ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard Temporarily Leaves Tour for Health Reasons

The band announced that longtime drummer Frank Beard will step away from the Elevation tour to undergo a medical procedure, with John Douglas filling in during his absence.

Frank Beard, ZZ Top's drummer since 1969, is taking a temporary leave from the band's Elevation tour due to an unspecified health issue.
The band confirmed that Beard will undergo a medical procedure and is optimistic about a swift recovery.
John Douglas, a longtime collaborator and percussionist, will step in as drummer during Beard's absence, having previously filled in for him in 2002.
The Elevation tour, which resumed on March 5, includes performances across the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, with additional North American dates planned later in the year.
ZZ Top, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, has maintained a mostly unchanged lineup for over five decades, with Beard as a key member.