Frank Zappa
John Amato at Crooks and Liarsreminds me that its the 13th Anniversary of Frank Zappa’s death.
I was a big fan of Frank, from the moment I heard “Broken Hearts Are For Assholes” at the tender age of 13. That song had me in hysterics. His stand against the PMRC and the Meese Commission, when both were attacking pariah bands like the Dead Kennedys, proved his integrity. It was only later, when I became a real musician, that I really began to really appreciate the technical, and largely self-taught, wizardry that was Zappa the composer.
I was living in New Haven with my first live-in girlfriend when the news came on the radio. “Well, we’ve lost Frank,” the DJ said, “and in his honor I will play any and all Zappa requests.” After I requested “Broken Hearts…” he amended that offer. Frank wouldn’t have approved.
Anyway, here are some Zappa youtubes, from various eras in the man’s career.
Let’s start with his Senate testimony in 1986, which is hilarious.
King Kong, 1968
I Am the Slime, 1978
St. Alphonso’s Pancake Breakfast
“Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is THE BEST…”
December 5th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
[...] 13th anniversary of Frank Zappa’s death, and Brendan has a nice selection of his videos. Permalink| [...]
December 6th, 2006 at 4:08 am
One thing about Zappa bands: Those fuckers knew how to rehearse.