John Douglas, a longtime tech member of the Texas boogie band, will man the drum kit in the interim. He played with ZZ Top back in 2002 when Beard underwent an emergency appendectomy in Paris. The band’s Elevation Tour kicked off March 5 in Alabama and is slated to run through April 12 in Arkansas.

The Rock Hall-inducted ZZ Top — Beard, guitarist/vocalist Billy Gibbons and bassist Elwood Francis, who replaced the late Dusty Hill in 2021 — embarked on their Elevation Tour earlier this month; they’re next scheduled to perform March 18 in Hiawassee, Georgia. The North American tour itself run through August 23.

Frank Beard, the longtime drummer for the legendary rock group ZZ top, has stepped away from the current tour due to a “health issue,” according to reports. No further details were provided about what that issue might be. The band released a statement on social media.

ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard has temporarily stepped away from the band’s current tour in order to focus on an unspecified health issue. Read More: ZZ Top Lineup Changes: A Complete Guide The band’s management revealed the news in a Saturday afternoon statement,