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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2371.0. "Frank Zappa" by HNDMTH::TUTAK (I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee) Fri Nov 08 1991 13:24

    
    Just a brief item...
    
    News reports this morning stated that the family of Frank Zappa has 
    confirmed that Frank is suffering from prostate cancer. 
    
    No other information at the moment, but will probably be posted in 
    STKCSC::ZAPPA 91.*.
    
    Peter
     
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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2371.1Francis Vincent Zappa R.I.P.TECRUS::ROSTFretting less, enjoying it moreMon Dec 06 1993 08:447
    Apparently Frank died over the weekend at age 52 of prostate cancer.
    
    Frank was one of my big inspirations when I started playing.  The first
    concert I ever went to was a double bill of Chuck Berry and Frank
    Zappa.  
    
    								Brian
2371.2The passing of a musical geniusAIMHI::KERRLivin Life By The DropMon Dec 06 1993 09:4114
    Yes, I heard a report on Frank Zappa's death this morning on NPR.
    He had been suffering from prostrate cancer for quite some time.
    
    He certainly leaves a large volume of work, and his influence on modern
    music is undeniable.   However, it was always his
    tongue-planted-firmly-in-cheek stuff that appealed to me most. I heard
    "Goin To Montana" the other day on the radio and it got me laughing
    hysterically.  On the purely musical side, Hot Rats is one of my
    all-time favorite instrumental albums. 
    
    I have no doiubt his musical talent will be sorely missed.
    
    
    
2371.3RIP - Frank ZappaKAOFS::P_DESOUZAMon Dec 06 1993 13:094
    
    
    Heard on the news today that Frank Zappa passed away. He was 52. Died
    from a long bout of prostate cancer. 
2371.4Frank ZappaKIRKTN::WATSONTMon Dec 06 1993 14:134
    	RIP Frank Zappa - One of the great musicians of this century
    
       	Good Luck Mate!!
    
2371.5one less Mother of InventionMKOTS3::BROWNB52 pilots do it in the buffMon Dec 06 1993 17:215
    I heard on WBZ this morn that Frank Zappa has joined that great jam
    session in the sky. No more "Wowie Zowie", no more "Joes Garage", 
    no more "Valley Girls".
    
    
2371.6my guitar wants to kill yer momma...SPECXN::LEITZbutch leitzMon Dec 06 1993 17:301
        for a ZAPPA .GIF file, see specxn::ek5_user1:[leitz]zappa.gif.
2371.7 EZ2GET::STEWARTalways took candy from strangersMon Dec 06 1993 17:597
    
    
    Hey, JC - how about if we change this note title to "Frank Zappa is
    seriously dead"?  I'm sure he'd get a chuckle out of it...
    
    \js, wearing a Sears pancho...
    
2371.8"Frank Zappa, R.I.P."COMET::LAURICHMon Dec 06 1993 18:517
    
       
          Frank is and will allways be an insperation to me.
    
                            Good luck Frank,
    
                                Jeffy
2371.9'nuff said ;-)FRETZ::HEISERno I'm really very, very shyTue Dec 07 1993 00:421
    Didn't he 'discover' Steve Vai?
2371.10HEART::MACHINTue Dec 07 1993 05:409

	Yes -- proof enough of his sense of humour. 

	The Zappa issue of Guitarist a while ago contained a very
	odd series of interviews in which various players paid the sort
	of tribute to him you'd expect now..

	Richard.
2371.11Frank Zappa -against censorshipEEMELI::HAUTALAPositive BluesTue Dec 07 1993 06:186
    
    	Btw; What kind of guitars did he use? I remember him playing
    	a Strat once on video.
    
    
    	Hannu
2371.12HEART::MACHINTue Dec 07 1993 06:468
	Used to use an SG. (What about the fretless guitar on 
	'Goin' to Montana')?

	I imagine there were all sort of mechanical and electrical mods
	though.

	Richard.
2371.13HEDRON::DAVEBanti-EMM! anti-EMM! I hate expanded memory!- DorothyTue Dec 07 1993 08:445
    When I saw frank a couple fo years ago (Mothers of Prevention tour, was
    that his last?) he played a strat exclusivly, and only played solos,
    otherwise he took it off...
    
    dbii
2371.14TECRUS::ROSTFretting less, enjoying it moreTue Dec 07 1993 09:4312
    Re: axes
    
    In the early days of the Mothers, Frank had various junk guitars.  The
    first "good" axe I've seen pictures of him with was an ES-5
    Switchmaster, then a gold top LP, then various SGs, finally Strats.  He
    even owned a Strat torched by Jimi Hendrix.  
    
    Also seen shots of him with a Fender Custom (!!) and there is mention
    of a fretless Acoustic Black Widow in the liner notes of "Shut Up and
    Play Yer Guitar".
    
    								Brian
2371.15For Chr#$% sake...Shut Up and Play yer guitar!!NITMOI::MICHAUDThink about software that thinks!Tue Dec 07 1993 13:1710
    
    I'm trying Zappa for the first time. I thought I read somewhere in
    these notesfiles that 'Shut Up And Play Your Guitar' is one of his
    better works? Is this right? Is there any vocals on it? I'm waiting
    for it to arrive for a listen. Can't find dat dam note!! Any others
    that should be aware of?
    
    thanks,
    
    John
2371.16GOES11::HOUSEYou sick little monkey!Tue Dec 07 1993 13:526
    I've also seen photos/video of Frank playing various Les Pauls and
    something that looked like 335.  He's pictured with a Cherry Sunburst
    Paul on the cover of the transcription book of his older material (same
    photo from "Shutup and play Yer Guitar"?).
    
    Greg
2371.17what a better place the world would be....NAVY5::SDANDREAIf mistakes were dollars....Tue Dec 07 1993 14:136
   >> 'Shut Up And Play Your Guitar'
    
    
    Man, what great and timely advice...........
    
    :*}
2371.18DREGS::BLICKSTEINDown on that shreddin' flo'Tue Dec 07 1993 14:3441
    Zappa has put out about 200 albums.
    
    Ask about 200 fans which album is foremost among his better works
    and you'll probably hear about 198 of them mentioned ("Sleep Dirt"
    and the other "just to satisfy contractual obligations with Warner"
    album are the two you probably won't hear mentioned).
    
    My favorites (approx. in order):
    
    	o Overnite Sensation
    	o You Are What You Is
    	o Sheik Yerbouti
    	o [title eludes me but has the sofa on the cover]
    	o Apostrophe
    
    I'm not actually a fan of the "Shut Up and Play Your Guitar" series.
    
    I think Zappa's best guitar playing was always in the context of songs.
    Those albums strike me as just long (concert-like) guitar solos.
    
    My favorite solo: 50/50 from Overnite Sensation.
    
    We've had a lot of talk in here recently about "one note guitar solos".
    
    Well the first note of that solo sorta sounds like what a guitar would
    sound like if it was blowing its nose (and had a nose to blow, etc.).
    
    It's an amazing solo.  When I first "got into" (was forced fed zappa
    by a room-mate) I thought that his method was to "move his fingers
    as fast and as randomly as possible".  I remember thinking that that
    solo was a good example/demonstration of that.
    
    Then, after listening to it a couple of times, I realized that he was
    CLEARLY playing thru the changes.  And while it was all very weird
    stuff, it all really did "work" although it did not "work" in the sense
    of normal theories about what "works".
    
    If CDs could be worn out, my "Overnite Sensation" CD would be worn out
    right around that solo.
    
    	db
2371.19TECRUS::ROSTFretting less, enjoying it moreTue Dec 07 1993 15:5127
    If you're gonna look for just one FZ album, you're in trouble...he
    covered so much ground that you need at least a half dozen to just
    get a sample.
    
    My recommendations:
    
    Absolutely Free (good early extended guitar solo on "Call Any
    Vegetable")
    
    Uncle Meat (the high water mark of the early Mothers for me)
    
    Hot Rats (Frank's first foray into an all-instrumental rock format)
    
    Shut Up And Play Your Guitar (it can be too much at one sitting, but it
    really shows off his guitar playing!)
    
    The Perfect Stranger (this has some of Frank's "serious" compositions)
    
    Ruben and the Jets (this is a loving parody of doo-wop music; the LP
    may be impossible to find but I prefer it to the remixed/redubbed CD
    version)
    
    My comment on Dave's choices: that focuses mostly on his "comedy"
    music, which for me isn't his best stuff.  Of course, the title track
    os "Apostrophe'" is pretty awesome...
    
    								Brian
2371.20Stay clear of that yellow snow, right?NITMOI::MICHAUDThink about software that thinks!Tue Dec 07 1993 16:1913
    
    I've heard Zappa stuff back years ago and I thought it was pretty
    strange at the time. Unfortunately, I don't remember any of it. With all 
    the hype about Zappa's playing, I figured that there must be some great 
    guitar out there in some outstanding recordings. Maybe I figured wrong?
    Maybe one has to purchase many Zappa discs to appreciate his talent as
    a whole? I realize that personal tastes always come into play, but
    usually there is one or two discs that satisfy the general public more 
    than others. True?
    
    thanks,
    
    John 
2371.21Which I think is appropriate as a "first listen" thing but...DREGS::BLICKSTEINDown on that shreddin' flo'Tue Dec 07 1993 16:219
>    My comment on Dave's choices: that focuses mostly on his "comedy"
>    music, which for me isn't his best stuff.  Of course, the title track
>    os "Apostrophe'" is pretty awesome...
    
    Yeah, I guess that's a fair statement but for the benefit of others
    I would like to clarify that I think even his "comedy" stuff was
    always still very strong musically.
    
    	db
2371.22Oh by the way!!NITMOI::MICHAUDThink about software that thinks!Tue Dec 07 1993 16:237
    Oh yeah,
    
    	No one mentioned any of the 'You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore'
    cd's. There are six of them out there. How about the 'Guitar' cd. Yes,
    that's the name of it. I was hoping for the more serious Zap.
    
    John
2371.23Frank Zappa RIPODIXIE::CERASOTue Dec 07 1993 19:2713
    
    	I know that there is a special conference for this, but it seems
    appropriate to also mention in this conference.
    
    	Frank Zappa, noted composer, guitarist, musical satirist,
    and all around musical genius, passed away Saturday, December 4th at
    his Laurel Canyon, CA. home. He succumbed to a long bout with prostate
    cancer. He was buried Sunday in a private family ceremony.
    
    	The musical community will never be the same without his presence.
    
                        Make a Jazz Noise Here
                              Zappa Fan
2371.24survived by Moon Unit and DweezleMKOTS3::BROWNB52 pilots do it in the buffMon Dec 07 1992 17:188
    FZ also played a Haggstrom 12 stringer on some of his numbers.
    
    I have the first Mothers of Invention album, bought it around 1967,
    and a later one with "Mud Shark". and a few other somewhat off-color 
    tunes on it. (I don't currently remember the title, it was a plain
    whit record jacket with "scribbled crayon" lettering).
    
    
2371.25NWD002::TUTAK_PERickenbackerhackerMon Dec 07 1992 17:4629
    
    I've seen Frank use a Les Paul, a customized SG, a huge Gibson with a
    single cutaway (was that the Switchmaster ?), and since
    about 1975, a whole bunch of different Strats, customized every which
    way, with everything from contact mikes in the neck to Hendrix's Miami
    Strat (paint blistering still intact), reassembled and refurbished.
    There was also use of a fretless guit on some parts of 'Zoot Allures',
    I believe. And the other day, on CNN, I saw an -old- filmclip where he
    was using what looked like a Fender Coronado. 
    
    There was an amusing story in 'No Commercial Potential' about how
    he was trying to land an endorsement contract, so that the band could
    avail itself of a line of amps, etc. to use (I think this went back to
    the Garrick days). Anyhow, one of the blurbs that Frank wanted to use
    (which was not accepted for publication) was a shot of him with the
    particular instrument and the endorsement "This is the best f*cking
    guitar I've ever played !".
    
    Concerning what anyone would pick up to be a representative sampler of
    his work, I really feel that might best be served by going into a used
    CD store, pulling any FZ stuff off the shelf, and 'sample' through some
    of the tracks on the store listening unit. And buy what you like. 
    
    I'm curious, though...what was the article mentioned in this string
    that consisted of other musicians' statements about Frank ? I'd like to read
    it.    
    
    Peter
    
2371.26HEART::MACHINTue Dec 08 1992 08:125

	I think the white album is 'Live at Filmore East' or something.

	Richard.
2371.27RIP Frank ZappaMILKWY::JACQUESVintage taste, reissue budgetTue Dec 08 1992 12:5715
    I have a bootleg of early Zappa music entitled "Transparency".
    It has "Flo and Eddy" from the original Turtles, and the
    music is very much do-wa-ditty, with tongue-in-cheek comedy
    lines. Great partying music. 
    
    I've always like the Apostrophe album, again good comedic 
    lyrics with outstanding music accompanyment. 
    
    Frank was definately unique. He had a knack for discovering
    great musicians and featuring them on his albums. One that
    immediatley comes to mind is Lowell George. Lowell was one
    of the original members of Mothers of Invention. Zappa 
    provided the seed money for Lowell to start Little Feat. 
    
    Mark
2371.28Turtles connection?NWACES::HICKERNELLMerry Merry, Joy JoyTue Dec 08 1992 13:024
    What's the connection between Zappa and the Turtles?  I seem to hear
    their name a lot in discussions of Frank or the Mothers.
    
    Dave
2371.29The Florescent Leach and EddyLEDS::ORSIGotInAt2WithA10+WokeUpAt10WithA2Tue Dec 08 1992 13:3916
>    What's the connection between Zappa and the Turtles?  I seem to hear
>    their name a lot in discussions of Frank or the Mothers.
    
     Flo and Eddy (Mark Volman and-I-can't-remember-his-name) were members
     of the Turtles who toured with Frank in the early 70's. I saw them
     in '71 at the Music Hall in Boston. The story goes that Flo and Eddy
     took those names because legally they still had a recording contract
     as the Turtles. The record co was busting their balls for another top
     40 hit like Happy Together and Eleanor. They got fed up and went on the
     road with Frank where no one would find them. Great show. They covered
     a Turtles medley but changed the words around. What a riot. Great
     theatrics too.

     Neal

2371.30TECRUS::ROSTFretting less, enjoying it moreWed Dec 08 1993 14:1727
    Re: Turtles
    
    In addition to Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, Turtles bassist Jim Pons
    eventually also hooked up with Zappa (he's on "Fillmore East" and "Just
    Another Band From LA").  
    
    Volman and Kaylan had met Zappa at an orchestral concert in LA (Zubin
    Mehta conducting an early score of "200 Motels", 1969 I think) and
    ribbed him about how he had printed a quote on one of his albums from
    an unidentified PR guy who had told Frank he could make the Mothers "as
    big as the Turtles".
    
    After Frank was put out of action for a year by being knocked off a
    stage in London and breaking his leg, Flo and Eddie picked up the
    remaining Mothers as their own band and recorded a few albums for
    Warners, Epic and Sire.
    
    The names were thought up to get around the contractual obligations
    they had; Flo was short for The Phlorescent Leech, which is how Volman
    was credited on "Chunga's Revenge".
    
    While with Zappa, Volman and Kaylan also contributed backing vocals to
    most of the T. Rex singles.  That's them wailing away in the
    stratosphere on "Bang A Gong".
    
    
    							Brian
2371.31Carnac Rost......NAVY5::SDANDREAIf mistakes were dollars....Wed Dec 08 1993 14:228
    re: -1
    
    as always, Brian continues to amaze us...of course at this point, I'm
    so amazed, I'd probably believe *whatever* he tells us.....
    
    very interesting tidbit about the T. Rex connection!
    
    sd
2371.32As long as it's not TMNTNWACES::HICKERNELLMerry Merry, Joy JoyWed Dec 08 1993 14:524
    Yes, I think Brian should be a music historian instead of wasting his
    life trying to educate *us*.  Thanks, Neal and Brian.
    
    Dave
2371.33hearing/memory loss is commom among guitar playersNAVY5::SDANDREAIf mistakes were dollars....Wed Dec 08 1993 15:134
    >Brian should be a music historian instead of wasting his
    >life trying to educate *us*.....             -------
    
    Brian who?                                           
2371.34Gee, Howie, you're such a professional...NWD002::TUTAK_PERickenbackerhackerWed Dec 08 1993 18:1713
    
    I heard that Flo and Eddie were also approached by Frank to front the 
    big band tour (last tour) that covered Europe and the States. Due to other
    commitments, however, it was not possible. Eddie's real name by the
    way, is Howard Kaylan ("...who's gonna give us all a final, closing
    benediction.").
    
    Probably would have led to some outrageous 4-part vocal harmony writing
    between Volman, Kaylan, Willis, and Bobby Martin.
    
    Peter
    
    
2371.35Almost a starTRUCKS::GOREBar Sinister with Pedant RampantWed Jul 27 1994 07:3091
I thought these might be of interest.

		Ian G.

From:	VBORMC::"ASTRO%GITVM1.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu" "Astronomy Discussion List" 26-JUL-1994 14:51:01.93
To:	Multiple recipients of list ASTRO <ASTRO%GITVM1.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
CC:	
Subj:	New name for asteroid

Does anybody have any more information on the following:

From the Tampa Tribune (7/25/94)

Besieged by letters and e-mail, a Cambridge, Mass. astronomy organization
named an asteroid that orbits between Jupiter and Mars "Zappafrank" after the
late musician. "I don't recall a lobby quite as extensive as this one" said
Brian G. Marsden, Director of the International Astronomical Union's Minor
Planet Center. The asteroid, actually a tiny planet, as appropriately named
because it was discovered in 1980 by a Czech astronomer and Zappa symbolized
artistic freedom to youngsters growing up in Communist Eastern Europe. He was
friends with Vaclav Havel, the dissident playwright who became Czech
president. Since there are a number of asteroids the names of which begin
with "frank" and there's one named Zappala after the Italian dicoverer,
Marsden decided on "Zappafrank" to distinguish the musician.

                _\\///_
               (' O-O ')
     ---------ooO-(_)-Ooo----------
    |                              |
    |          Chris Cook          |
    |                              |
    |    chris_cook@notes.pw.com   |
    |                              |
    |  Views, opinions are my own  |
    |      & not my employers.     |
     ------------------------------

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% From: Chris Cook <Chris_Cook@notes.pw.com>
% Subject:      New name for asteroid
% To: Multiple recipients of list ASTRO <ASTRO%GITVM1.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
From:	VBORMC::"ASTRO%GITVM1.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu" "Astronomy Discussion List" 26-JUL-1994 16:46:30.25
To:	Multiple recipients of list ASTRO <ASTRO%GITVM1.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
CC:	
Subj:	Re: New name for asteroid

More info?  Sure--what did you want to know?   I'm the public affairs
specialist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, where
the IAU's Minor Planet Center is headquartered.  The name was
proposed by a Phoenix, AZ psychiatrist (and Zappa fan).  He originally
wanted to name one of the recently-discovered planets orbiting the
pulsar in Virgo after Zappa.  But the IAU has no official committee to
name objects outside the solar system.  So Marsden suggested a minor
planet instead--one that was discovered at Klet Observatory in S.
Bohemia. The official designation reads as follows:

"Named in memory of Frank Zappa (1940-1993), rock musician and
composer of innovative contemporary symphonic, chamber and
electronic music.  Zappa was an eclectic, self-trained artist and
composer with incredible energy and a biting wit, and his music
transcends the usual music barriers.  Before 1989 he was regarded as a
symbol of democracy and freedom by many people in
Czechoslovakia."


 FYI, there are also asteroids named after all of the Beatles, Bob Hope
and Bing Crosby.

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% Date:         Mon, 25 Jul 1994 11:17:24 EDT
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% From: Julie <CORLISS@CF1.HARVARD.EDU>
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% Subject:      Re: New name for asteroid
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