Credit: Neil Zlowzower
ZZ Top will start the North American leg of its 50th anniversary tour a little later than planned following the news that drummer Frank Beard has been diagnosed with pneumonia.
“That Little Ol’ Band from Texas” has canceled the first four dates of the trek, which was supposed to have launched this Friday, August 16, in Ridgefield, Washington, but now will get underway on August 21 in Woodinville, Washington.
According to a message on ZZ Top’s official website, Beard “apparently came down with the ailment while on the band’s just completed tour of Europe and, upon his return home, was advised by his physician to rest and recuperate.”
In addition to the Ridgefield, Washington show, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers have canceled scheduled concerts for August 17 in Airway Heights, Washington; August 18 in Vancouver, Canada; and August 20 in Yakima, Washington.
If you bought tickets to the four nixed performances you can get a refund at your point of purchase.
ZZ Top’s 50th anniversary tour features a total of 50 dates and is plotted out through a November 9 show in Shreveport, Louisiana. As previously reported, Cheap Trick will be the support act at most of the shows, while Lynyrd Skynyrd will open a pair of dates: August 23 in Irvine, California, and August 24 in Concord, California.
ZZ Top also recently lined up a New Year’s Eve concert in Durant, Oklahoma.
Meanwhile, as previously announced, ZZ Top’s members are expected to attend and to take part in a Q&A at a premiere screening of the new documentary ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band from Texas this Tuesday, August 13, at the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles. For more information about the movie, visit ZZTopFilm.com.
Here are the canceled shows. You can see the entire itinerary at ZZTop.com/tour:
8/16 — Ridgefield, WA, Sunlight Supply Amphitheatre*
8/17 — Airway Heights, WA, Northern Quest Casino Theater
8/18 — Vancouver, BC, Canada, PNE Amphitheater
8/20 — Yakima, WA, Yakima Valley SunDome
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