ZZ Top’s upcoming run through Australia and New Zealand just hit a slight bump.
Longtime drummer Frank Beard won’t be making the trip down under. The band has now confirmed that he’s continuing physical therapy following a health issue that forced him off the recent US leg of The Elevation Tour.
In a statement shared today, the group said Beard’s recovery is going well, but doctors have advised a longer break from the road to ensure a full recovery. While it’s a letdown for longtime fans, the call makes sense. After all, this is a band that’s always played the long game. No point rushing a return just for the sake of it.
Stepping in behind the kit will be John Douglas, who’s no stranger to the job. He filled in for Beard back in 2002 during a tour in France and just wrapped the band’s US dates. Expect him to bring the same sharp, steady backbone to the rhythm section as ZZ Top head into what will still be one hell of a show.
The Elevation Tour kicks off locally this weekend at Red Hot Summer Festival in Bendigo. The tour will then roll through the country and across the Tasman. Sharing the bill are blues-rock mainstays George Thorogood & The Destroyers, with Dallas Frasca jumping on all Australian dates.
Fans can expect the usual. It’s going to be a road-hardened Texas boogie, gravel-throated vocals, and the kind of showmanship that only comes with five decades on the job. It’s just going to be with a temporary lineup tweak.
Beard’s absence might be felt, but the band’s focus on his long-term health is a reminder that even rock legends need a pause sometimes.
ZZ Top 2025 Australian Tour Dates:
April 29 – Adelaide – AEC Arena
May 1 – Perth – Langley Park
May 7 – Melbourne – Margaret Court Arena
May 13 – Sydney – ICC Sydney Theatre
May 15 – Christchurch – Wolfbrook Arena
May 17 – Auckland – Spark Arena
May 18 – Wellington – TSB Arena
Tickets can be purchased here.
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