This musician is the drummer of the cult rock band ZZ Top, but before starting his collaboration with her, he took part in more than one project. Frank Beard gained experience in such gangs as: American Blues, The Warlocks and The Hustlers.
In addition, in the 90s, he tried himself as an actor, playing in several films. But if you still do not know anything about him and you have not seen Frank Bird in the photo, then this article will help you with this.
Biography
Frank Lee Beard came to this world on June 11, 1949. He was born in East Texas, in a town called Frankston. Educated at Irving High School, located in the nearby city of Irving. In his youth, Frank Beard mastered the drums to arouse the interest of cool girls, and got a job in an instrumental ensemble, performing every night in a strip club.
Acting
During his career, which lasted from 1983 to 2003, Frank Beard starred in 19 films, this:
- "A Simple Plan" (A Simple Hlan) 1998 release;
- “Back to the Future” 1990;
- "Helen" (Elen) - a series that came out from 1994 to 1998;
- "Conan" (Conan) - a series that has been released since 2010;
- "Two and a Half Men" (Two and a Half Men) - a series that was released from 2003 to 2015;
- "King of the Hill" (King of the Hill) - a series that was released from 1997 to 2010;
- “The First Ten” (Top Ten) - a series released in 1998;
- Motorworld - a series that was released from 1995 to 1996;
- Pincushion is a 1994 short film;
- Doubleback - 1990 short film;
- Velcro Fly - 1985 short film;
- Rough Boy is a 1985 short film;
- Legs is a 1984 short film;
- Sharp Dressed Man - 1983 short film;
- TV Dinners - Short film 1983;
- Live from Texas - 2008 short film;
- Mad TV (Mad TV) - a series that was released from 1995 to 2016;
- “Rock Tales of Mother Goose” - 1990 TV show;
- MTV Video Music Awards (MTV 1st Annual Video Music Awards) - 1984 (TV, 1984).
In many films, Frank Beard played himself, and other roles are mostly episodic.
Personal life
In November 1982, Frank Beard and Debbie Meridit got married. This happy marriage gave them two twin sons and one daughter. This is the second marriage of the legendary drummer, because his first wife was Catherine Alexander, with whom they lived for only three years.
Frank Beard Facts
Racing cars are a real passion for him, with Beard joking that he can remotely control a drum kit while driving his car.
- Gemini.
- Frank Beard is 175 cm tall.
- He is seriously fond of golf, takes part in tournaments of his district. Moreover, there is an athlete with the same name, and they should not be confused.
- Frank currently has his own ranch called “Top 40,” located in Richmond, Texas.
Base ZZ-Top
At the end of 1969, a fateful meeting awaited him with vocalist and guitarist Billy Gibbons, who at that time was looking for musicians for his own project. Frank Beard promised to join, and brought in a group of his friend Dusty Hill, with whom he worked in previous groups and which can be called "Orchestra Man", as he is both a bass player, a singer, and a keyboard player. Beard himself, in addition to playing drums, is the author and performer of his own songs. He is also a good saxophone player.
Through various experiments, the musicians developed their own unique style, giving it the name "Texas Buggy Blues Rock." The first vinyl was named ZZ Top`s First Album, as if to speak for itself, and was released by London Records in January 1971. At the beginning of his career, Frank had the nickname Rube (Hillbilly), so on the cover of the first album his name appears as Rube Beard, but on all subsequent ones his real name is indicated.
Despite the fact that the surname Beard in English means the word "beard", the drummer does not wear it, he only released his mustache. And two other musicians of the group are real bearded men! True, in the 90s, Frank experimented with his image, growing a neat goatee, but very soon returned to his old mustachio-beardless look.
It is interesting that the musicians played well before, that over all the years of its existence, the composition has not undergone any changes.
ZZ-Top's participation in charity
The group has long been helping the Baltimore Museum named after the famous bluesman Maddy Waters, based in his own house on the outskirts of the Stovall plantation. The contribution to this world heritage is that the ZZ-Top group made a huge contribution to the collection of finances in support of the museum in 1998. Billy Gibbons had several Maddywood guitars that the blues founder had made with his own hands from the crumbling boards of his dilapidated home. Gibbons showed one of the guitars, speaking in a hard rock cafe, after which she became known around the world and took her place of honor in the museum. Among other things, the musician participated in a project to improve the Clarksdale Highway at the famous Crossroads.
ZZ-Top today
It is amazing that the group will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, but its composition has not changed even once, and last year the lively old people arranged a round-the-world tour that began in the US state of Ohio and ended in Georgia.
The tour began immediately after recording the live album ZZ-Top In Live! Greatest Hits From Around The World. It has 15 tracks recorded directly during concerts that have died down on three continents in 13 cities. The peculiarity of this album is that the legendary guitarist Jeff Beck took part in two tracks.