 2.6 million views to date, Music Man readers can watch the magic unfold in the viral video below…
Frontman Billy Gibbons, bassist Elwood Francis, and drummer Frank Beard celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band’s 1984 single, “Legs,” reviving the hit at California’s BeachLife Festival. They may be in their mid-sixties and seventies, but the bandmates serve fans exactly what they expect: impeccable blues rock with a ridiculously cool edge that never slips out of style.
ZZ Top’s eccentric aesthetic steals the spotlight as Billy and Elwood pair their haggard beards with hilariously fluffy guitars, Frank Beard himself continuing his ironic legacy of being the only beardless bandmate.
It’s a spotless rendition from “living legends,” as one top commenter on YouTube wrote last year. And, following Frank Beard’s death, this clip has become a monument for fans to pay their respects to and remember Frank’s impact upon ZZ Top’s later years.
Amidst fans sharing their condolences and messages of ‘Rest in peace,’ one fan narrowed down exactly what makes this such a landmark performance when they commented, “I’ve always been a huge ZZ Top fan, but to hear and see them play that song all these years later is amazing. This shows how some musicians age like fine wine.”
ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons led a social media tribute of his own when he posted: “Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas. His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top. The band of which he was part for six decades is going to keep on keeping on as he had wished.”
Frank Beard’s legacy—his groove, resilience and stage swagger—remains vivid in these performances. For fans old and new, his final shows are a powerful reminder of a life devoted to rhythm. Want to explore more tributes, videos and setlists? Check the links below to discover further performances and memories.