ZZ Top Adds Replacement Drummer as Frank Beard Takes Health Leave

ZZ Top is keeping The Big One summer tour moving despite a significant lineup shift. Longtime drummer Frank Beard has stepped away from the road for health-related reasons, and the band has brought in drummer Michael Monahan to fill in for the remainder of the run.

The news follows a last-minute cancellation of the band's Hollywood Bowl date in Los Angeles, which management attributed to "unforeseen personnel matters." Frontman Billy Gibbons acknowledged the situation, calling the obstacles "insurmountable" while thanking fans for their patience.

What Frank Beard's Absence Means for the ZZ Top Tour

Beard, 77, has dealt with a string of health challenges in recent years. In early 2024, he temporarily stepped away from touring to address an unspecified health issue, with longtime drum tech John Douglas covering his dates. That same absence followed a 2022 emergency appendectomy that cost Beard a Paris show. When he returned, Gibbons confirmed the drummer had been managing foot and ankle issues.

This time, Monahan gets the seat. The band has not released specifics on Beard's current condition, and ZZ Top's representatives had not responded to press inquiries at the time of reporting.

The rest of the touring lineup remains intact. Bassist Elwood Francis, who joined the group after co-founder Dusty Hill passed away in 2021, continues alongside Gibbons. Francis came up as Hill's guitar tech and has been a fixture on the road since stepping in three years ago.

The Big One Tour Dates Still Ahead

The tour has a full slate left. Starting with Marymoor Amphitheater in Redmond, Washington, the run hits Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Texas, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and several Northeast states before wrapping its U.S. leg in Port Wentworth, Georgia on October 9. International dates in Mexico and South America follow in November.

For a band that has already navigated the loss of a founding member mid-career, keeping the machine rolling is clearly the priority. Gibbons and the team have shown they are not inclined to cancel the whole run when a workaround exists.

Frank Beard has played on every ZZ Top studio record from 1971's First Album through 2012's La Futura. More than five decades behind the kit for the same band is not a footnote. It's a career benchmark most drummers will never touch.

For working musicians and touring professionals, this situation is a real-time case study in how legacy acts handle health disruptions without pulling the plug. Understudies, drum techs, and loyal crew members are the infrastructure that keeps major tours alive when the unexpected hits. If you're building a live project of your own, check out our [events page](/events) to stay current on what's moving through the city.