ZZ Top scrubbed Bowl concert because of Frank Beard health issues, but tour will continue

The amusement volition spell connected for ZZ Top.

Last week, the blues stone set canceled its Hollywood Bowl performance due to the fact that longtime drummer Frank Beard had wellness issues, Rolling Stone archetypal reported.

That Aug. 5 Los Angeles performance was expected to beryllium the kickoff for the band’s the Big One tour. But a spokesperson for the set says that frontman Billy Gibbons and bassist Elwood Francis volition proceed the tour.

Michael Monahan volition substitute for Beard for the remainder of the Big One, which volition reason its U.S. tally connected Oct. 9 successful Port Wentworth, Ga.

The set has not said that it volition reschedule the L.A. show, and each tickets, including proscription and parking passes, were being automatically refunded, according to the Hollywood Bowl.

Gibbons antecedently posted connected Instagram that determination were unexplained “insurmountable obstacles” starring to the band’s abrupt cancellation astatine the Hollywood Bowl.

The set has released nary details connected Beard’s condition, though this is not the archetypal clip the drummer, 77, has faced health-related issues successful his agelong tenure with the band. Beard joined ZZ Top successful 1969, soon aft the set formed, replacing founding drummer Dan Mitchell.

In March 2025, the Texan trio announced via its Instagram that Beard would temporarily measurement distant from the band’s Elevation circuit to thin to a wellness issue, which was aboriginal revealed to beryllium ft and ankle problems. John Douglas — a longtime tech member, percussionist and drummer — replaced Beard successful the interim, having done truthful antecedently erstwhile the seasoned drummer underwent an exigency appendectomy successful 2002.

In ZZ Top’s aboriginal days — pursuing the merchandise of the 1976 medium “Tejas” — Beard dealt with issues related to substance maltreatment that led to the band’s three-year hiatus, which helium and his bandmates opened up astir successful the 2019 documentary “ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band From Texas.”

“Frank goes each retired connected what helium does and that includes the atrocious things,” bandmate Dusty Hill, who died successful 2021, said successful the documentary. “He was sick. If you’re a precise bully friend, you emotion a guy, you don’t privation to spot him die. You conscionable privation to spot your member get well.”

The Grammy-nominated band, which formed successful Houston, is known for its edgy blues twang successful fashionable singles including “La Grange” and “Tush” and crossed 15 workplace albums. In November, ZZ Top volition adjacent retired the Big One circuit with 8 performances crossed Mexico and South America.