ZZ TOP’s FRANK BEARD ‘Steps Away’ From Band’s Tour Due To ‘Well being Situation’

Longtime ZZ TOP drummer Frank Beard has “briefly stepped away” from the band’s present tour on account of an unspecified “well being problem”.

Earlier in the present day (Saturday, March 15),ZZ TOP launched the next assertion by way of social media: “Shelter Music Group, ZZ TOP‘s administration, has introduced the band’s drummer, Mr. Frank Beard, has briefly stepped away from the present tour to attend a well being problem requiring his focus within the close to time period.

“Beard, together 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.

“Mr. Douglas has maintained a detailed relationship with Beard and the bandmates, having served with the group prior to now. [Douglas actually filled in when Frank underwent an emergency appendectomy in Paris, back in 2002].

“[Frank] is wanting ahead to a speedy restoration.”

ZZ TOP launched the “Elevation” tour earlier this month and is subsequent scheduled to carry out March 18 in Hiawassee, Georgia.

The band has North American dates booked by way of August 23.

Beard has been a member of ZZ TOP for over 55 years, having performed on all the band’s albums, beginning with “ZZ High’s First Album” in 1971.

When ZZ TOP began, Beard was identified by the nickname “Rube” and was credited as “Rube Beard” on the primary album and on “Tres Hombres”, the band’s third album, however is listed below his actual identify on “Rio Grande Mud”, ZZ TOP‘s second album. After “Tres Hombres”, he was credited as “Frank Beard” on all of the band’s albums. Paradoxically, Beard is the one member of ZZ TOP who doesn’t have a beard, normally sporting solely a mustache (although he went by way of a section within the Nineteen Nineties with a tidy beard).

Frank resides in Richmond, Texas, the place he owns and operates the High 40 Ranch. He’s a scratch golfer, famend regionally for participation in tournaments and neighborhood occasions.