Frank Beard Explains Why He’s Absent At ZZ Top Shows

After a short two-month break, longtime ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard is officially back behind the kit. Just in time for the North American leg of their Elevation tour, Beard rejoins Billy Gibbons and Elwood Francis and is expected to finish the tour with them through October, which includes 52 shows.

According to a statement from the band’s management, “the foot and ankle issues that [Beard] had been dealing with have been resolved.” With that health scare behind him, Beard is ready to rock again.

A Warm Welcome Back

Billy Gibbons couldn’t be happier to have his longtime bandmate return:

“We’re happy that Frank is back with Elwood and yours truly… We missed him and are looking forward to turning it up and rocking out with him, as has been the case for the last few hundred or so decades.”

He added, “His complete recovery is cause for celebration and that’s just what we intend to do on an open-ended basis. Welcome back, pardner!”

True to his quiet nature, Beard—often described as the “man of few words”—kept it short and sweet:

“It’s good to be back. See you out there.”

Still Going Strong After Five Decades

While drum tech John Douglas held down the fort during Beard’s absence—just like he did during a 2002 health scare—the real power trio is now back in action. Even after the loss of bassist Dusty Hill in 2021, ZZ Top keeps rolling. “We love getting out there and turning it up,” Gibbons shared. “[T]his tour’s been a ride so far and we don’t want it to end anytime soon.”

ZZ Top’s Elevation Tour Dates

Check out ZZ Top’s North American tour schedules below:

June
6/01: Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, Victoria, BC
6/03: Prospera PlaceKelowna, BC
6/04: Grey Eagle Resort and Casino, Tsuut’ina, AB
6/06: River Cree Resort & Casino, Enoch, AB
6/07: SaskTel Centre, Saskatoon, SK
6/08: Canada Life Centre, Winnipeg, MB
6/10: Bluestone AmphitheaterMoorhead, MN
6/12: The Ledge – Waite Park AmphitheaterWaite Park, MN
6/13: Black Bear Casino Resort, Carlton, MN
6/14: Rhythm City Casino Resort, Davenport, IA
6/18: Caesars Windsor, The Colosseum, Windsor, ON
6/20: Pickering Casino Resort – The Arena, Pickering, ON
6/21: Great Canadian Toronto – The Theatre, Toronto, ON
6/22: First Ontario Centre, Hamilton, ON
6/25: Place Bell, Laval, QC
6/26: Agora Du Port De Québec, Québec, QC
6/27: Casino New Brunswick – The Centre,Moncton, NB

August
8/01: Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, Sturgis, SD
8/02: Hard Rock Sioux City, Sioux City, IA
8/04: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO
8/04: The Stiefel Theatre, Salina, KS
8/08: Ashley For The Arts, Arcadia, WI
8/10: Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater, Lincoln, NE
8/13: Red Butte Concert Series 2025, Salt Lake City, UT
8/14: Portneuf Health Trust Amphitheatre, Pocatello, ID
8/17: Cuthbert Amphitheatre, Eugene, OR
8/22: Great Canadian Casino Vancouver, Coquitlam, BC
8/23: River Rock Casino,Richmond, BC
8/24: Muckleshoot Casino Resort, Auburn, WA
8/26: Edgefield Amphitheater, Troutdale, OR
8/29: Ironstone Amphitheater, Murphys, CA
8/30: OC Fair & Event Center, Costa Mesa, CA

September
9/03: Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center, Midland, TX
9/06: Memphis Botanic Garden, Memphis, TN
9/07: Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater, Tuscaloosa, AL
9/11: Freeman Arts Pavilion, Selbyville, DE
9/13: Sea.Hear.Now Festival, Asbury Park, NJ
9/17: Beacon Theatre, New York, NY
9/19: The Pantheon at Caesars Virginia, Danville, VA
9/21: Wind Creek Bethlehem, Bethlehem, PA
9/23: Visions Memorial Arena, Binghamton, NY
9/24: Palace Theatre – Albany, Albany, NY
9/16: Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, Providence, RI
9/27: Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton, NH

October
10/02: Morris Farm, Barco, NC
10/03: Field & Stream Music Fest, Winsboro, SC
10/05: The Classic Center, Athens GA
10/07: The Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville, TN
10/09: MGM Northfield Park – Center Stage, Northfield, OH
10/10: The Mill, Terre Haute, IN