Latest news with #ElevationTour
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
ZZ Top Gets Their Beard Back After Health Issues
ZZ Top Gets Their Beard Back After Health Issues originally appeared on Parade. ZZ Top is getting their Beard back. In this case the Beard is , the band's drummer and, ironically, the only member of the iconic rock trio not to sport facial hair. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 The drummer was sidelined back in March due to an unspecified 'health issue' that forced him to miss dates on the band's Elevation Tour. The band, with drummer John Douglas sitting in for Beard, recently wrapped dates in Australia and New Zealand, but now Beard is back in the saddle and good to go for the next run of North American dates that begin June 1 in Victoria, British to a statement released through ZZ Top's press representative, the band's management said Beard was suffering from 'foot and ankle issues,' but he's now prepared to trek through the tour's completion on Oct. 10 in Terre Haute, Ind. 'We're happy that Frank is back with [bassist] Elwood [Francis] and yours truly, BFG. 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,' frontman , 75, said in a statement. 'His complete recovery is cause for celebration and that's just what we intend to do on an open-ended basis. Welcome back, pardner!' 'It's good to be back. See you out there,' added Beard. ZZ Top's original bassist , 72, died in July 2021 and was replaced by Francis, with Hill's approval before his passing. ZZ Top Gets Their Beard Back After Health Issues first appeared on Parade on May 29, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on May 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Otago Daily Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Christchurch mayor spotted at ZZ Top concert
By Monique Steele of RNZ Rock and roll legends ZZ Top and superstars George Thorogood & The Destroyers electrified Christchurch fans at Wolfbrook Arena on Thursday evening. The bands that have rocked for more than half a century nailed the first leg of the Elevation Tour in New Zealand, following a four-stop tour across the ditch in Australia. Throwing back to the 1970s and 80s when life was about good times, blues and rock and roll, both frontmen, aged 75 years old, showed no signs of slowing. Self-proclaimed 'bad' boy, George Thorogood entertained the Christchurch crowd with his 10-song, one-hour set. The natural showman led his longtime five-piece band the Destroyers, which demonstrated a tight production without flaw. Thorogood's theatrics with the crowd led to an eruption during hit 'I Drink Alone' off 1985 album Maverick. The giddy audience, getting 'gassed' themselves, burst with excitement for the following 'One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer'. The motley crowd at Wolfbrook Arena, partying on a school night, revelled in the satire of 'Get A Haircut' - defying the cry to 'get a real job.' Coming off a tour of Australia to Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, Thorogood wooed the audience in Ōtautahi. 'The people of New Zealand out-rock the people of Australia,' he said. The set ended with the thrill of 1982 hit 'Bad To The Bone', prompting a young lass atop shoulders in the crowd to bare skin and be b-b-b-b-b-baad. Rock giants ZZ Top, that 'little ol' band from Texas', brought the A-game to the show, having toured for more than 50 years since the release of ZZ Top's First Album in 1971. Singer and guitar legend Billy Gibbons, drummer John Douglas (in place of original Frank Beard for health reasons) and bassist Elwood Francis burst into an energetic 16-song set rolling from hit to hit. Bopping and dropping in unison, Gibbons and Francis bounced off each other. Seats in general admission were left unused, as fans wrapped arms around each other during 'Gimme All Your Lovin'' off 1983 album Eliminator. The album's commercial success saw other tracks 'Sharp Dressed Man', 'Got Me Under Pressure' and mega-hit 'Legs' also delight the crowd. Gibbons beared his familiar long beard, hat and dark sunglasses, while dressed in leather and designer sequined clothing that sparkled in the stage's light show. Guitar fanatics were dazzled with an array of different guitars, including a bonkers 17-string bass guitar, furry ones and ones with digitised screens. They hung low off their shoulders and helped them defy the odds of what rock and roll could shred from just three artists. Gibbons' own, 'Brown Sugar' soothed the soul with its bluesy beginnings that got feet stomping when the drums drove the song's rock evolution. Hits 'Pearl Necklace', 'I Thank You' and 'I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide' also did not disappoint. Several in the rowdy crowd front and centre failed to contain their excitement, lifting their shirts in joy. Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger was spotted at the event, which mirrored the 'good for the city' banter from punters in the smoking and vaping outdoor area following Thorogood's set. ZZ Top with special guest George Thorogood & The Destroyers will play Auckland's Spark Arena on 17 May followed by Wellington's TSB Arena on 18 May
Fox News
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard leaves tour to address 'health issue'
ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard is taking a leave of absence due to an upcoming medical procedure. On Sunday, the band's official Instagram account announced that Beard, 75, will be stepping away from their Elevation Tour to tend to "a health issue." "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," the message read. "Beard, along with fellow ZZ Top members Billy F Gibbons and Elwood Francis, presently on the Elevation tour since March 5, have engaged fellow Texan and longtime tech member, percussionist and drummer, John Douglas, for the interim." "Mr. Douglas has maintained a close relationship with Beard and bandmates, having served with the group in the past." "He is looking forward to a speedy recovery," the post concluded. This isn't the first time a health concern has affected the band and its members. In 2021, the band announced the sudden death of their longtime guitarist, Dusty Hill. "We are saddened by the news today that our Compadre, Dusty Hill, has passed away in his sleep at home in Houston, TX," the band said in a statement to Fox News at the time. "We, along with legions of ZZ Top fans around the world, will miss your steadfast presence, your good nature and enduring commitment to providing that monumental bottom to the 'Top.'" "We will forever be connected to that 'Blues Shuffle in C,'" the statement continued. "You will be missed greatly, amigo." At the time, Hill had been dealing with a health concern related to a hip issue, the band had previously revealed, adding that they were awaiting "a speedy recovery" and hoping to "have him back pronto."
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Is ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard Leaving Tour? Health Issue Explained
Frank Beard, longtime drummer and co-founder of ZZ Top, has stepped away from the band's Elevation Tour due to a health issue, according to a statement from the band. A core member of the Texas trio since 1969, Beard has played on all 15 of ZZ Top's studio albums. He played a key role in their rise as one of rock's most enduring bands. Here are the key details surrounding Frank Beard's absence from the tour. ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has temporarily left the band's Elevation Tour to focus on a health issue. A statement from the band's representatives on March 16, 2024, confirmed that Beard had 'temporarily stepped away from the current tour to attend a health issue requiring his focus in the near term' and is 'looking forward to a speedy recovery.' The specific nature of the health issue was not disclosed (via Deadline). John Douglas, a longtime drum technician and musician, has stepped in as Beard's replacement. Douglas previously played with ZZ Top in 2002, when Beard had an emergency appendectomy in Paris. The band launched its Elevation Tour on March 5, 2024, in Alabama and plans to continue performing until April 12, 2024, in Arkansas. Billy Gibbons (guitar, vocals), Dusty Hill (bass, vocals), and Frank Beard formed ZZ Top in 1969 in Houston, Texas. The band gained recognition for its blues-rock sound and signature image, with Gibbons and Hill sporting long beards and sunglasses. Their popularity surged in the 1980s as MTV frequently aired their music videos. After Dusty Hill died in 2021 at age 72, ZZ Top continued touring with Elwood Francis on bass. The band has released 15 studio albums, including the half-live, half-studio Fandango!. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) reports that ZZ Top has sold over 25 million records in the U.S. Seven albums have earned platinum or multi-platinum status, while four hold gold certification. ZZ Top's most famous songs include 'La Grange,' 'Tush,' 'Cheap Sunglasses,' 'Sharp Dressed Man,' and 'Legs.' The 2019 documentary ZZ Top: That Little Ol' Band from Texas detailed their journey to stardom. The post Why Is ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard Leaving Tour? Health Issue Explained appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Express Tribune
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard takes leave from Elevation Tour due to health issue, John Douglas steps in
Frank Beard, the longtime drummer of legendary rock band ZZ Top, has announced a temporary leave of absence from the band's ongoing Elevation Tour due to a health issue. The band confirmed the news on Saturday, 15 March, stating that Beard will undergo an unspecified medical procedure and will not perform during upcoming dates. '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,' read a statement shared on the group's official social media channels. To fill the gap, ZZ Top has enlisted John Douglas, a fellow Texan and long-time drum technician for the band. Douglas, also a seasoned percussionist, has a longstanding relationship with ZZ Top and notably filled in for Beard during a 2002 performance in Paris when the drummer underwent an emergency appendectomy. 'Beard, along with fellow ZZ Top members Billy F Gibbons and Elwood Francis, presently on the Elevation tour since March 5, have engaged fellow Texan and longtime tech member, percussionist and drummer, John Douglas, for the interim,' the statement continued. 'He is looking forward to a speedy recovery,' the band concluded, showing optimism about Beard's return. ZZ Top resumed their Elevation Tour on 5 March, following an initial U.S. leg in late 2024. The tour is set to run through April with international stops in Australia and New Zealand. Additional North American dates are planned, but it remains uncertain when Beard will rejoin the tour. Frank Beard has been with ZZ Top since 1969, joining shortly after the band's formation. He, Billy Gibbons, and the late Dusty Hill held one of the longest-running line-ups in rock history until Hill's passing in 2021. Since then, Elwood Francis has taken over bass duties.
