ZZ Top returned to the stage Saturday night in Austin, the Texas band’s first show since the death of their longtime drummer Frank Beard Monday at the age of 77.
Following Beard’s death, the band canceled a pair of shows this week but promised to keep their dates at Austin’s Moody Theater, “one of Frank’s favorite venues and in a city that had been something of a second home for him,” the band previously said in a statement.
According to Ultimate Classic Rock, frontman Billy Gibbons only addressed Beard’s death once at the show, during the band introductions after the opening song; longtime drum tech John Douglas and drummer Michael Monahan had both filled in for Beard as he dealt with health issues in recent years, but Monahan was behind the kit Saturday.
“I guess some of you probably know there’s a new man in town,” Gibbons said of Monahan. “In fact, it all started a little while back. Elwood [Francis, bassist] and I got an unexpected call from our dear Frank Beard, our dear drummer for 50 years. I’ve never heard him admit, he said, ‘My bass drum foot’s a little weak. Can you get my man [Monahan] to take over?’ I said, ‘Oh yeah, yeah, he’s been doing pretty good.’ Frank said, ‘Yeah, that’s what worries me.’”
Gibbons didn’t let the tone get too funereal, telling the crowd, “We’re all here for a celebration, you know what’s going on. So we’re gonna have a good time.”
ZZ Top was similarly resilient following the death of longtime bassist Dusty Hill in 2021, with Francis quickly stepping in full time.
The North American leg of the band’s The Big One! Tour continues Sunday in Austin and will keep ZZ Top on the road through October. After that, Gibbons, Francis and potentially Monahan will travel to South America for a handful of shows in November.
