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."
“It can’t happen here
It can’t happen here
I’m telling you, my dear
That it can’t happen here
Because I been checkin’ it out, baby
I checked it out a couple a times.”””
Most Zappa lyrics would be appropriate.
Yeah, this is sad - the most talented musician among them can’t use his last name in an obvious tribute band that garners notoriety for the legacy of his father/father’s estate.
This is stupid squabbling by family members with a napoleon complex. They are blinded by something - perhaps it is jealousy.
and you ain’t what you not...
And that all there is.
He didn’t go to court, the family did. Basically he had a “normal” name, but around the house they called him Dweezil, then he went to school and the teacher called him by his regular name, he comes home in tears. So they fixed it. And then for the rest of the kids they delayed giving them official names until they figured out what they were going to call them. As Frank said: it’s the last name that gets them in trouble.
...That was my point...
Your point wasn’t missed.
When I asked my neighbor what her young Alaskan Malamute’s name was, she said “Diesel” and I jokingly said to the dog, “Hi Dweezil, good boy!”. Well, she thought I called her dog “Weasel”. Then she said “Who would ever name their dog Weasel?...YOU’RE A WEASEL!”. To which I replied, “Forget it, Maggie. Nice dog though.”.
TV dinners by the pool
I'm so glad I finished school!
I didn’t know that, thanks.
Great Googly Moogly!!!
I always kind of wondered what happened between Dweez and Ahmet, they’d done a couple of albums together, done a lot of work together. Then Ahmet had a messy divorce that pulled him out of ZPZ and they haven’t done anything together since. Ahmet’s actually a pretty good keyboardist, he was better than Dweez until Dweez retained Frank Gambale to relearn the guitar from scratch.
Just so long as ZPZ keeping touring under any name and the catalog stays available in high quality.
Play your own music and stop trying to capitalize on your fathers name. If you have that little talent that you must play your fathers music, get a job at Starbucks and play guitar hero.
I listened to Zappa for years and still don’t get it. A tribute band? Uh...no.
OK. I think the obvious solution for Dweezil would be to start making your way on your own name, talent and songs. If you are going to base your act on someone else's name and material you are going to have to pay licensing fees.
He’s trying to keep the music out there. His dad’s dying wish to have his music played. He put a LOT of work into learning how his dad’s music works and trying to figure out what he was accomplishing. And he’s really good at playing it. Heavy on the improv too just like it should be, it’s really not a tribute band, it’s a continuing performance band. One of the things he specializes in is finding songs his dad didn’t actually play live for whatever reason, which involves a lot of digging in the vault.
What’s the ugliest part of your body
What’s the ugliest part of your body
Some say your nose, some say your toes
But I think it’s your mind
I think it’s your mind
Who owns the songs that never made it to the public?
The trust. And they made it to the public, they were just only on studio records with few if any live performances.
... If you are going to base your act on someone else’s name and material you are going to have to pay licensing fees...
Wonder if Frank Sinatra, Jr. did that?
Now I get it. Private parts designation. Good Lord.
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