Suzy? Suzy Creamcheese?
Posted on 10/22/2017 4:00:46 PM PDT by Eddie01
It's soundcheck time at the Capitol Theatre, just north of New York, and Dweezil Zappa is leading his band through the songs of his father, Frank. Dweezil, 46, has been regularly performing his dad's music for a decade, but his current tour is stranger – and more tense – than any before it. Unplugging his guitar, Dweezil looks out at the empty hall. "Sometimes people in the crowd yell things out, so I talk about it onstage," he says. "I feel like people are choosing sides."
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This should be a year for honoring the legacy of Frank Zappa, who died in 1993. A new, acclaimed Zappa documentary, Eat That Question, is in theaters, and a series of deluxe reissues and archival releases just hit shelves. Dweezil's tour features songs from Frank's landmark debut, Freak Out!, released 50 years ago this summer. But instead of celebrating, the four Zappa children are locked in a drama that has bitterly divided a once-close family and exposed its quirks. "I was hoping to keep the fact that we were a Grey Gardens family a secret," says oldest daughter Moon, 48, an actress and novelist. "Oops!"
Last year, Gail Zappa – Frank's widow, who had controlled his estate since his death – was dying of lung cancer, and began to say "weird things," according to Moon. "She said, 'Do you forgive me for what I've done?' I said, 'Sure,'
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at rollingstone.com ...
I get that. ...but FZ was beyond the standard Hollywood pale.
Not in the Lindsey Lohan vein. Not in the CSN or Doors vein, but a class A genius composer.
Put Mozart in this story as Frank and it becomes as compelling as I believe it is.
The other kids and the mom may be gutter snipe, just not Dweezil - No way.
Dweezil learned the craft and carry on Frank's tradition.
"and it was crazy to be doin' it any other way."
My kids don’t know how lucky they are that I wasn’t feeling edgy when we were name-picking.
The difference is people liked Frank.
Great Eddie!
A good friend ran the “underground” FM station in Milwaukee. One day he called me and asked me to stop by after teaching at a music store. He knew I was a huge Zappa fan, all the way back to the first album. I walk into John’s living room, and there’s Frank sitting on the sofa! John had to go to work at the station, WZMF, and he tossed me a credit card and asked if I could show Frank around town. Not for just a day, but three days! I piled Frank and his bodyguard John into my Manta, and away we went.
Interesting. Frank was pretty quiet, trying to figure out if I was a jerk I guess. Took him to a club that I played at often. The owner asked if I could get Frank to do a meet and greet line. Frank said yes. A very nubile young thing asked me, “Is that really Mr. Zeppelin?” “Yup” says I. And I introduced them; “Frank, this is Donna. Donna, this is Mr. Zeppelin.” Frank took it in stride, but his bodyguard, John, totally lost it. Had to turn his back with his fist in his mouth! For the next three days, John and I called Frank Mr. Zeppelin. It was hilarious!
Amen Eddie!
Suzy? Suzy Creamcheese?
Mr Zepplin :)
Live at the Filmore West was classic lore..
I get that. ...but FZ was beyond the standard Hollywood pale.
Bald headed John? doin a little work for youda?
LOL
I saw the Yardbirds at the Pinnacle in LA, but was too stoned to remember much of it. LOL
Oh No/Orange Co Lumber Truck
That has to be one of the best stories I’ve ever heard.
We definitely need to hang out Doc!
That’ll put a mud shark in your mythology.
I saw Frank six times from the late 70s to the mid 80s. Each show was incredible. He surrounded himself with the finest musicians in the business.
I really, really miss my younger days sometimes.
L
Well it was 1967....lol
Billie was a mountain.
Ethel was a tree growing out of his shoulder.
L
You should hear my Jimi encounter! But that’s not for public consumption!
There is a Mt in Az called Cochise Head, an a lone tree forms his eyelash
my conference room at the office is called the ‘Zappa Room’ and my first company was called Strictly Commercial :)
Excellent ver of Oh No/Orange County Lumber Truck
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