Frank Zappa (And The Mothers of Invention)

[KingLouieLouie]

I know quite a few of you have mentioned how much you admire his music, and I must certainly agree....

I havent listened to him in awhile I admit, but I suddenly got into the mood to listen to "Freak Out!" and lord what an amazing debut that it was...Probably among one of the best debut albums of all-time...So ambitious since all the muscial terroritories that he explored throughout each and every song....

Perhaps he was too radical/"out there" for some, however, what a musical genius with his rather twisted creative lyrics and he could just "rock" on guitar along with the best of them....He was one of those rare breeds that could convey himself thru his guitar playing and vocals with both sheer "assaults".....

I also love "Lumpy Gravy", of course all the volumes of "Joe's Garage", "Hot Rats", and my favorite 80s era Zappa album is " Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch" especially because of "Valley Girl".....

The music industry has missed him since his death in late '93, however, his legacy has never ceased, but just imagine if he was still alive today..what clever "word play" he would create.....

Here's Zappa's official website....

Just wondering the others (besides myself and those who have mentioned him) are into his music?

 

[Brandon_Webb]

I have a compilation CD of Zappa, and "Hot Rats!" I haven't listened to the latter much at all though. He's quite zany and funny.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I have a compilation CD of Zappa, and "Hot Rats!" I haven't listened to the latter much at all though. He's quite zany and funny.

I know as they say.. "age is just a number", however, it impresses me such diverse taste of music that you've already acquired at a "young age"... Really reminds me of how I was with music growing-up..... How did you become interested into this music? I believe you've mentioned your father being partly responsible before.... Again... I just must applaud you for having such a wide-range of taste and didnt "succumb" to what other teenagers do... (I mean all of this seriously/sincerely).....

 

[Cardinal Bob]

I havent listened to him in awhile I admit, but I suddenly got into the mood to listen to "Freak Out!" and lord what an amazing debut that it was...Probably among one of the best debut albums of all-time...So ambitious since all the muscial terroritories that he explored throughout each and every song....

It takes on a whole new meaing (and aura) when you listen to it with a head full of blotter acid.

Trust me.

 

[KingLouieLouie]

It takes on a whole new meaing (and aura) when you listen to it with a head full of blotter acid.

Trust me.

Yeah... I'll definitely have to just trust you on that one!

The hardest substance (besides alcohol) that I've ever attempted is snorting pixie-stix and injecting pez.... Although...I must say that with my "weird twisted" sense of humor that I'm always on a "trip" all of the time......

 

[Brandon_Webb]

Well, my dad mainly influnced most of my musical taste. Last year or so I only listened to a little bit of music mostly classical rock, but then i found a few websites and started suggesting music for my dad to buy. Resparked his intrest in music which he sayed was getting stale for him. So now I really search pretty deep looking around for new music, and It's easy to get because my dad listens to the same stuff and buys the CD's :-D

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Well, my dad mainly influnced most of my musical taste. Last year or so I only listened to a little bit of music mostly classical rock, but then i found a few websites and started suggesting music for my dad to buy. Resparked his intrest in music which he sayed was getting stale for him. So now I really search pretty deep looking around for new music, and It's easy to get because my dad listens to the same stuff and buys the CD's :-D

There's absolutely nothing like bonding with someone through music (especially a parent)....Especially since the possibilities (despite that most of today's music industry seems rather "grim") are always unlimited.... Always "older" bands to discover and such...and some times (just rare) a newer band will surface and have a profound impact on you.....

Just glad that you manage to expand your horizons in the process by checking into other genres like Rap...and also having a deep appreciation to the past....

In fact.. I highly suggest (if youve never heard of these 2 bands) check-out the Joy Division and Bauhaus threads.....

Joy Division recorded the original "Dead Souls" (mentioned that since I know you love NIN) and were credited for adding more sound texture to punk....

Bauhaus were the fathers of "Goth-Rock"....I could PM you links that contain full-length albums of both of those bands or perhaps your father might already have them in his extensive collection since they were so influential....

Both bands paved away for the likes of Type-0 Negative, Interpool (another dark band you should check-out if you havent), Jane's Addiction..etc....

 

[KingLouieLouie]

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/7470955/frankzappa?pageid=rs.Home&pageregion=single1

Zappas Making Zappa Film
Documentary will span music legend's career

Although it's been nearly twelve years since Frank Zappa's death, his influence is heard in the music of artists ranging from System of a Down to Trey Anastasio. This fall, Dweezil and Ahmet Zappa will pay tribute to their late father by performing his music across Europe on the Zappa Plays Zappa tour. The Zappa family is also assembling the first full-length documentary about the legendary musical iconoclast, which they plan to release by early next year. They will debut a condensed version of the film on the tour.

The documentary spans the guitarist/bandleader/composer's diverse career, from early performance footage of songs such as "Inca Roads" and "Call Any Vegetable" through sessions for his final project, 1993's The Yellow Shark. Zappa died of prostate cancer that same year.

The film shows the private side of one of rock's greatest satirists. "He had a very cynical, sarcastic sense of humor," Dweezil says, "so there's a lot of stuff talking about how difficult it is to get your music played and how expensive it is."

But the focus of the documentary will be Zappa's role as a composer. "It gives you a lot of insight into the way he worked," says Dweezil. "He was always using classical themes in his music: Whenever he wrote a new part he'd stick it into a song, and then you'd hear it later as a whole other work of its own . . . And he was an amazing arranger, so his music was always evolving."

The Zappa Plays Zappa tour kicks off October 25th in Barcelona.


GREG PRATO
(Posted Jul 07, 2005)

 

[Rivercard]

Thanks for posting this KLL. I'm looking forward to the documentary. Sounds like there will be some rare footage.

 

[UncleChris]

Plastic People..... Oh, baby now, you're such a drag!!!


Brown shoes...... Don't make it!!!



Always loved Frank and the Mothers...



Oh, and BTW....

BILLY WAS A MOUNTAIN..... ETHEL WAS A TREE GROWING OFF OF HIS SHOULDER......

 

[Rivercard]

It looks just like a Telefunkin U-47, you'll love it.....

 

[jstadvl]

This cat

was "the intellectual" of rock music. What an incredible mind. He could go from total silliness to stuff that made you say "huh"? in a heartbeat. Just a great, and greatly underappreciated, talent and mind.

 

[arthurracoon]

good stuff

 

[Rivercard]

Today (dec 21) would have been Frank's 66th birthday.

Happy b-day Frankie!

 

[Mulli]

 

[KingLouieLouie]

Today (dec 21) would have been Frank's 66th birthday.

Happy b-day Frankie!

Excellent bump....... Lord..... he still had a lot to offer the music industry with his profound innovativeness.... He was always ahead of his time... never compromised himself whatsoever...he had the rare ability of going beyond every length without ever being annoying....regardless of how drastic the levels he approached were......

I love this following clip of him and the Mother's of Invention doing "King Kong":

http://youtube.com/watch?v=g3gqee7dhcU

What a genius he still is since his legacy will never cease.....

 

[KingLouieLouie]

I've been watching quite a bit of his live performances, videos, interviews, etc on youtube recently and I'm amazed at what I recently came across:

It is a younger Frank Zappa circa 1963 on the Steve Allen Show playing of all objects as an instrument.... the bicycle.... it's hysterical... here's the 2 part clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGPPBwDBJDs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufgn__85q9E&mode=related&search=

Its hilarious on how Frank takes it all seriously, however, he still exhibits what a genius/visionary he was..even back then......