Frank Zappa Why is he so great?
- Thread starter Chili
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bouldersoundguy
Well-known member
Zappa could walk the line between serious and funny like no one else.
Bubba po
Tiny Stonehenge Moment
I had a friend who was a trained keyboard player. Learned piano as a child and took lessons most of his life and went to Berkley later on. He could do it all, from classical to jazz and fusion.
Best all around keyboard player I'd ever met. Give him a chart or score and he'd play it.
He auditioned for Zappa. He said he couldn't cut it. Zapoa was too good. He was way out of his league.
From what I know of Frank, he didnt give a shit, cared not about trends, record sales or anything other than making music.
He was quite the prolific recording artist.
he just kept on making records. Like him or not, but he was a busy boy.
Best all around keyboard player I'd ever met. Give him a chart or score and he'd play it.
He auditioned for Zappa. He said he couldn't cut it. Zapoa was too good. He was way out of his league.
From what I know of Frank, he didnt give a shit, cared not about trends, record sales or anything other than making music.
He was quite the prolific recording artist.
he just kept on making records. Like him or not, but he was a busy boy.
Sky Blue Lou
Well-known member
From the wiki (linked in the other thread)
I don't want to leap to the defense of the press because I don't respect a lot of it. On the other hand l wrote an article recently in which I suggested that Edward Van Halen might have stagnated with his band, and his manager called me and up and called me a "no-good motherfuckin' ****."
Frank Zappa: "Oooh! Nice man! I hope you ran that!"
We did, and we received a lot of mail. Not that I needed anymore convincing, but that was a confirmation that ...
Frank Zappa: "People are listening! I'm telling you, that's the influence ... The worst thing that can happen to a person who is an MTV-size "star" is for somebody to write they're not hot. I mean, [smiling] stagnating is not very hot. And that's a career-crunching thing, especially to apply to somebody who's playing hot guitar solos. To even imply that – you can imagine the manager going, "My 15 motherfucking percent, it's goin' up in smoke! That little ****! The motherfucking ****! I gotta call him now!" [laughs] I don't even know this guy, but I just hear that ratchet going."
Now, how culpable is the press there? I feel it's that Edward Van Halen is being constricted by somebody who would rather not see him go off and do a progressive power-trio record.
Frank Zappa: "Well, let me set you straight on a couple of things that I see slightly differently than you do, partly because I'm 50 years old and you're not – and I don't want to sound like grandpa. But to reinforce the negative side of the activities of the press: I lived as an entertainer through one era of rock 'n' roll where the rock press was absolutely the blowboy of the industry. In the '70s, when corporate rock really blossomed into this stinking apparition it became, companies were giving cocaine, girls, money, junkets and all this stuff to famous rock writers, just greasing them from one end to the other so they would write nonstop, wonderful glowing articles about groups that needed to be promoted. It was pure grease, okay? I detect from the way that this interview is going that you have a little bit more integrity – a lot more integrity – and more of an intellectual edge to what you're trying to do than the people I had to talk to in the world of rock in the last 25 years. I mean it as a compliment, I'm not trying to stroke you or any thing. I find it refreshing to talk to anybody connected with a music magazine – whether he's a little motherfuckin' **** or not [laughter] – who has an idea of the relationship between music, the industry and the realworld. Because most interviews you do, people are just talking about ... nothing. No-thing! I put up with that for too long. And it wasn't until 1985, when I went to Washington to testify in front of the Congress, that I started having the chance to talk to people in the press who were not from rock 'n' roll, just regular writers, who were intelligent, normal human beings. I started doing fewer rock interviews, and my attitude toward the press changed at the moment where I didn't have to do so many conversations with the people who determined whether or not you were hot. The world of hot – I don't give a fuck about the world of hot. And that's all they care about in that world, okay? So I wouldn't be too quick to defend the rock press because of its rather ... checkered past. And it may have evolved, and it may have matured, might have even been perfected by now, who knows? I don't read it any more. But if you're any example of what's out there in terms of rock interviewers, I'm gratified. Especially if you're going to get a call like that from Eddie Van Halen's manager, you must be doing something right."
I don't want to leap to the defense of the press because I don't respect a lot of it. On the other hand l wrote an article recently in which I suggested that Edward Van Halen might have stagnated with his band, and his manager called me and up and called me a "no-good motherfuckin' ****."
Frank Zappa: "Oooh! Nice man! I hope you ran that!"
We did, and we received a lot of mail. Not that I needed anymore convincing, but that was a confirmation that ...
Frank Zappa: "People are listening! I'm telling you, that's the influence ... The worst thing that can happen to a person who is an MTV-size "star" is for somebody to write they're not hot. I mean, [smiling] stagnating is not very hot. And that's a career-crunching thing, especially to apply to somebody who's playing hot guitar solos. To even imply that – you can imagine the manager going, "My 15 motherfucking percent, it's goin' up in smoke! That little ****! The motherfucking ****! I gotta call him now!" [laughs] I don't even know this guy, but I just hear that ratchet going."
Now, how culpable is the press there? I feel it's that Edward Van Halen is being constricted by somebody who would rather not see him go off and do a progressive power-trio record.
Frank Zappa: "Well, let me set you straight on a couple of things that I see slightly differently than you do, partly because I'm 50 years old and you're not – and I don't want to sound like grandpa. But to reinforce the negative side of the activities of the press: I lived as an entertainer through one era of rock 'n' roll where the rock press was absolutely the blowboy of the industry. In the '70s, when corporate rock really blossomed into this stinking apparition it became, companies were giving cocaine, girls, money, junkets and all this stuff to famous rock writers, just greasing them from one end to the other so they would write nonstop, wonderful glowing articles about groups that needed to be promoted. It was pure grease, okay? I detect from the way that this interview is going that you have a little bit more integrity – a lot more integrity – and more of an intellectual edge to what you're trying to do than the people I had to talk to in the world of rock in the last 25 years. I mean it as a compliment, I'm not trying to stroke you or any thing. I find it refreshing to talk to anybody connected with a music magazine – whether he's a little motherfuckin' **** or not [laughter] – who has an idea of the relationship between music, the industry and the realworld. Because most interviews you do, people are just talking about ... nothing. No-thing! I put up with that for too long. And it wasn't until 1985, when I went to Washington to testify in front of the Congress, that I started having the chance to talk to people in the press who were not from rock 'n' roll, just regular writers, who were intelligent, normal human beings. I started doing fewer rock interviews, and my attitude toward the press changed at the moment where I didn't have to do so many conversations with the people who determined whether or not you were hot. The world of hot – I don't give a fuck about the world of hot. And that's all they care about in that world, okay? So I wouldn't be too quick to defend the rock press because of its rather ... checkered past. And it may have evolved, and it may have matured, might have even been perfected by now, who knows? I don't read it any more. But if you're any example of what's out there in terms of rock interviewers, I'm gratified. Especially if you're going to get a call like that from Eddie Van Halen's manager, you must be doing something right."
muttley600
Banned
He was that rare thing in the industry that managed a huge and varied catalogue, was respected by all his peers, attracted the finest players to work with him, and most importantly maintained his own integrity throughout his playing and composing career. In short he was a modern day Ellington/Strayhorn.
Pretty much all the musicians of the day wanted FZ on their CV..Check out the list of people that did achieve it. Quite a list...
Pretty much all the musicians of the day wanted FZ on their CV..Check out the list of people that did achieve it. Quite a list...
TAE
All you have is now
If not for Frank there never would have been an Alice Cooper...nuff said! 
Frank followed in the footsteps of his namesakes ( just guessing ) most popular song "my way" A very smart dude who fought the law and won. One of my old buds ( David Kimber ) played keys for him for a while. Dave wrote the music for the "Woodsy the owl" PSA message.."Give a hoot don't pollute". Dave was a pretty good player...maybe I under rated him based on the post above.
His experience was the dude was driven, strict and had a zero tolerance drug use policy.
I got to see Zappa a few times...and it was definitely a treat...There's stuff that is waaaaay out there like 200 motels...and stuff that is just way progressive like Inca roads. I was indecently exposed to him at 16 with Freak out....Suzy...Suzy cream cheese.... Motherly love and go cry on somebody elses shoulder.
His favorite Ruthy Underwood was an animal..
Here's a pic of Dave and Frank at the studioski
This is in the MORE part of the video below...
Published on Aug 6, 2013
A Token Of His Extreme | Eagle Rock Store...
DVD: A Token Of His Extreme [DVD] [2013] [NTSC]: Amazon.co.uk: Frank Zappa: DVD & Blu-ray
EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT and the Zappa Family Trust are pleased to announce the first official release of A TOKEN OF HIS EXTREME, an original program created by FRANK ZAPPA for TV.
Recorded on August 27, 1974 at KCET in Hollywood, A TOKEN OF HIS EXTREME features Frank Zappa with five incredibly talented band members for this extravaganza of live music.
The line-up exists of Frank Zappa—guitar, percussion, vocals; George Duke—keyboards, finger cymbals, tambourine, vocals; Napoleon Murphy Brock—sax, vocals; Ruth Underwood—percussion; Tom Fowler—bass; Chester Thompson—drums.
The Program, as edited and thoroughly tweezed & produced by FZ for Honker Home Video includes these delights: The Dog Breath Variations/ Uncle Meat, Montana, Earl Of Duke (George Duke), Florentine Pogen, Stink-Foot, Pygmy Twylyte, Room Service, Inca Roads, Oh No, Son Of Orange County, More Trouble Every Day, A Token Of My Extreme.
Stereo Mixes Produced by Frank Zappa with Kerry McNabb at Paramount Studios, 1974. Mastered by Bob Ludwig, Gateway Mastering, 2009
FZ: FZ appearing on the Mike Douglas Show, 1976 "This was put together with my own money and my own time and it's been offered to television networks and to syndication and it has been steadfastly rejected by the American television industry. It has been shown in primetime in France and Switzerland, with marvelous results. It's probably one of the finest pieces of video work that any human being has ever done. I did it myself. And the animation that you're gonna see in this was done by a guy named Bruce Bickford, and I hope he is watching the show, because it's probably the first time that a lot of people in America got a chance to see it."-
Because 'Token' has never been commercially released until now, it is one of the most sought after Frank Zappa programs.
Like and Share our videos to encourage us to post more.
Subscribe to our channel for more live concert footage: 404 Not Found...
Follow us on twitter and Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt
https://twitter.com/EagleRocknews
Frank followed in the footsteps of his namesakes ( just guessing ) most popular song "my way" A very smart dude who fought the law and won. One of my old buds ( David Kimber ) played keys for him for a while. Dave wrote the music for the "Woodsy the owl" PSA message.."Give a hoot don't pollute". Dave was a pretty good player...maybe I under rated him based on the post above.
His experience was the dude was driven, strict and had a zero tolerance drug use policy.
I got to see Zappa a few times...and it was definitely a treat...There's stuff that is waaaaay out there like 200 motels...and stuff that is just way progressive like Inca roads. I was indecently exposed to him at 16 with Freak out....Suzy...Suzy cream cheese.... Motherly love and go cry on somebody elses shoulder.
His favorite Ruthy Underwood was an animal..
Here's a pic of Dave and Frank at the studioski
This is in the MORE part of the video below...
Published on Aug 6, 2013
A Token Of His Extreme | Eagle Rock Store...
DVD: A Token Of His Extreme [DVD] [2013] [NTSC]: Amazon.co.uk: Frank Zappa: DVD & Blu-ray
EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT and the Zappa Family Trust are pleased to announce the first official release of A TOKEN OF HIS EXTREME, an original program created by FRANK ZAPPA for TV.
Recorded on August 27, 1974 at KCET in Hollywood, A TOKEN OF HIS EXTREME features Frank Zappa with five incredibly talented band members for this extravaganza of live music.
The line-up exists of Frank Zappa—guitar, percussion, vocals; George Duke—keyboards, finger cymbals, tambourine, vocals; Napoleon Murphy Brock—sax, vocals; Ruth Underwood—percussion; Tom Fowler—bass; Chester Thompson—drums.
The Program, as edited and thoroughly tweezed & produced by FZ for Honker Home Video includes these delights: The Dog Breath Variations/ Uncle Meat, Montana, Earl Of Duke (George Duke), Florentine Pogen, Stink-Foot, Pygmy Twylyte, Room Service, Inca Roads, Oh No, Son Of Orange County, More Trouble Every Day, A Token Of My Extreme.
Stereo Mixes Produced by Frank Zappa with Kerry McNabb at Paramount Studios, 1974. Mastered by Bob Ludwig, Gateway Mastering, 2009
FZ: FZ appearing on the Mike Douglas Show, 1976 "This was put together with my own money and my own time and it's been offered to television networks and to syndication and it has been steadfastly rejected by the American television industry. It has been shown in primetime in France and Switzerland, with marvelous results. It's probably one of the finest pieces of video work that any human being has ever done. I did it myself. And the animation that you're gonna see in this was done by a guy named Bruce Bickford, and I hope he is watching the show, because it's probably the first time that a lot of people in America got a chance to see it."-
Because 'Token' has never been commercially released until now, it is one of the most sought after Frank Zappa programs.
Like and Share our videos to encourage us to post more.
Subscribe to our channel for more live concert footage: 404 Not Found...
Follow us on twitter and Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt
https://twitter.com/EagleRocknews
Last edited:
fat_fleet
Swollen Member
I can get behind that. I think 5-8% of his discog speaks to me, I'm just not a big caller of "drek".
fat_fleet
Swollen Member
Lol, so your opinion is obviously well-informed...
Mr Clean
AKA Teddy Wong
I've listened to enough of his music over the years to have formed the opinion, as it's not like I've not tried. I even have a couple of his albums in my collection. His music just does absolutely nothing for me.
fat_fleet
Swollen Member
That's fair, but with artists like that who change their skin so often, it's easy to pick the wrong jumping-in point.
I'm no huge fan either, I just react strongly to "It's SHIT!" these days, being all old and crotchety and stuff.
TAE
All you have is now
Because we have similar taste on a lot of music I'm tempted to say you may have missed some of his gems...but then again maybe not.. Different strokes for different folks ..Zappa would not be insulted and would probably respect the fact that you "don't get him"..that just because "everybody" thinks he's great isn't going to influence your honest opinion. He hated commercialism of music and the way the masses were so easily maneuvered by the media money machine.
fat_fleet
Swollen Member
Wait, Morrissey too?? The Smiths were legend, Viva Hate wasn't even that bad. You know Vini Reilly did uncredited guitar all over that, right?
You guys are killing me... This is the big one, Elizabeth! I'm coming to join ya!!!
Mr Clean
AKA Teddy Wong
That's fair, but with artists like that who change their skin so often, it's easy to pick the wrong jumping-in point.
I'm no huge fan either, I just react strongly to "It's SHIT!" these days, being all old and crotchety and stuff.
That's true and perhaps "he's shit" was being a little over zealous. I should've said "not musically pleasing to my ear". The Mother's Of Invention Freak Out album is listenable, even though I still don't find it very pleasing musically. Which is strange because it is akin to the garage/psyche music of the 60's that I adore. I'll have to dig it out and have another listen and see if my musical tastes have change in the last couple of years.