*** Frank Zappa ***

[Noj]

Non-musician here. Zappa is much more miss than hit for me. I was gifted a bunch of his albums (Guitar, Make A Jazz Noise Here, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, 200 Motels, Hot Rats, maybe more that I can't remember). Some songs I really like, most I don't feel.

In interviews I've watched on youtube Zappa strikes me as a brilliant yet very bristly, grumpy, quick-to-judge character. It's not an excuse for his being a racist jerk to Chuck and his friends. It just seems like he's the sort of character who would have been an asshole to anyone if he was in the wrong mood. While disappointing, I'm sure even Chuck would grudgingly agree one incident doesn't discount everything Frank Zappa had to say or all the music he created.

[StarThrower]

Why get into assumptions about the character of a man who's been dead for 20 years, and that you didn't know? During his lifetime Zappa was very approachable to his fans, and as far as doing interviews, he was cordial, patient, and polite most of the time.

And what human being can claim to never have been an asshole to someone on occasion?

[Noj]

Yeah, you're right starthrower. I know I've been one plenty of times, and I regret them all. Nobody's perfect.

[Д.Д.]

Zappa could be extremely arrogant and belligerent, particularly to passing acquaintances. I think this was an element of the public image that he cultivated. At the same time, people who knew and worked with him for a long time almost invariably seem to be in awe with him - as musician, but also as a person.

[StarThrower]

Do you have some personal experiences to relate regarding this statement? I don't buy the cultivation of an arrogant and belligerent public persona. As a matter of fact, one of my best friends was approached by Zappa during the intermission of a Mothers show back in 1968. Rather than retreat to the dressing room, FZ wanted to mingle with the audience and talk to people. Of course this became more difficult after he became a household name. And he obviously was more guarded after being assaulted and seriously injured by a fan in 1971.

[Д.Д.]

Do you have some personal experiences to relate regarding this statement? I don't buy the cultivation of an arrogant and belligerent public persona. As a matter of fact, one of my best friends was approached by Zappa during the intermission of a Mothers show back in 1968. Rather than retreat to the dressing room, FZ wanted to mingle with the audience and talk to people. Of course this became more difficult after he became a household name. And he obviously was more guarded after being assaulted and seriously injured by a fan in 1971.

I don't, I first learned about Zappa after he was already dead. But I have read a lot about him. There are dozes of interviews where he is obnoxious and cranky (particularly during the PRC saga), and the things he says are obvious posing. He most definitely cultivated a certain image of himself that may have been just a facet of his true personality (which I tend to think was much kinder and warmer). Of course, I used the word "belligerent" not in the direct meaning - Mingus he was not.

Regarding FZ's interaction with his fans, there are some great stories, e.g. him - after playing two sets - agreeing to pay a visit to a young Swedish fan somewhere in the outskirts of Stockholm, then spending the night discussing politics with his parents, and traveling further the next day.

[StarThrower]

Speaking of kinder and warmer, that extremely late interview where he was too weak to even sit up is very moving. He looks like an Indian guru with the flowing hair and heavy beard, and he speaks so warmly about his friend Nicolas Slonimsky. It's up on YouTube.

Anyway, I don't want to get too carried away about his personal traits. All I know is that he turned me onto a lot of great music and artists because he had good taste. And there is a warmth and optimism at the core of his music, even though he could be cynical and negative at times.

[mjzee]

I'm not a musician. Was into Zappa from an early age. My first album was Absolutely Free when I was 13 or 14, and saw the Mothers at the Fillmore when I was 15. Bought every album through the mid to late '70's, but noticed a definite dropoff in quality around '76. Really disliked Sheik Yerbouti and tuned out then; got back into him around Drowning Witch, then cut the cord after Them Or Us. Some of this may just be attributable to maturity: Zappa opened the doors to other musicians, and he then paled in comparison. But I definitely saw more flaws in him as time went on.

He always did give great interviews, but he had a lot invested in them: he once pointed out that he didn't have a lot of money to put towards promotion, so his avenue to "get the word out" was through interviews. As for his personality, the picture given in the David Walley book is a complicated one.

[Д.Д.]

This is an old and tendentious book. I understand that Alan Clayson is working on an FZ bio at the moment, could be interesting.

[Scott Dolan]

The Negative Dialectics of Poodle Play from Ben Watson might be the most fun I've ever had reading the written word. As quirky, thought-provoking, and WTF?!-inducing as Frank himself.

I personally dug Frank's honesty and humor. I didn't find his personality reprehensible in the slightest.

Probably because it's far too similar to my own.

[StarThrower]

Well he was human, so flaws come with the territory. But he was also one of the most fearless, tireless, and fascinating artists of the era. I can't think of too many other artists who had as much talent, skill, and knowledge as Zappa.

[Scott Dolan]

And his PMRC hearing was classic!

[Carl Baugher]

Frank was gracious the one time I met him. I also had the pleasure to spend some time with his son Dweezil while working on liner notes for the "Halloween" DVD-A and I can tell you that Dweezil is a modest, unassuming and genuinely nice man. And a virtuoso guitarist, of course. Frank Zappa's music was completely unique and indelible. Don't imagine the world will ever see anyone much like him!

[Scott Dolan]

Probably not. But, maybe we're better for it. Too much of a good thing...

[mjzee]

Release date June 4:

Amazon

[sgcim]

I just took a glance at Howard Kaylan's new book, "Shell Shocked", a memoir of his days with the Turtles, Zappa and Flo & Eddie.

He makes the startling revelation that FZ did smoke some pot- in between orgies.

There was a little bit about Judee Sill and her husband, Bob Harris, a great jazz pianist who played with the MOI in 1971.

[Tim McG]

Best Zappa album...all-time, IMHO:

[StarThrower]

I just took a glance at Howard Kaylan's new book, "Shell Shocked", a memoir of his days with the Turtles, Zappa and Flo & Eddie.

He makes the startling revelation that FZ did smoke some pot- in between orgies.

There was a little bit about Judee Sill and her husband, Bob Harris, a great jazz pianist who played with the MOI in 1971.

Not exactly a startling revelation. Zappa always said pot made him sleepy, which is why he didn't smoke much of it.

[sgcim]

I just took a glance at Howard Kaylan's new book, "Shell Shocked", a memoir of his days with the Turtles, Zappa and Flo & Eddie.

He makes the startling revelation that FZ did smoke some pot- in between orgies.

There was a little bit about Judee Sill and her husband, Bob Harris, a great jazz pianist who played with the MOI in 1971.

Not exactly a startling revelation. Zappa always said pot made him sleepy, which is why he didn't smoke much of it.

The way HK wrote about it in the book made it seem like it was a "startling revelation". FZ always cultivated the image of being anti-drug. That's why it seemed strange to me that he hired BH(1), who was a life-long junkie.

Getting back to FZ as a person, I used to work with a drummer who went on the road with FZ as a percussionist, and he said FZ was a cheap prick, who tried to screw the band whenever he could.

[StarThrower]

But FZ probably paid better than what a lot of these unknown at the time musicians were making playing bars. And after the Zappa gig, their resumes were a lot more attractive.

I'd like my boss to pay me more too, but that's life. If you don't like the pay, start your own business and take on all of the responsibilities that go with it.

[Chalupa]

Frank Zappa would have turned 73 today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp6LT2MdaPI#t=464

[mjzee]

Popmarket has a Zappa vinyl deal today: Freak Out, Uncle Meat and Overnite Sensation for $69.99.

[7/4]

[StarThrower]

FZ was such a romantic!

[Guy Berger]

More working through the backlog - over the past few weeks I've been listening to the CDs of Grand Wazoo and Waka/Jawaka that I got about 6 years ago. Great stuff - at least, the instrumental sections.