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 recall FZ, saying Detroit had a reputation for being a bad audience and walked off the stage. Some nut three a nickel at him. I could never square this with a man who laughed at someone for being a victim of the “Illinois enema bandit”. Guess he was just a petulant guy, having a frenzy.
My first company was called “Little Wing Technology”.
Not as cool - feel like I’m trying to hard here.
My first company was called “Little Wing Technology”.
Not as cool - feel like I’m trying to hard here.
I probably wouldn't go as far as Moon Unit but maybe along the lines of Phoenix (girl) or Reagan (boy)
How could there not be troubles ?, The man was responsible for toppling Communism in Chzeclovakia, he boot his boot up Tipper Gores arse in Congressional hearings..
haha! I may have things named in his honor but I’m sure you have way more knowledge about his music :)
It is too bad the family is fighting and his wife was an idiot for pitting the children against each other. Really ridiculous
I've been mildly amused by one or two of his songs.But this story has "typical showbiz trash" written all over it.
I'm a child of the 60's who's loved music (pop/rock mainly) since I was 10 when I'd put my transistor radio under my pillow at night.
Many,if not most,of the performers I've liked also qualify as "typical showbiz trash" as do most of the stars of movies that I like.
But to me "Dweezil" and "Moon Unit" says to me "special kind of trash".
So, you’re playing a thousand dollar guitar, and some twerp throws something at you? I found him to be very respectful, and actually kind to assholes who bugged him.
So lucky to have seen Frank in a music hall from the late 20’s 30s
Wonderful acoustics
Stanley theater Pittsburgh Pa
You know what BLOWS?
Chuckleheads asking $1k a ticket to hear them lip sync crap in a sports stadium with the acoustics of a sewer pipe.
God Bless FZ.
Sadly he left so much behind for the family to fight over
There must be thousands of recordings, and its hard to divvy up the estate
Funny you mention 10 yrs old. That’s when I engaged.
I would put the Sears speakers on their sides on my bed like headphones, cover it up with a blanket and jam to Three Dog Night and Aerosmith’s Toys in the Attic.
That’s how I rolled at 10.
E
Cover it with a Sears Blanket?
Not a Sealskin Poncho?
I may be the exception to the rule but I,the owner of one of the most common male names of the time when I was born,have always depended on my personality,intellect and character and hard work to "stand out".
Call me old fashioned if you wish.
How could there not be trouble?
There was a long running feud with the Monkees... LOL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_DevsLV5Y8
LOL, that cracks me up every time.
Bwaaaa! You can’t see me in that cropped pic.
You Sir are retarded.
I'm mean - R E T A R D E D.
I mean FILTHY in a stupid kind of way.
What is your favorite Frank Zappa song?
Saw FZ live in concert in Atlanta multiple times in Atlanta during the mid 1970’s. The guy was a great guitar player. Had a PHD in music and wrote every note that his band played. Us kids in Athens, Ga. were astonished that he tried marijuana once and never bothered with it again. And that when asked why did he spend 12 hours per day in the music studio he said,” nothing else to do.” The he died of bun-hole cancer. He tried to bring in the Capt. Beefart Band to do a joint venture album. It was difficult because Beefart did not know how to read music. On one of Zappa’s busses was the words “absurdities unlimited.” FZ seemed to rail against the every day stupidity of Orange County convience store consumerism. Me, I like to watch the TV show Bob’s Burger’s which is about the absurdity of low budget consumerism. Maybe I will not die of bung hole cancer. I worked in a restaurant in Athens Ga. during the 1970s. Today I do not eat hamburger. Long live Wrangler Steak House. You just had to be there to comprehend it.
Certainly you can stand out with a common name. Just look at Donald for instance.
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