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."
And WHO could forget
WHO ARE THE BRAIN POLICE???
right Suzy Creamcheese?
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.
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.
bump
Why didn’t he name one Fart or Butt Crack?
All of them should have sued — or beat up — their parents for the names that they gave them.
According to the mother, Frank's other choice was "Motorhead" so she naturally agreed to Moon.......LOL!
Frank was a very peculiar guy.....
The whole thing is a mess. It makes me want to move to Montana to become a dental floss tycoon.
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.
Dweez is a tremendous guitarist!..This saddens me! I knew Frank, and liked him a lot.
What you did there, I see it.
L
While in some ways very conventional. Always anti-drug and very family oriented.
Not your typical rocker.
“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.
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.
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.
/say/saw/
What’s the ugliest part of your family?
Those who can, do; those who can't tie up the ones who can with legal harassment.
I am seeing a problem. Frank and Gail were crazy people!
Ahmet
Diva Zappa
Dweezil
Moon Unit
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