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Frank Zappa

Biography

Composer, guitarist, vocalist, and bandleader Frank Zappa was one musical figure throughout a executing and recording profession that lasted through the 1960s towards the ’90s. His disparate affects included doo wop music and avant-garde traditional music; although he led groupings that might be known as rock and roll & roll rings for a lot of his profession, he utilized them to make a cross design that bordered on jazz and challenging, modern severe music, occasionally inducing orchestras to try out along. As though his music weren’t challenging more than enough, he overlay it with extremely satirical and occasionally abstractly funny lyrics and tune titles that proclaimed him as appearing out of a provocative literary custom that included Defeat poets like Allen Ginsberg and edgy comedians like Lenny Bruce. Nominally, he was a favorite musician, but his recordings hardly ever gained significant airplay or product sales, yet he could gain control of his documented function and concern it effectively through his personal brands while also touring internationally, partly due to the respect he gained from an ardent cult of enthusiasts and many significant musicians, and in addition because he was an articulate spokesman who marketed himself right into a mass media star through intensive interviews he regarded as an integral part of his innovative effort exactly like his music. The Moms of Invention, the ’60s group he led, frequently seemed to provide a parody of well-known music as well as the counterculture (although he affected lengthy hair and denim jeans, Zappa was openly scornful of hippies and medication use). With the ’80s, he was testifying before Congress towards censorship (and editing and enhancing his testimony into one of is own albums). But these comic and critical sides had been complementary, not really contradictory. In declaration and used, Zappa was an iconoclastic defender from the freest feasible expression of tips. And most of most, he was a composer a lot more ambitious than some other rock and roll musician of his period and most traditional musicians, aswell. Zappa was created Frank Vincent Zappa in Baltimore, MD, on Dec 21, 1940. For some of his existence, he was under the erroneous impression that he previously been named specifically after his dad, a Sicilian immigrant who was simply a high college teacher during his son’s delivery, that he was “Francis Vincent Zappa, Jr.” Which was what he informed interviewers, and it had been extensively reported. It had been only a long time later on that Zappa analyzed his delivery certificate and found that, actually, his 1st name was Frank, not really Francis. The true Francis Zappa required a job using the Navy during Globe Battle II, and he spent the others of his profession employed in one capability or another for the federal government or within the protection industry, leading to many family goes. Zappa’s mom, Rose Marie (Colimore) Zappa, was a previous librarian and typist. During his early child years, the family resided in Baltimore, Opa-Locka, FL, and Edgewood, MD. In Dec 1951, they relocated to California when Zappa’s dad took employment teaching metallurgy in the Naval Post-Graduate College in Monterey. Exactly the same calendar year, Zappa acquired first shown a pastime in learning to be a musician, signing up for the school music group and playing the snare drum. Even though Zappa family continuing to reside in California for the others of Zappa’s years as a child, they still shifted frequently; by enough time Zappa graduated from Antelope Valley Joint Union SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL in Lancaster in June 1958, it had been the seventh senior high school he had went to. In the meantime, his fascination with music got grown. He previously become particularly drawn to R&B, signing up for a music group being a drummer in 1955. Concurrently, he had turn into a enthusiast of avant-garde traditional music, specially the function of Edgard Varèse. After his senior high school graduation, Zappa examined music at many regional colleges on / off. He also turned to playing your guitar. Zappa wedded Kathryn J. Sherman on Dec 28, 1960; the relationship finished in divorce in 1964. In the mean time, he performed in rings and done the ratings of low-budget movies. It had been in wanting to record his rating for one of the movies, The World’s Greatest Sinner, that he started working in the small Pal documenting studio room in Cucamonga, CA, operate by Paul Buff, in November 1961. He and Buff started writing and documenting pop music with studio room organizations and licensing the leads to such brands as Del-Fi Information and First Sound Information. On August 1, 1964, Zappa bought the studio room from Buff and renamed it Studio room Z. On March 26, 1965, he was imprisoned by a regional undercover officer who got entrapped him by requesting him to record a pornographic audiotape. Convicted of the misdemeanor, he spent ten times in jail, an event that embittered him. After completing his phrase, he shut the studio room, moved into LA, and joined up with a music group known as the Soul Giants that presented his friend, vocalist Ray Collins, alongside bass participant Roy Estrada and drummer Jimmy Carl Dark. Promptly, he induced the group to try out his initial compositions rather than covers, also to switch their name towards the Moms (apparently on Mother’s Day time, Might 10, 1965). In LA, the Moms could actually obtain a supervisor, Natural herb Cohen, and audition effectively to surface in well-known nightclubs like the Whiskey Go-Go by nov 1965. There these were noticed by record professional Tom Wilson, who authorized these to the Verve Information subsidiary of MGM Information on March 1, 1966. (Verve needed that the suggestive name “The Moms” be customized to “The Moms of Invention.”) The agreement needed the group to submit five albums in 2 yrs, and they instantly went in to the studio room to record the to begin those albums, PANIC! By this time around, Elliot Ingber acquired joined up with the group on electric guitar, rendering it a quintet. An excessive amount of materials and Zappa’s contract to accept a lower life expectancy publishing royalty resulted in the highly uncommon decision release a it like a double-LP, an unparalleled indulgence to get a debut act which was virtually unheard, significantly less for a recognised one. (Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde made an appearance through the same period, nonetheless it was his seventh recording.) PANIC! premiered on June 27, 1966. It had been not an instant success commercially, nonetheless it got into the Billboard graph for the week finishing Feb 11, 1967, and finally spent 23 weeks within the graphs. In July 1966, Zappa fulfilled Adelaide Gail Sloatman; they wedded in Sept 1967, before the delivery, on Sept 28, 1967, of the first kid, a little girl named Moon Device Zappa who record with her dad. She was accompanied by a kid, Dweezil, on Sept 5, 1969. He, as well, would turn into a documenting designer, as would Ahmet Zappa, created Might 15, 1974. A 4th child, Diva, was created in August 1979. Through the summer season of 1966, Zappa employed drummer Denny Bruce and keyboardist Don Preston, producing the Moms of Invention a septet, but by November 1966, once the Moms of Invention returned into the studio room to record their second record, FOR FREE, Bruce have been changed by Billy Mundi; Ingber have been changed by Jim Fielder; and Zappa got employed two horn players, Bunk Gardner on blowing wind musical instruments and Jim “Motorhead” Sherwood on saxophone, getting the music group up to nine-piece device. The recording was documented in four times and released in June 1967. It joined the graphs in July and reached the very best 50. The Moms of Invention relocated to NEW YORK in November 1966 for any booking in a Greenwich Town club known as the Balloon Plantation that started on Thanksgiving Time and went through New Year’s Time, 1967. Following a two-week stint in Montreal, they came back to California, where Fielder still left the group in Feb. In March, Zappa started documenting his initial single recording, Lumpy Gravy, having authorized to Capitol Information beneath the impression that he had not been signed as a person to Verve, a posture Verve would dispute. Afterwards that month, the Moms of Invention came back to NEW YORK for another expanded engagement on the Garrick Movie theater in Greenwich Community that went during Easter week and was sufficiently effective that Plant Cohen booked the theatre for the summertime. That run started on, may 24, 1967, and went on / off through Sept 5. During this time period, Ian Underwood became a member of the music group, playing saxophone and piano. In August, the group started documenting its third record, We’re Only within it your money can buy. In Sept 1967, the Moms of Invention toured European countries for the very first time, playing within the U.K., Sweden, and Denmark. On Oct 1, Verve didn’t exercise its substitute for prolong the band’s agreement, although they still owed the label three even more LPs. They completed recording We’re Just inside it your money can buy in Oct, but its launch happened up due to legal worries about its suggested cover photograph, a more elaborate parody from the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Unhappy Hearts Club Music group, that was finally solved by placing the picture within the fold-out LP sleeve. We’re Just within it your money can buy premiered on March 4, 1968, and it reached the very best 30. Another legal dispute was solved when Verve bought the tapes of Lumpy Gravy from Capitol. Zappa after that completed documenting this orchestral function, and Verve released it under his name (which of “the Abnuceals Emuukha Electric powered Symphony Orchestra and Chorus”) on, may 13, 1968; it spent five weeks within the graphs. Although the Moms of Invention still owed yet another LP to Verve, Zappa currently was thinking forward. In nov 1967, he started documenting Uncle Meats, the soundtrack for any suggested film, with function continuing through Feb 1968. During this time period, Billy Mundi still left the music group and was changed on drums by Arthur Dyer Tripp III. In March, Zappa and Natural herb Cohen announced that these were creating their very own record label, Bizarre Information, to become written by the Reprise Information subsidiary of Warner Bros. Information. The label was designed to record not merely the Moms of Invention, but additionally acts Zappa uncovered. Early in the summertime, Ray Collins give up the Moms of Invention, who continuing to tour. Their efficiency on the Royal Festival Hall in London on Oct 25, 1968, premiered in 1991 because the recording Before Their Period. That month, Bizarre was officially released using the release from the one “The Group,” by LA street singer Crazy Guy Fischer. In November, guitarist Lowell George became a member of the Moms of Invention. In Dec, Verve released the band’s last record on its agreement, Cruisin’ with Ruben & the Jets, which Zappa for once performed it directly, leading the group through a couple of evidently sincere doo wop and R&B materials. The LP spent 12 weeks within the graphs. (Zappa was after that free from Verve, although his disputes with the business weren’t over. Verve released a compilation, Mothermania: THE VERY BEST from the Moms, in March 1969, and it spent nine weeks within the graphs.) The ambitious double-LP Uncle Meats, the fifth Moms of Invention recording, premiered by Bizarre on Apr 21, 1969. It reached the very best 50. (The film it was likely to accompany didn’t appear until a house video launch in 1989.) IN-MAY, Bizarre released Pretties for you personally, the debut record by Alice Cooper, the only real act discovered with the label that could continue to substantial achievement (after switching to Warner Bros. Information proper, that’s).Exactly the same month, Lowell George still left the band; afterwards, he and Roy Estrada would type Small Feat. Zappa started working on another single recording, Popular Rats, in July 1969. On August 19, the Moms of Invention gave their last performance within their unique type, playing on Canadian Television by the end of the tour. Seven days afterwards, Zappa announced that he was splitting up the music group, although, since it proved, this didn’t imply that he would not really utilize the name “the Moms of Invention” for organizations he led in the foreseeable future. Warm Rats, the next recording to become acknowledged to Frank Zappa, premiered on Oct 10, 1969. It spent just six weeks within the graphs at that time, nonetheless it would become among Zappa’s best-loved selections, using the instrumental “Peaches en Regalia” a specific favorite. Even though Moms of Invention no more existed like a carrying out device, Zappa possessed intensive tapes of these, live and in the studio room, and using that materials, he assembled a fresh record, Burnt Weeny Sandwich, released in Feb 1970; it produced the very best 100. In the invitation of Zubin Mehta, conductor from the LA Philharmonic Orchestra, Zappa set up a new band of rock and roll music artists dubbed the Moms for the functionality, using the orchestra, of the function known as 200 Motels at UCLA on, may 15, 1970. Adding performers Howard Kaylan and Tag Volman, formerly from the Turtles, Zappa released a tour with this edition from the Moms in June 1970. (Also included had been a coming back Ian Underwood, keyboardist George Duke, drummer Aynsley Dunbar, and guitarist Jeff Simmons.) In August, Bizarre released another archival Moms of Invention record, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, which charted. Chunga’s Revenge, released in Oct, was billed being a Zappa single record, though it highlighted the existing lineup from the Moms; it spent 14 weeks within the graphs. After touring the U.S. that fall, the group visited Europe on Dec 1. From January 28 to Feb 5, 1971, these were in Pinewood Studios within the U.K. creating a film edition of 200 Motels using the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and co-stars Theodore Bikel, Ringo Starr, and Keith Moon from the Who. Zappa decided a concert using the Royal Philharmonic in the Royal Albert Hall on Feb 8 like a money-saving strategy, since based on union guidelines, he could after that pay out them for the filming/documenting session as though it had been rehearsals for the concert. But this plan backfired once the Royal Albert Hall canceled the concert, alleging that Zappa’s lyrics had been as well vulgar. He put into his expenditures by suing the Royal Albert Hall, ultimately losing in courtroom. On June 5 and 6, 1971, the Moms appeared through the shutting week from the Fillmore East theatre in NEW YORK, documenting their displays to get a live record, Fillmore East, June 1971, quickly released on August 2. It became Zappa’s initial record to reach the very best 40 since We’re Just within it your money can buy three years previously. John Lennon and Yoko Ono got made an appearance as guests through the June 6 display, and they utilized their performance on the 1972 recording A WHILE in NEW YORK. The Moms offered a concert in the Pauley Pavilion at UCLA on August 7, 1971, as well as the display was documented for the record Just Another Music group from L.A., released in-may 1972, which produced the very best 100. They continuing to tour in to the fall. 200 Motels premiered in concert halls on Oct 29, 1971, having a double-LP soundtrack recording released by United Performers that made the very best 100. In the mean time, the Moms’ Western european tour was eventful, to state minimal. On Dec 4, 1971, the group made an appearance in the Montreux Gambling establishment in Geneva, Switzerland, but their display stopped whenever a lover terminated off a flare weapon that arranged the venue burning. The occurrence was the motivation for Deep Purple’s tune “Smoke cigarettes on the Drinking water.” Six times afterwards, as the Moms had been executing on the Rainbow Theater in London on Dec 10, a deranged enthusiast jumped on-stage and pressed Zappa in to the orchestra pit. He experienced a broken ankle joint, among other accidental injuries, and was pressured to extract for months. This is the finish both of the tour and of the edition from the Moms. While convalescing in the home in LA, Zappa organized a fresh big music group to try out jazz-fusion music; he dubbed it the Grand Wazoo Orchestra and documented two albums with it. Waka/Jawaka, billed like a Zappa single record, arrived in July 1972 and spent seven weeks within the graphs. The Grand Wazoo, acknowledged to the Moms, appeared in Dec and skipped the graphs. By Sept 10, Zappa experienced well enough to try out fourteen days of dates using the group, right now billed because the Moms, starting on the Hollywood Dish. He then slice the personnel right down to ten parts (the “Petit Wazoo” music group) and toured from past due Oct to mid-December. The beginning of 1973 marked a fresh and surprisingly well-known stage in Zappa’s profession. He assembled a fresh lineup of Moms, produced a batch of fresh recordings which he himself sang business lead vocals (his tone of voice having lowered half an octave due to injuring his throat when he was tossed through the stage), and strike the street for probably the most considerable touring of his profession. Inaugurating the brand new music group in Fayetteville, NC, on Feb 23, he spent 183 times of 1973 on the highway, including travels of the U.S., European countries, and Australia. In the meantime, the Bizarre Information cope with Reprise/Warner got go out, and he released a fresh label, also written by Warner, DiscReet Information, its 1st release becoming Over-Nite Feeling in Sept 1973. The recording reached the very best 40, stayed within the graphs nearly per year, and went precious metal. It was implemented in Apr 1974 by way of a Zappa single record, Apostrophe (‘). Very much to Zappa’s shock, radio stations started playing a monitor known as “Don’t Eat the Yellowish Snow.” An individual edit from the music actually spent weeks in the low reaches from the Sizzling 100, and Apostrophe (‘) peaked at quantity ten for the week closing June 29, 1974, the best chart placement ever attained by a Zappa recording. The LP also proceeded to go gold. Zappa continuing to tour thoroughly in 1974. His following record, the double-LP live collection Roxy & Somewhere else, acknowledged to “Zappa/Moms,” made an appearance in Sept 1974 and produced the very best 30. Adding his previous friend Captain Beefheart towards the music group, he performed displays in the Armadillo Globe Head office in Austin, TX, on, may 20 and 21, 1975, that he documented for the recording Bongo Fury, acknowledged to Frank Zappa/Captain Beefheart/The Moms, released in Oct; it made the very best 100. Ahead of that got arrive One Size Suits All, acknowledged to Frank Zappa & the Moms of Invention, released in June; it produced the very best 30. On Sept 17 and 18, 1975, two concerts of Zappa’s orchestral music had been performed by way of a group dubbed the Abnuceals Emuukha Electric powered Symphony Orchestra (in storage of Lumpy Gravy) and carried out by Michael Zearott at Royce Hall, UCLA. The displays had been documented, but the materials had not been released until May 1979 as Orchestral Favorites, which spent weeks within the graphs. Starting on Sept 27, 1975, Zappa released another expanded amount of touring, residing in the U.S. through a fresh Years concert on the Community forum in LA, after that playing in Australia, Japan, and European countries, completing on March 17, 1976. This finished another stage in his profession. He split along with his longtime supervisor Natural herb Cohen and disbanded his group, which, due to legal disputes with Cohen, would result in have been the final one known as the Moms or the Moms of Invention. Hereafter, he’d perform and record basically as Frank Zappa. There have been also other legalities. In Oct 1976, he reached an out-of-court arrangement inside a suit he previously waged against MGM/Verve that led to his earning the rights towards the experts of his early albums. Zappa amazed followers when his name resulted in as the maker of a fresh record by Grand Funk Railroad, Great Singin’, Great Playin’, in August 1976. In Sept, he released his initial globe tour under his very own name, playing within the U.S., china and taiwan, and European countries through Feb 1977. Zoot Allures, the final record to become credited towards the Moms, premiered on Warner Bros. Information on Oct 29, 1976, the DiscReet label evidently being stated by Cohen; it reached the very best 100. Zappa was also wanting to end his cope with Warner. In March 1977, he shipped four albums towards the label concurrently (the original titles had been Studio Tan, Sizzling Rats III [Waka/Jawaka having counted as Sizzling Rats II], Zappa’s Orchestral Favorites, as well as the dual record Live in NY, documented in Dec 1976); he demanded the four $60,000 increases the albums needed, and sued Warner for breach of agreement when it didn’t pay. In the summertime of 1977, he announced that he previously concluded his agreement with Warner. He announced how the four albums actually constituted an individual function known as Leather (later on spelled Läther), which he offered to Mercury/Phonogram Information. Warner after that sued to stop its launch. On Sept 8, 1977, Zappa released another UNITED STATES tour, staying on the highway until New Year’s Eve. His displays from Oct 28-31 on the Palladium in NEW YORK had been filmed and documented, the materials afterwards emerging within the film Baby Snakes. The Western lower leg of the tour opened up in London on January 24, 1978. The resolutions of Zappa’s legal disputes resulted in an unusually large numbers of produces over the following season. Zappa in NY (originally known as Live in NY) premiered on DiscReet in March 1978 and produced the very best 100. Studio room Tan made an appearance in Sept 1978 and charted. Rest Dirt (originally known as Scorching Rats III) premiered in January 1979 and charted. Orchestral Favorites finished the produces from the materials Zappa experienced sent to Warner in March 1977. With one of these matters resolved, Zappa released Zappa Information, with distribution through Mercury/Phonogram within the U.S. and CBS Information in all of those other globe, releasing the double-LP Sheik Yerbouti on March 3, 1979. The record were able to distinguish itself from the rest of the Zappa albums within the record bins and peaked at amount 21, Zappa’s greatest displaying in five years, marketed by the solitary “Dancin’ Fool,” which produced the very best 50. That monitor was nominated to get a Grammy for Greatest Rock Vocal Efficiency (Man), and “Rat Tomago,” another monitor on the record, got a Grammy nomination for Greatest Rock Instrumental Functionality. Zappa toured European countries and Japan within the springtime of 1979, after that came back towards the U.S., where he finished focus on his house studio room, known as the Tool Muffin Analysis Kitchen, on Sept 1. The house studio room and his carrying on practice of documenting his displays, along with higher control over his record produces, seemed to free of charge Zappa to concern more information. Joe’s Garage area Act I premiered in Sept 1979 and produced the very best 30; it had been implemented in November from the double-LP Joe’s Garage area Works II & III, which produced the very best 100. Baby Snakes, the film from the 1977 Halloween displays in NY, opened on Dec 21, 1979. A soundtrack recording did not show up until 1983. Zappa spent a lot of 1980 on the highway, starting a tour of THE UNITED STATES and European countries on March 25, with schedules carrying on through July 3, and touring once again from Oct 10 through Xmas. Amazingly, Zappa didn’t release an record during 1980. (An individual, “I Don’t Wanna Obtain Drafter,” simply missed producing the Scorching 100 in-may.) But he composed for the in 1981. IN-MAY, yet another fresh label, Barking Pumpkin Information, was launched using the release of the double-LP, Tinseltown Rebellion, which produced the very best 100. Right now, Zappa experienced perfected a way of melding studio room and live shows on his information, in a way that the completed versions had been a combined mix of both. Also in-may 1981, he concurrently released three instrumental albums via email purchase: Shut Up ‘N Play Yer Acoustic guitar, Shut Up ‘N Play Yer Acoustic guitar EVEN MORE, and Return from the Child of Shut Up ‘N Play Yer Acoustic guitar. In Sept came another dual recording, You Are EVERYTHING YOU Is, that produced the very best 100. Zappa’s springtime/summer months tour of European countries in 1982 was plagued with complications including canceled schedules and also a riot at one present; after completing the stint on July 14, he didn’t tour again for just two years. In the meantime, on, may 3, 1982, he released a fresh recording, Ship Arriving As well Late to save lots of a Drowning Witch, and it highlighted another of his shock strike singles, as radio found on “Valley Gal,” a monitor having a vocal by his girl Moon Device Zappa, imitating the type and utilizing the slang of the Southern California valley young lady. The music peaked at quantity 32 on Sept 11, 1982, rendering it the most effective one of Zappa’s profession. It had been nominated for any Grammy Honor for Best Rock and roll Performance by way of a Duo or Group with Vocal. The record made the very best 30. After arriving off the street, Zappa focused on documenting and on his orchestral music. On January 11, 1983, conductor Kent Nagano led the London Symphony Orchestra inside a concert of Zappa’s functions in the Barbican Arts Center in London, preparatory to three times of recordings that resulted, primarily, within the record London Symphony Orchestra, Vol. 1, released in June 1983. (Another volume implemented in Sept 1987.) Ahead of that, Zappa experienced released a fresh rock and roll recording, THE PERSON from Utopia, on March 28, 1983, which charted for a number of weeks. As he previously the entire year before, Zappa noticed a few of his orchestral music documented in January 1984, this time around by the Outfit InterContemporain of conductor Pierre Boulez. With various other materials, these recordings will be released by Angel Information on August 23, 1984, as Boulez Conducts Zappa: AN IDEAL Stranger. Another materials was Zappa’s personal documenting on a sophisticated synthesizer instrument he previously purchased known as the Synclavier, with the capacity of replicating orchestral agreements. The Synclavier freed Zappa in the technical restrictions (and, in some instances, the objections) of live music artists, especially traditional music artists, and he considered it increasingly out of this stage on. Having found out manuscripts of music made up within the 18th hundred years by an ancestor of his, Francesco Zappa, he documented an recording of it within the Synclavier in March 1984, launching the results with an LP known as Francesco Zappa on November 21, 1984. On July 18, 1984, 2 yrs following the end of his last tour, Zappa returned on the highway for a thorough, worldwide trek that went through Dec 23. On Oct 18, he released a two-LP arranged, Them or Us. Per month later on arrived the triple-LP package set, Thing-Fish, on a single day because the Francesco Zappa record. By this time around, Zappa’s records had been no longer achieving the graphs, as he centered on his existing group of fans, heavily marketing for them through email purchase. Having re-acquired the experts to his Verve/MGM albums, he previously discovered the tapes in dire condition and got re-recorded the bass and drum parts for the albums We’re Just within it your money can buy and Cruisin’ with Ruben as well as the Jets, that have been section of a package set he wanted to his email list, The Aged Masters Package 1, in Apr 1985. (The Aged Masters Container 2 implemented in 1986, as well as the series was finished with The Aged Masters Container 3 in 1987.) Through the 12 months 1985, several wives of prominent politicians in Washington, D.C., created the Parents Music Source Middle (PMRC) and lobbed Congress for limitations on what they noticed simply because obscenity in well-known music. Zappa, lengthy an opposition of censorship, became a head from the opposition towards the PMRC, and on Sept 19, 1985, he testified prior to the Senate Business Technology and Transport Committee to tone of voice his opinions. Needless to say, his testimony was a matter of general public record, and he quickly utilized the recordings within an recording he assembled known as Frank Zappa Matches the Moms of Avoidance, released in November 1985. In January 1986, it became his 33rd and last record to attain the Billboard graph. In January 1986, a Zappa live record attracted from the 1984 tour, Will Laughter Belong in Music?, premiered in European countries, but quickly withdrawn. It had been an accompaniment to some house video of the same name which was taken from an individual date within the tour. The recording was later on reissued with a fresh mix. On the other hand, Zappa agreed upon a contract using the unbiased Compact disc label Rykodisc to reissue his albums on Compact disc. The reissue plan premiered in nov the year. At exactly the same time, Zappa released a fresh instrumental record largely comprising materials documented on the Synclavier, Jazz from Hell. The record received him his 1st Grammy Award for Greatest Rock Instrumental Overall performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist), as well as the monitor “Jazz from Hell” itself gained a nomination for Greatest Instrumental Structure. On Feb 2, 1988, Zappa released what would end up being his last tour, playing 81 times in THE UNITED STATES and European countries through June 9. In the mean time, he continuing to issue fresh recordings. In Apr came a dual record of electric guitar solos in the way from the Shut Up ‘N Play Yer Electric guitar series, simply known as Electric guitar, as well as the 1st in some double-CD archival live recordings, You Can’t DO THIS on Stage Any longer, Vol. 1. In typically uncommon Zappa design, the series discovered him editing jointly live shows by different configurations from the Moms and his backup rings at differing times. By 1992, the series expanded to six amounts. The second quantity, that actually replicated an individual concert performed in Helsinki in 1974, made an appearance in Oct 1988 at exactly the same time as an recording of recordings from your 1988 tour, Broadway the Hard Method. Launching a property video series, Honker, in 1989, Zappa finally released Uncle Meats on VHS tape, combined with the documentary THE REAL Tale of 200 Motels and Video from Hell. (The next 12 months, Honker released The Amazing Mr. Bickford, a documentary concerning the animator in charge of the clay computer animation function observed in Baby Snakes.) IN-MAY 1989, Zappa released his autobiography, THE TRUE Frank Zappa Reserve, co-authored with Peter Occhiogrosso. And in another astonishing nonmusical profession advancement in 1989, Zappa started planing a trip to Russia like a business liaison. These attempts had been expanded in January 1990, when he visited Czechoslovakia, where he fulfilled the recently set up chief executive, playwright and Zappa enthusiast Václav Havel, and decided to turn into a trade representative for the united states. Understandably, this went afoul from the Administration of American Chief executive George Bush, nevertheless, and Zappa’s part became unofficial. It’s hard to state what may have arrive of Zappa’s trade attempts using the previous Soviet Union as well as the previous Iron Drape countries, where he was something of the cultural hero. IN-MAY 1990, he all of a sudden canceled scheduled looks in European countries and came back towards the U.S. because of illness. He were able to head to Czechoslovakia and Hungary in June 1991, nevertheless. For the time being, he continuing to issue amounts from the You Can’t DO THIS on Stage Any longer series and albums attracted from the 1988 tour, THE VERY BEST Band You By no means Heard in YOUR DAILY LIFE in Apr 1991, and Create a Jazz Sound Within June 1991. In July 1991, in just one more uncommon advertising move, he put together a assortment of eight bootleg albums that experienced appeared over time and provided his own edition of these (mastered straight from the bootleg LPs themselves) being a container set known as Beat the Shoes or boots; the albums had been also released separately, another Beat the Footwear package premiered in June 1992. Zappa was planned to surface in New York for the performance by way of a band of alumni from his rings known as “Zappa’s Universe” on November 7, 1991. When he was struggling to attend because of illness, his kids described publicly for the very first time that he was experiencing prostate tumor. He were able to take a flight to Germany on July 13, 1992, to utilize the Outfit Modern on a bit it got commissioned from him, The Yellowish Shark, and he was present for concerts it performed in Sept. In Oct, Zappa released Playground Psychotics, an archival recording of previously unreleased materials from your 1970-1971 edition from the Moms. The Yellowish Shark premiered in November 1993. Zappa passed away at age group 52 on Dec 4, 1993. After Zappa’s loss of life, his widow marketed his existing catalog outright to Rykodisc. But, like such well-established rock and roll artists because the Pleased Dead, he previously produced a significant archive of studio room and live recordings that Gail Zappa could assemble into posthumous albums for his legions of followers. The to begin these was the ambitious Civilization Phaze III, which Zappa was focusing on in the time as much as his loss of life, released in Dec 1994, along with other albums, either made up of concerts or additional materials, have also made an appearance, along with extended variations of previously released albums such as for example Freak Out! Years after Zappa’s loss of life, this blast of produces showed no proof stopping, so long as Zappa followers had been thinking about buying.

Quick Facts


Full Name Frank Zappa
Died December 4, 1993, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, United States
Height 1.83 m
Profession Actor, Conductor, Film director, Businessperson, Film producer, Music Producer, Screenwriter, Songwriter, Film Score Composer, Bandleader, Recording Engineer
Education Chaffey College, Mission Bay Senior High School, Antelope Valley High School
Nationality American
Spouse Gail Zappa, Kay Sherman
Children Dweezil Zappa, Moon Zappa, Ahmet Zappa, Diva Zappa
Parents Francis Zappa, Rose Marie Colimore
Siblings Carl Zappa, Bobby Zappa, Patrice Zappa
Awards Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package
Music Groups The Mothers of Invention, The Persuasions
Music Songs Cosmik Debris, Bobby Brown, Peaches en Regalia, Honey, Don’t You Want a Man Like Me?, Muffin Man, Willie the Pimp, Don't Eat the Yellow Snow, Watermelon in Easter Hay, Black Napkins, Inca Roads, Camarillo Brillo, Zomby Woof, My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama, Valley Girl, Dinah Moe Humm, Dancin' Fool, The Torture Never Stops, Catholic Girls, Black Page #2, Montana, Titties ’n Beer, Goblin Girl, St. Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast, Stick It Out, Broken Hearts Are for Assholes, Dumb All Over, Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?, Brown Shoes Don't Make It, Dirty Love, Harder Than Your Husband, Nanook Rubs It, What's the Ugliest Part of Your Body?
Albums Hot Rats, Joe's Garage, Sheik Yerbouti, One Size Fits All, Over-Nite Sensation, Apostrophe ('), Zoot Allures, Lumpy Gravy, The Grand Wazoo, The Yellow Shark, Chunga's Revenge, Bongo Fury, Roxy & Elsewhere, Jazz from Hell, Waka/Jawaka, Tinsel Town Rebellion, The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life, Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar, Civilization Phaze III, You Are What You Is, Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch, Studio Tan, Francesco Zappa, The Man from Utopia, Them or Us, Sleep Dirt, A Token of His Extreme (Soundtrack), Wazoo, Orchestral Favorites, Hammersmith Odeon, Dance Me This, 200 Motels, Imaginary Diseases, Philly '76, One Shot Deal, Road Tapes, Venue 2, Trance-Fusion, Everything Is Healing Nicely, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 3, Road Tapes, Venue 1, FZ:OZ, Carnegie Hall, Conceptual Continuity, Halloween, Road Tapes, Venue 3, Buffalo, Does Humor Belong in Music?, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 2, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 6, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 4, You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 5
Nominations Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance
Movies 200 Motels, Baby Snakes, Roxy: The Movie, The Dub Room Special, The Amazing Mr. Bickford, Video from Hell, Uncle Meat, The World's Greatest Sinner, Does Humor Belong in Music?, Head, The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers, Y Tu Mamá También, Summer 82 When Zappa Came To Sicily, All My Loving, The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels, Cousteau: Alaska: Outrage at Valdez, Beasts, Trans Trans (Transformers Transformed)


  • Facts
  • Filmography
  • Awards
  • Salaries
  • Quotes
  • Trademarks
  • Pictures

#Fact
1 Inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame in 2015 (inaugural class) in the category Music & Arts.
2 Co-founded Bizarre Records in 1967.
3 Subject of the song "Frank" by Wild Man Fischer.
4 Founded Barking Pumpkin Records in 1981. He also founded Zappa Records, Barfko-Swill [mail order distribution] and DiscReet (record company).
5 Did not like being called "rock legend" and considered it a "pathetic" term. Also did not like being called a "test pilot pushing the edge" since he felt the term sounded too military. As far as being called an "eccentric genius", Zappa said in an interview prior to his death, "Eccentric, yes. Genius, maybe.".
6 In an interview prior to his death, Zappa revealed he had had urination problems for years but that the prostate cancer wasn't caught until it was inoperable. He hinted this made him extremely bitter and advised others with urination problems to get multiple opinions.
7 Despite his prostate cancer, Zappa continued to smoke. He told an interviewer he considered cigarettes to be "food", tobacco his favorite vegetable and did not believe cigarettes caused the reported health problems.
8 "Cured" his kids of sibling rivalry by making a tape of them squabbling, then forcing them to listen to said tape while handcuffed together in the bathroom; this was to show them how dumb they sounded when bickering.
9 Zappa sponsored Hagstrom guitars early in his career. However, on his first three albums with The Mothers of Invention, he used a Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster. During the mid to late 1970s, he played a highly modified Gibson SG clone. He had one of Jimi Hendrix's guitars which was lit on fire by Jimi at the 1968 Miami Pop Festival.
10 Gene Simmons visited with the Zappa family at their home, socializing, some time before Zappa's death. During their visit, Zappa showed him something that proved how prolific Zappa was: hundreds of master tapes of unreleased music.
11 During his last days, he wanted to make a movie called "Dwell". "Dwell" would have been a musical about a giant spider, but from the spider's point of view. He was going to make it with the people from Mystery Science Theater 3000 (1988), and had several conversations with Kevin Murphy.
12 He was voted the 21st Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone.
13 Included a warning-cum-guarantee on his late-1980s albums, deriding the Religious Right's attack on rock and pop music, and censorship in general, and concluding "If there is a Hell, its fires wait for them, not us.".
14 Started out playing drums in his teens, then adopted his brother's f-hole acoustic guitar, trying to copy horn and guitar solos on blues and jazz records. Later studied Music Theory in college.
15 Bought a small recording studio with the proceeds of his score for Run Home, Slow (1965); first came to public attention when he was arrested in a scandal involving the studio (he was later cleared).
16 Used a wah-wah with his onstage guitar setup, which he had usually leave set in one position as a filter, rather than rock it to get the wah effect.
17 Wrote his own copyright notice, that appeared on his later records, and was the first to specifically mention sampling. Also released the first 3-inch CD single, with a remix of "Peaches En Regalia", in the late 1980s.
18 Gave up his driver's license voluntarily, because he hated standing in line at the DMV.
19 In March of 2003 his 1979 album "Joe's Garage" came 20th in Classic Rock Magazine's list of the 30 greatest concept albums of all time.
20 Zappa is the first, and so far only, artist to be inducted into both the Jazz and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame.
21 Inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
22 In recent years, various reworkings of his songs have been recorded, including versions in Baroque instrumental and a cappella vocal stylings.
23 In 1995, a group of Lithuanian artists erected the world's first Zappa statue in Vilnius, the capital. Since then one has been erected in Bad Doberan, Germany (which Gail Zappa says does not look like him), and another (a copy of the bust in Vilnius) in Baltimore, Maryland.
24 Following his death, he was interred in an unmarked grave next to Lew Ayres at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.
25 His father, Francis Vincent Zappa, was born in Partinico, Sicily, and his mother, Rose Marie (Colimore), was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Italian parents.
26 The small town of Bad Doberan, Germany, holds an annual Zappanale festival, celebrating his life and music (first held in 1990).
27 As a child, his favorite television program was Robert Clampett's puppet show Time for Beany (1949).
28 Father of Diva Zappa, Moon Unit Zappa, Dweezil Zappa and Ahmet Zappa
29 In July 1994, the International Astronomical Union named a Czech-discovered asteroid "Zappafrank".
30 Has an enormous following in the former Communist countries of eastern Europe.
31 Is known affectionately by his fans as FZ.
32 Was school friends with Don Van Vliet (later to be known as Captain Beefheart).
33 When marrying Gail Zappa in a civil ceremony, he attached a pin that said "Congratulations from Mayor Lindsay" onto her in lieu of a ring. John V. Lindsay was mayor of New York City at the time.


Soundtrack

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Everybody Wants Some!! 2016 performer: "Sleep Dirt" / writer: "Sleep Dirt"
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words 2016 Documentary performer: "Trouble Every Day", "Nasal Retentive Calliope Music", "Sex In Today's World Improvisation", "Plastic People", "Improvised Concerto For Two Bicycles, Pre-Recorded Tape And Musicians", "Mother People", "Teddy Bears' Picnic" uncredited, "A Pound For A Brown On The Bus/Sleeping In A Jar", "Holiday In Berlin", "This Town Is A Sealed Tuna Sandwich", "Magic Fingers", "Penis Dimension", "The Air", "Dog Breath", "Cosmik Debris", "Approximate", "Dinah-Moe Humm", "Bobby Brown", "Tin
Roxy the Movie 2015 Documentary performer: "Cosmik Debris", "Penguin In Bondage", "T'Mershi Duween", "The Dog Breath Variations", "Uncle Meat", "RDNZL", "Inca Roads", "Echidna's Arf Of You", "Don't You Ever Wash That Thing?", "Cheepnis", "I'm The Slime", "Big Swifty", "Be-Bop Tango Of The Old Jazzmen's Church", "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow", "Father O'Blivion" uncredited / writer: "Cosmik Debris", "Penguin In Bondage", "T'Mershi Duween", "The Dog Breath Variations", "Uncle Meat", "RDNZL", "Inca Roads", "Echidna's Arf
Dolezal Backstage 2015 TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
The Comix Scrutinizer TV Series 1 episode, 2014 writer - 4 episodes, 2013 - 2014 performer - 1 episode, 2013
Some Jerk with a Camera TV Series documentary performer - 2 episodes, 2012 - 2013 writer - 1 episode, 2011
The Cinema Snob 2013 TV Series 1 episode
The '80s: The Decade That Made Us TV Mini-Series documentary performer - 1 episode, 2013 writer - 1 episode, 2013
Unlawful Killing 2011 Documentary performer: "Dumb All Over" - uncredited / writer: "Dumb All Over" - uncredited
Cry Baby: The Pedal that Rocks the World 2011 Video documentary performer: "Willie The Pump" / writer: "Willie The Pump"
A Call Girl 2009 writer: "Bobby Brown goes down"
Things We Lost in the Fire 2007 performer: "The Little House I Used To Live In", "Black Napkins" / writer: "The Little House I Used To Live In", "Black Napkins"
I Love the '70s: Volume 2 2006 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Lavorare con lentezza 2004 "Peaches en regalia"
S.P.U.N.G TV Series lyrics - 1 episode, 2004 music - 1 episode, 2004 performer - 1 episode, 2004
Mayor of the Sunset Strip 2003 Documentary producer: "Rodney"
Y Tu Mamá También 2001 performer: "Watermelon in Easter Hay" / producer: "Watermelon in Easter Hay" / writer: "Watermelon in Easter Hay"
Tutti gli uomini del deficiente 1999 writer: "Tell Me You Love Me"
Se buscan fulmontis 1999 lyrics: "Dirty Love" Overnite Sensation version / music: "Dirty Love" Overnite Sensation version / writer: "Dirty Love" Overnite Sensation version
Goodbye, 20th Century 1998 arranger: "Cocaine Decisions" / producer: "Cocaine Decisions" / writer: "Cocaine Decisions"
Daria 1998 TV Series 1 episode
Clueless TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1997 writer - 1 episode, 1997
Closure 1997 Video documentary performer: "Broken Hearts are for Assholes" / writer: "Broken Hearts are for Assholes"
Happy Together 1997 performer: "Chunga's Revenge", "I Have Been In You" / writer: "Chunga's Revenge", "I Have Been In You"
The Ice Storm 1997 performer: "Dirty Love" / writer: "Dirty Love"
Die kranken Schwestern 1995 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man TV Series music - 3 episodes, 1994 lyrics - 1 episode, 1994
Tohuwabohu TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1994 writer - 1 episode, 1994
Beasts 1993 Short writer: "G-Spot Tornado", "Cletus Awreetus-Awrightus"
Beavis and Butt-Head TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1993 writer - 1 episode, 1993
The Yellow Shark 1992 writer: "Overture", "The Dog Breath Variations", "Uncle Meat", "Outrage At Valdez", "Times Beach II", "III Revised", "The Girl In The Magnesium Dress", "Be-Bop Tango Of The Old Jazz-Men's Church", "Food Gathering In Post-Industrial America, 1992", "Ruth Is Sleeping", "Amnerika", "None Of The Above", "Pentagon Afternoon", "Questi Cazzi Di Piccione", "Times Beach III", "Welcome To The United States", "Pound For A Brown", "Exercise #4", "Get Whitey", "G-Spot Tornado"
Parker Lewis Can't Lose TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1990 producer - 1 episode, 1990 writer - 1 episode, 1990
Daddy's Dyin'... Who's Got the Will? 1990 writer: "Harder Than Your Husband"
Waiting for the Light 1990 writer: "Memories of El Monte"
Hellgate 1989 writer: "MEMORIES OF EL MONTE"
X-Large 1989 TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Colors 1988 writer: "MEMORIES OF EL MONTE"
The Amazing Mister Bickford 1987 Video writer: "Naval Aviation In Art?", "Mo 'N Herb's Vacation", "Dupree's Paradise", "The Perfect Stranger"
Uncle Meat 1987 Video documentary performer: "Tengo Na Minchia Tanta" / writer: "The Uncle Meat Variations", "Dog Breath, In The Year Of The Plague", "Mr. Green Genes", "Holiday In Berlin, Full-Blown", "Mother People", "I'm Not Satisfied", "Tengo Na Minchia Tanta"
Does Humor Belong in Music? 1985 Video documentary performer: "Zoot Allures", "Tinsel Town Rebellion", "More Trouble Every Day", "Hot-Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel", "The Dangerous Kitchen", "He's So Gay", "Bobby Brown", "Keep It Greasey", "Honey, Don't You Want A Man Like Me?", "Dinah-Moe Humm", "Cosmik Debris", "Be In My Video", "Dancin' Fool", "Whippin' Post" / writer: "Zoot Allures", "Tinsel Town Rebellion", "More Trouble Every Day", "Hot-Plate Heaven At The Green Hotel", "The Dangerous Kitchen", "He's So Gay", "Bobby Bro
Alvin & the Chipmunks 1983 TV Series performer: "Revised Music For Guitar and Low Budget Orchestra", "ReDuNZL" / producer: "Revised Music For Guitar and Low Budget Orchestra", "ReDuNZL" / writer: "Revised Music For Guitar and Low Budget Orchestra", "ReDuNZL"
Solid Gold 1982 TV Series writer - 1 episode
Animalympics 1980 producer: "I Don't Think I Can Go Through This Again" / writer: "I Don't Think I Can Go Through This Again"
Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere 1980 TV Movie documentary performer: "You Are What You Is", "Mudd Club", "Chunga's Revenge", "Beauty Knows No Pain", "Bobby Brown", "I Don't Wanna Get Drafted", "Joe's Garage", "Baby Snakes", "Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?" - uncredited
Baby Snakes 1979 Documentary performer: "Baby Snakes", "Titties 'N Beer", "The Black Page #2", "Jones Crusher", "Disco Boy", "Dinah-Moe-Humm", "Punky's Whips", "I Have Been In You", "I'm So Cute", "City Of Tiny Lites", "Dancin' Fool", "Duck Duck Goose", "Yo' Mama's Rubber Shirt", "Return Of The Son of Shut Up and Play Your Guitar", "Whatever Happened To All The Fun In The World?", "Wait A Minute...We Gotta Get Into Something Real", "Revenge of The Knick Knack People", " The Adventures of Greggery Peccary", "Sexu
More American Graffiti 1979 performer: "Lumpy Gravy" / writer: "Lumpy Gravy"
Saturday Night Live TV Series performer - 2 episodes, 1976 - 1978 writer - 2 episodes, 1976 - 1978
Ohne Maulkorb 1978 TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
The Mike Douglas Show TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1976 writer - 1 episode, 1976
Virgin Snow 1976 performer: "Peaches en Regalia" - uncredited / writer: "Peaches en Regalia" - uncredited
Lady Liberty 1971 writer: "Get A Little"
Pop story 1971 TV Series writer - 1 episode
Aliisa 1970 TV Movie writer: "Uncle Bernie's Farm"
Medium Cool 1969 performer: "Oh No", "Who Needs the Peace Corps?", "Mom and Dad", "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet", "Are You Hung Up?" - uncredited / writer: "Oh No", "Who Needs the Peace Corps?", "Mom and Dad", "The Return of the Son of Monster Magnet", "Are You Hung Up?" - uncredited
The Monkees 1968 TV Series writer - 1 episode
Hoepla 1967 TV Series documentary writer - 1 episode
The New Steve Allen Show TV Series performer - 1 episode, 1963 writer - 1 episode, 1963
The World's Greatest Sinner 1962 writer: "World's Greatest Sinner" - uncredited

Composer

Composer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Roxy the Movie 2015 Documentary
Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily 2014 Documentary
1982. L'estate di Frank 2012 Documentary short
Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note 2002 Documentary
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man 1994 TV Series 11 episodes
Beasts 1993 Short
Zappa's Universe 1993 Video composed by
The Yellow Shark 1992
Peefeeyatko 1991 Documentary
Cousteau: Alaska: Outrage at Valdez 1989
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels 1988 Video documentary
The Amazing Mister Bickford 1987 Video
Uncle Meat 1987 Video documentary
Does Humor Belong in Music? 1985 Video documentary
Video from Hell 1985 Video
The Dub Room Special! 1984 Video
Baby Snakes 1979 Documentary
200 Motels 1971 music composed by
Run Home, Slow 1965
The World's Greatest Sinner 1962 as Zappa

Writer

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Roxy the Movie 2015 Documentary
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels 1988 Video documentary
The Amazing Mister Bickford 1987 Video
Uncle Meat 1987 Video documentary
Does Humor Belong in Music? 1985 Video documentary
Video from Hell 1985 Video
The Dub Room Special! 1984 Video
Baby Snakes 1979 Documentary writer
Brown Shoes Don't Make It 1976
200 Motels 1971 story and screenplay

Director

Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Roxy the Movie 2015 Documentary
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels 1988 Video documentary
The Amazing Mister Bickford 1987 Video
Uncle Meat 1987 Video documentary
Does Humor Belong in Music? 1985 Video documentary
Video from Hell 1985 Video
The Dub Room Special! 1984 Video
Baby Snakes 1979 Documentary
200 Motels 1971 characterizations

Actor

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Ren & Stimpy Show 1992 TV Series The Pope
Miami Vice 1986 TV Series Mario Fuente
Faerie Tale Theatre 1984 TV Series Attilla
200 Motels 1971 Member of Mothers of Invention (uncredited)
Sex in Today's World 1968 Short
Head 1968 The Critic
The Monkees 1968 TV Series Mike Nesmith
The Steve Allen Playhouse 1963 TV Series Guest

Producer

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Roxy the Movie 2015 Documentary producer
Peefeeyatko 1991 Documentary producer
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels 1988 Video documentary producer
The Amazing Mister Bickford 1987 Video producer
Uncle Meat 1987 Video documentary producer
Does Humor Belong in Music? 1985 Video documentary producer
Video from Hell 1985 Video producer
Baby Snakes 1979 Documentary producer

Music Department

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Yellow Shark 1992 conductor
Cousteau: Alaska: Outrage at Valdez 1989 composer: theme music
200 Motels 1971 music arranger
Run Home, Slow 1965 conductor
The World's Greatest Sinner 1962 composer: theme music

Camera Department

Camera Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Uncle Meat 1987 Video documentary additional photography
Video from Hell 1985 Video camera operator

Editor

Editor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Baby Snakes 1979 Documentary

Editorial Department

Editorial Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Dub Room Special! 1984 Video editorial supervisor

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Roxy the Movie 2015 Documentary titles by - as FZ

Thanks

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Zappa's Universe 1993 Video special thanks
Roxy the Movie 2015 Documentary special thanks
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man 1994 TV Series dedicatee - 1 episode

Self

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Roxy the Movie 2015 Documentary Himself - Lead Guitar, Vocals, Percussion
The Wrecking Crew! 2008 Documentary Himself
The Revenge of the Dead Indians 1993 Documentary Himself
Today 1990-1993 TV Series Himself
Ein Leben als Extravaganza - Das Genie Frank Zappa 1993 TV Movie documentary Himself
The Howard Stern Interview 1993 TV Series Himself
The Yellow Shark 1992 Himself - Composer, Conductor
Peefeeyatko 1991 Documentary Himself
Prazakum tem je hej 1991 Himself
Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth 1991 TV Special documentary Himself
Focus 1990 TV Series Himself - Guest Host
Decade 1989 TV Movie documentary Himself
Circus of the Stars #14 1989 TV Special documentary Himself (uncredited)
The Arsenio Hall Show 1989 TV Series Himself
X-Large 1989 TV Series documentary Himself
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels 1988 Video documentary Himself
Kippevel 1988 TV Series Himself
Bains de minuit 1988 TV Series Himself
Nightflight 1988 TV Series Himself - Guest
Funny 1988 Documentary Himself
The Amazing Mister Bickford 1987 Video Himself
Uncle Meat 1987 Video documentary Himself / The Imaginary Director
The Howard Stern Show 1987 TV Series Himself
Sex Violence & Values: Changing Images 1986 TV Movie Himself
Crossfire 1986 TV Series Himself - Rock Muscian
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1986 TV Series Himself
Does Humor Belong in Music? 1985 Video documentary Guitar, Vocal
Video from Hell 1985 Video Himself
MusiCalifornia 1985 TV Series Himself
The Dub Room Special! 1984 Video Himself
Livewire 1984 TV Series Himself
Àngel Casas Show 1984 TV Series Himself
Thicke of the Night 1984 TV Series Himself - Musical Guest
Cocaine Blues 1983 Documentary Himself
Late Night with David Letterman 1982-1983 TV Series Himself
The Rolling Stones - Die ersten 20 Jahre 1982 TV Movie documentary Himself
Dance Fever 1980 TV Series Himself - Judge
Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere 1980 TV Movie documentary Himself
Baby Snakes 1979 Documentary Himself
Dinah! 1979 TV Series Himself
Saturday Night Live 1976-1978 TV Series Himself - Host / Musical Guest / Himself - Musical Guest
Ohne Maulkorb 1978 TV Series documentary Himself
All You Need Is Love 1977 TV Series documentary Himself
Vernissage 1976 TV Series documentary Himself - Musician
The Mike Douglas Show 1976 TV Series Himself - Director
The Norman Gunston Show 1975 TV Series Himself
Iltatähti 1973-1974 TV Series Himself
John & Yoko in Syracuse, New York 1972 TV Short documentary Himself
The David Frost Show 1971 TV Series Himself
Frank Zappa 1971 TV Movie documentary Himself
Anatomy of Pop 1971 TV Series Himself
Lieder-liches 1970 TV Series Himself - Musician / Narrator
Omnibus 1968 TV Series documentary Himself
Late Night Line-Up 1968 TV Series Himself
Hoepla 1967 TV Series documentary Himself
Good Evening! 1967 TV Series Himself
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution 1967 TV Movie documentary Himself
The New Steve Allen Show 1963 TV Series Himself - Musical Bicyclist

Archive Footage

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Zappa 2018 Documentary filming Himself
The Eighties 2016 TV Mini-Series documentary Himself - Musician
Uncle Howard 2016/I Documentary Himself
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words 2016 Documentary Himself
Dolezal Backstage 2015 TV Series documentary Himself
Made in Japan - The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II 2014 TV Movie Himself
Hart and Soul: The Hart Family Anthology 2010 Video Himself
Empreintes 2010 TV Series documentary Himself
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (')/Over-Nite Sensation 2007 Video documentary Himself
Weltberühmt in Österreich - 50 Jahre Austropop 2006 TV Series documentary Himself - Musiker, Komponist
I Love the '70s: Volume 2 2006 TV Series Himself
EAV Rarities 2006 Video documentary short Himself
Fuck 2005 Documentary Himself (uncredited)
Girls and Boys: Sex and British Pop 2005 TV Mini-Series documentary Himself
Derailroaded 2005 Documentary Himself
The Greatest 2004 TV Series documentary Himself
Sendung ohne Namen 2003 TV Series documentary Himself
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s 2002 TV Movie documentary Himself (1980 interview) (uncredited)
100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock 2000 TV Mini-Series documentary Himself
The Male Swagger 1999 Guitarist
Hey, Hey We're the Monkees 1997 TV Movie documentary Mike Nesmith (episode "Monkees Blow Their Mind") (uncredited)
The Artist Formerly Known as Captain Beefheart 1997 Documentary Himself
The Rock 'n' Roll Years 1986 TV Series Himself
You Are What You Eat 1968 Documentary Himself
Mondo Hollywood 1967 Documentary Himself (uncredited)

Looks like we don't have awards information. Sorry!



Looks like we don't have salary information. Sorry!


#Quote
1 I think Live Aid was the biggest cocaine money laundering scheme of all time.
2 Jazz isn't dead, it just smells funny.
3 Those who are crazy enough to take the chance on spending money to make some unusual object or event take place are an endangered species.
4 [about himself] Well, in this world of basic stereotyping, give a guy a big nose and some weird hair and he's capable of anything.
5 I think business is a good thing. Generals could learn a lot from corporate executives. The first rule is, you don't kill your customers.
6 [During an appearance in 1986 on CNN's Crossfire (1982)] The biggest threat to America today is not communism. It's the turning of this country into a fascist theocracy and everything that's happened during the [Ronald Reagan] Administration has put us right down that pipe!
7 My dad was employed as a meteorologist at the Edgewood Arsenal. They made poison gas there during World War II, so I guess it would have been the meteorologist's job to figure out which way the wind was blowing when it was time to shoot the stuff off.
8 Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say that there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe.
9 Watch out where the huskies go, don't you eat that yellow snow.
10 It is probably more natural to perform sex with a sea urchin than to be interviewed.
11 Censoring what you say is one of the ways in which people who are not nice can take away your personal freedom.
12 [in the late 1980s] Religion has mostly proven to be a real-estate scam.
13 [Explaining why he felt communism was doomed to fail] People like to own things.
14 [Asked to create an anti-drug abuse slogan] Speed will turn you into your parents.
15 Work is the only reason I leave home. I'm not a tourist. I don't travel for pleasure. I don't take vacations. I only leave the house when I have something to do.
16 Some rock musicians make a bunch of money and stick it up their noses--I stick mine in my ear.
17 Bad facts make bad law, and people who write bad laws are in my opinion more dangerous than songwriters who celebrate sexuality.
18 I've smoked ten marijuana cigarettes in my life. And they've given me a sore throat, a headache, and made me sleepy. I can't understand why anyone would wanna use the stuff. It seems such an impractical pastime as you can get sent to jail for it.
19 I never set out to be weird. It was always other people who called me weird.
20 Rock journalism is people who can't write, preparing stories based on interviews with people who can't talk, in order to amuse people who can't read.

#Trademark
1 Long guitar solos
2 Dark and sarcastic sense of humour
3 Moustache, cigarette smoking

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