ZZ Top’s longtime drummer, Frank Beard, is taking a break from the band’s ongoing tour due to an undisclosed health issue. The news was confirmed by the band’s management in a recent statement, assuring fans that Beard is aiming for a quick recovery.
In Beard’s absence, ZZ Top’s experienced drummer, John Douglas, will be filling in. Douglas has previously played with the band, stepping in during Beard’s emergency appendectomy back in 2002. With Douglas’ expertise, the band’s performances will continue uninterrupted.
Beard was notably absent from ZZ Top’s recent performance at Florida’s St. Augustine Amphitheatre, according to SetList.fm. However, the band remains committed to their tour schedule, with upcoming performances across North America.
ZZ Top’s current lineup consists of frontman Billy Gibbons on vocals and guitar, alongside bassist Elwood Francis, who joined the band after the passing of Dusty Hill in 2021. The group is set to perform at the Seven Seas Food Festival in Orlando before continuing their North American leg, which wraps up on April 12. Following that, they will head to Australia and New Zealand before returning to North America for additional shows in June.
Upcoming 2025 Tour Dates
Fans eager to catch ZZ Top live can check out the following scheduled performances:
- March 16, 2025—Seven Seas Food Festival, Orlando, FL
- March 18, 2025—Anderson Music Hall, Hiawassee, GA
- March 19, 2025—North Charleston Performing Arts Center, North Charleston, SC
- March 21, 2025, Crown Theatre, Fayetteville, NC
- March 22, 2025—Bell Auditorium, Augusta, GA
- March 23, 2025—Montgomery Performing Arts Centre, Montgomery, AL
- March 26, 2025—John Hunt Auditorium, Tifton, GA
- March 28, 2025—SKyPAC, Bowling Green, KY
- April 1, 2025—Brown County Music Center, Nashville, IN
- April 2, 2025—Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, Shipshewana, IN
- April 3, 2025 —FIM Capitol Theatre, Flint, MI
- April 5, 2025—State Farm Center, Champaign, IL
- April 6, 2025—The Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
- April 8, 2025—Andrew J Brady Music Center, Cincinnati, OH
- April 11, 2025—Show Me Center, Cape Girardeau, MO
- April 12, 2025—East Arkansas Community College, Forrest City, AR
While Frank Beard’s absence is a setback, ZZ Top continues to push forward, ensuring fans still get to experience their legendary performances. With Douglas stepping in and a full tour schedule ahead, the band is keeping the blues-rock spirit alive as they tour through 2025.