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Zappa Family Trust Threatens Dweezil Zappa Over Band Name
Rolling Stone ^ | April 29, 2016

Posted on 05/02/2016 9:10:54 AM PDT by Wolfie

Zappa Family Trust Threatens Dweezil Zappa Over Band Name

This summer, Dweezil Zappa and his backing band will once again perform the music of his father Frank Zappa on a nationwide tour, but unlike the past decade, the guitarist will be playing under a different moniker. Instead of Zappa Plays Zappa, the touring unit will now be dubbed Dweezil Zappa Plays Frank Zappa, stemming in part from a bitter feud between Frank Zappa's children over their father's copyright, the New York Times reports.

In the wake of matriarch and longtime estate executrix Gail Zappa's death in October, son Ahmet Zappa was tasked with handling the day-to-day operations of his father's estate with help from youngest daughter Diva Zappa. Dweezil and Moon Unit Zappa are not trustees, but remain equal beneficiaries of their father's estate with their other two siblings.

Earlier in April, Dweezil Zappa received legal notice from the Zappa Family Trust that continued use of the name Zappa Plays Zappa could result in copyright infringement damages of $150,000 per song performed. Gail Zappa had previously allowed Dweezil to use the Zappa Plays Zappa in exchange for an "exorbitant fee."

"My last name is Zappa; my father was Frank Zappa," Dweezil said. "But I am not allowed to use the name on its own. I'm not allowed to use a picture of him. I'm not allowed to use my own connection with him without some sort of deal to be struck."

Dweezil added, "I just hope people will understand that the only thing I'm changing is the name."

The Zappa Family Trust issues have created a rift between brothers: Dweezil and Ahmet released a pair of albums together in the Nineties; now, they only communicate through lawyers. The siblings have also split over the upcoming authorized Frank Zappa documentary.

Speaking to the New York Times, Ahmet Zappa said the trust's stance against Zappa Plays Zappa isn't personal and that they're only preserving the integrity of their father's legacy. "I am not standing in the way of Dweezil playing the music," he said. "He would just have to be in accordance with the family trust."


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: music; zappa
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To: Wolfie

And WHO could forget

WHO ARE THE BRAIN POLICE???

right Suzy Creamcheese?


41 posted on 05/02/2016 10:09:04 AM PDT by Gasshog (CruZ is Romney's spork weasel sock puppet)
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To: Wolfie

As long as we have eternal copyright, things like this will continue. Frank Zappa died 23 years ago. Most of his stuff should be in the public domain by now.


42 posted on 05/02/2016 10:11:40 AM PDT by zeugma (Woohoo! It looks like I'll get to vote for an abrasive clown for president!)
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To: Sasparilla
"Wonder if Frank Sinatra, Jr. did that?"

I don't think Frank Sr. wrote most of his material. As an aside: I recall an episode of The Sopranos where Frank Jr. was at one of the mob poker games and Paulie was breaking his balls and called him the "Chairboy of the Board" - which I thought was a pretty funny line.

43 posted on 05/02/2016 10:15:41 AM PDT by circlecity
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To: Wolfie

bump


44 posted on 05/02/2016 10:18:27 AM PDT by real saxophonist ( YouTube + Twitter + Facebook = YouTwitFace.com)
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To: Billthedrill

Why didn’t he name one Fart or Butt Crack?


45 posted on 05/02/2016 10:22:45 AM PDT by ImJustAnotherOkie
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To: Wolfie

All of them should have sued — or beat up — their parents for the names that they gave them.


46 posted on 05/02/2016 10:24:42 AM PDT by Bigg Red (Keep calm and Pray on.)
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To: BunnySlippers
The daughter is named “Moon Unit”.

According to the mother, Frank's other choice was "Motorhead" so she naturally agreed to Moon.......LOL!

Frank was a very peculiar guy.....

47 posted on 05/02/2016 10:28:33 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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To: Wolfie

The whole thing is a mess. It makes me want to move to Montana to become a dental floss tycoon.


48 posted on 05/02/2016 10:28:50 AM PDT by freefdny
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To: Wolfie

Frank Zappa taught me a valuable life lesson.

“Watch out where the Huskies go, and don’t you eat that Yellow Snow”.

I’m 62 now and I have never eaten Yellow Snow.

Thanks Frank.


49 posted on 05/02/2016 10:30:10 AM PDT by Kickass Conservative (There is nothing Democratic about the Democrat Party. (Or the GOPe))
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To: thoughtomator

Dweez is a tremendous guitarist!..This saddens me! I knew Frank, and liked him a lot.


50 posted on 05/02/2016 10:37:36 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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To: circlecity
Ha - exactly the type of situation Frank would have written a song about.

Well, Frank did have album titled, "We're Only in It for the Money"
51 posted on 05/02/2016 10:46:45 AM PDT by Ticonderoga34
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To: MUDDOG

What you did there, I see it.

L


52 posted on 05/02/2016 10:49:18 AM PDT by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
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To: Hot Tabasco
"Frank was a very peculiar guy..... "

While in some ways very conventional. Always anti-drug and very family oriented.

Not your typical rocker.

53 posted on 05/02/2016 10:50:04 AM PDT by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: Hot Tabasco

“Frank was a very peculiar guy..”

Not really. Extremely intelligent. Great sense of humor. Fun to talk to. No drugs ever. Just coffee and cigs. I was quite surprised at how Conservative/Libertarian he was in private.


54 posted on 05/02/2016 11:04:10 AM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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To: Billthedrill

My understanding is that control of the Trust was given to son Ahmet last Summer, shortly before Frank’s wife died of lung cancer. And that did not sit well with other members of the family.


55 posted on 05/02/2016 11:15:13 AM PDT by RonPaulLives (Wake Up! Local, State and National GOP Lying, Cheating, Stealing in Conventions Since 2004.)
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To: LS

Musical interest ping.

My son and I say ZPZ a few years ago. Worthwhile, would go again. Then again, I’m a Zappa fan from reasonably far back. First saw him on the tour supporting the release of Apostrophe.


56 posted on 05/02/2016 11:20:45 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: FreedomPoster

/say/saw/


57 posted on 05/02/2016 11:21:37 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: Wolfie

What’s the ugliest part of your family?


58 posted on 05/02/2016 11:24:47 AM PDT by Poser (Cogito ergo Spam - I think, therefore I ham)
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To: Wolfie
Speaking to the New York Times, Ahmet Zappa said the trust's stance against Zappa Plays Zappa isn't personal and that they're only preserving the integrity of their father's legacy. "I am not standing in the way of Dweezil playing the music," he said. "He would just have to be in accordance with the family trust."

Those who can, do; those who can't tie up the ones who can with legal harassment.

59 posted on 05/02/2016 11:34:18 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. --George Orwell)
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To: Wolfie

I am seeing a problem. Frank and Gail were crazy people!
Ahmet
Diva Zappa
Dweezil
Moon Unit


60 posted on 05/02/2016 11:55:19 AM PDT by minnesota_bound
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