Artists pay tribute to ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard

Several artists have paid tribute to ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard, who passed away at age 77.

Lynyrd Skynyrd wrote on social media that Beard “was one of a kind,” noting he was “A hell of a drummer, a true original, and most importantly to us, a great friend.”

Fellow drummers Matt Sorum, formerly of Guns N’ Roses, and Brad Wilk, of Rage Against the Machine, both wrote of Beard’s skill.

Sorum called Beard, “The backbone of ZZ Top for 57 years with the best shuffle known to man,” noting, “It might sound easy but possibly one of the hardest things I’ve ever try to learn and still trying.” He added that Beard “was born with it in his blood.”

Meanwhile, Wilk wrote that his first experience with ZZ Top was when he was in high school and saw a show on the Eliminator tour. “My mind was BLOWN! Watching his two hand shuffle live was immense,” he wrote. 

Other artists paying tribute to Beard include: Foghat, George Thorogood and the Destroyers, Night Ranger’s Jack Blades, Gov’t Mule’s Warren Haynes, Aerosmith’s Tom Hamilton, Joe Bonamassa, Living Colour’s Vernon Reid, Christopher Cross and Ted Nugent.