“Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas. His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top. The band of which he was part for six decades is going to keep on keeping on as he had wished,”

Billy Gibbons · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-19

Gibbons paid tribute to Beard in a statement following his death.