ZZ Top has returned to the stage following the death of longtime drummer Frank Beard.
On Saturday (Aug. 22), the legendary Texas blues-rock band played its first show since Beard’s death earlier in the week 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,” according to a previous press statement.
Following Beard’s death at age 77 on Monday (Aug. 17), ZZ Top canceled two tour dates in Salt Lake City on Aug. 18 and Colorado Springs on Aug. 19. The band previously announced that it would resume its current The Big One! Tour with back-to-back shows this weekend at Austin City Limits.
During Saturday’s show, drummer Michael Monahan stepped in behind the kit. Both Monahan and longtime drum tech John Douglas had been filling in for Beard as he dealt with health issues in recent years.
ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons addressed his bandmate’s death once during the performance, during the group’s introductions after the first song, according to Ultimate Classic Rock.
“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. [Bassist Elwood Francis] 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 then shifted his tone to a more upbeat one, telling the audience, “We’re all here for a celebration, you know what’s going on. So we’re gonna have a good time.”
ZZ Top similarly returned to the stage quickly following the death of the band’s longtime bassist Dusty Hill in 2021. At the time, Francis, the group’s guitar tech of 20 years, filled in for Hill on bass just days after the band announced Hill’s death at age 72.
ZZ Top will remain on the road through October as part of the band’s The Big One! Tour. The group will then travel to South America for additional shows in November. The band hasn’t yet announced whether Monahan will remain behind the kit for those performances.
