Why did Frank Beard miss Paris show in 2002? Health issue explored as legendary rocker announces leave of absence

ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has been the backbone of the iconic rock band since 1969. Beard, who is known for his drum work and style, has just announced a temporary leave of absence from ZZ Top's ongoing Elevation Tour to take care of his health.

Although it was not clear what Beard’s current status is, a verified Instagram post from ZZ Top said:

“Shelter Music Group, ZZ Top’s management, has announced the band’s drummer, Mr. Frank Beard, has temporarily stepped away from the current tour to attend a health issue requiring his focus in the near term.”

Online reports, including an X post from NME, corroborated the fact.

The verified Instagram post added that, to fill in for Beard during the ongoung tour, the drummer and the band:

"have engaged fellow Texan and longtime tech member, percussionist and drummer, John Douglas, for the interim.”

Douglas had earlier filled in for Frank Beard when the ZZ Top drummer underwent an emergency appendectomy in Paris, in 2002, the post stated.

The Paris incident in October 2002 marked a rare moment in Frank Beard’s career. He had not been feeling well during their show at Le Zénith in Paris, and had fallen ill, requiring urgent care. Beard needed an emergency surgery room to remove his appendix, and missed the performance.

It was the first time in 33 years that ZZ Top performed without its three core members onstage together. Thankfully, John Douglas filled in.

Interesting and unknown facts about Frank Beard, and more about the Elevation Tour

John Douglas has once again filled in for drummer Frank Beard in 2025. Douglas' association with the band goes back years. Apart from filling in for Beard in 2002, he has also been on the road with the band since the Elevation Tour resumed in March 2024. The tour, which kicked off in October 2024 and picked back up in March 2025, will continue across North America before heading to Australia and New Zealand in the coming months.

Frank Beard, the longtime drummer of ZZ Top, has an interesting history beyond the decades he has spent with the band. He and ZZ Top bandmate Dusty Hill were members of the Zombies, a band that illegitimately toured as the original U.K. rock group, The Zombies, in the late 1960s.

In the early years of ZZ Top, Beard was credited as 'Rube Beard' on the band’s first and third albums, though this nickname was not present on the second album.

Another amusing fact is despite ZZ Top’s look being iconic, Beard was actually the only member without a beard for most of the band’s career. He finally got one in 2013.