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Frank Zappa
Biography
Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, singer-songwriter, guitarist, recording engineer, music producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa composed rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers. Zappa produced almost all of the more than 60 albums he released with the band The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. While in his teens, he acquired a taste for 20th-century classical composers such as Edgard Varèse, Igor Stravinsky, and Anton Webern along with 1950s rhythm and blues music. He began writing classical music in high school, while at the same time playing drums in rhythm and blues bands; he later switched to electric guitar. Zappa was a self-taught composer and performer, and his diverse musical influences led him to create music that was often difficult to categorize. His 1966 debut album with the Mothers of Invention, Freak Out!, combined songs in conventional rock and roll format with collective improvisations and studio-generated sound collages. His later albums shared this eclectic and experimental approach, irrespective of whether the fundamental format was rock, jazz or classical. His lyrics—often humorously—reflected his iconoclastic view of established social and political processes, structures and movements. He was a strident critic of mainstream education and organized religion, and a forthright and passionate advocate for freedom of speech, self-education, political participation and the abolition of censorship. He was a highly productive and prolific artist and gained widespread critical acclaim. He had some commercial success, particularly in Europe, and worked as an independent artist for most of his career. He also remains a major influence on musicians and composers. Zappa was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Zappa was married to Kathryn J. "Kay" Sherman from 1960 to 1964. In 1967, he married Adelaide Gail Sloatman, with whom he remained until his death from prostate cancer in 1993. They had four children: Moon, Dweezil, Ahmet and Diva.
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Discography
- Shut Up 'n Play Yer Guitar, 1990
- Zappa in New York, 1977
- Ahead of Their Time, 1993
- Return of the Son of Kill Ugly Radio, 1996
- You Are What You Is, 1998
- Studio Tan, 1978
- Francesco Zappa, 1995
- The Yellow Shark, 1993
- Tinsel Town Rebellion, 1981
- Does Humor Belong in Music?, 1995
- Clean American Version, 1995
- Baby Snakes, 1983
- Strictly Commercial: The Best of Frank Zappa, 1995
- Waka/Jawaka, 1972
- Zoot Allures, 1990
- Crush All Boxes, 1980
- Them or Us, 1984
- 1978-09-03: Saarbrücken 1978: Open Air Festival, Saarbrücken, Germany, 1991
- Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch, 1982
- Lumpy Gravy, 2012
- You Can't Do That on the Radio Anymore, 1990
- Apostrophe (’), 1974
- Frank Zappa Meets the Mothers of Prevention, 1986
- Orchestral Favorites, 1979
- The Best Band You Never Heard in Your Life, 2002
- Anyway the Wind Blows, 1991
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Volume 2, 1988
- The Lost Episodes, 1996
- Broadcast Rarities, 2008
- Frank Zappa Meets The Mothers of Prevention, 1990
- Joe’s Garage: Act I, 2008
- Trance-Fusion, 2006
- Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, 1988
- Joe’s Garage: Acts II & III, 1979
- Freaks & Motherfu*#@%!, 1991
- Make a Jazz Noise Here, 1995
- London Symphony Orchestra, Volume 1 & 2, 1995
- We’re Only in It for the Money / Lumpy Gravy, 1985
- Jazz From Hell, 1986
- Have I Offended Someone?, 1997
- Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger, 1984
- “Congress Shall Make No Law…”, 2010
- The Lost Solos (disc 2: The Son of the Lost Solos), 2003
- London Symphony Orchestra, Volume II, 1987
- Guitar, 1988
- Remington Electric Razor, 1981
- The London Symphony Orchestra, 1986
- Threesome No. 2, 2000
- Thing‐Fish, 2002
- Vitamin Deficiency, 1979
- The Best Of, 2004
- Cucamonga, 1997
- Make a Jazz Noise Here (disc 2), 1991
- As An Am, 1991
- Sheik Yerbouti, 1995
- Hot Rats, 2008
- Bongo Fury, 1989
- One Shot Deal, 2008
- FZ:OZ, 2002
- Joe's Domage, 2004
- Son of Cheep Thrills, 1998
- Ensemble Modern Plays Frank Zappa: Greggery Peccary & Other Persuasions (feat. conductor: Jonathan Stockhammer), 2004
- Cheap Thrills, 1998
- Joe's Corsage, 2004
- Kill Ugly Radio, 1995
- Joe's Menage, 2008
- Broadway the Hard Way, 1988
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Volume 1, 1988
- Saarbrücken 1978, 1978
- Buffalo, 2007
- Mystery Disc, 1998
- The Man From Utopia, 1993
- Hammersmith Odeon, 2010
- How’s Your Bird?, 1998
- Left of the Dial, 2006
- Roxy & Elsewhere, 1974
- We're Only in It for the Money / Lumpy Gravy, 1985
- All You Need Is Glove, 1991
- Sleep Dirt, 1979
- Ditties and Beer, 1998
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Volume 6, 1992
- Apostrophe (’) / Over‐Nite Sensation, 1990
- Imaginary Diseases, 2006
- Frank Zappa: Cucamonga, 2004
- Frank Zappa Plays the Music of Frank Zappa: A Memorial Tribute, 1996
- 1984-09-01: Kreega Bondola: Saratoga Performing Arts Centre, Saratoga, NY, USA, 1992
- London Symphony Orchestra, Volume 1, 1983
- The Making of Freak Out! Project/Object, 2006
- Joe’s Garage: Acts I, II & III, 1987
- 1980-05-24: Ahoy Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1994
- The Dub Room Special (DVD), 2005
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Volume 4, 1991
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Volume 3, 1989
- Zappa's Universe, 1993
- Wanna Buy Some Acid?, 2002
- Joe’s XMasage, 2005
- Feeding the Monkies at Ma Maison, 2011
- You Can't Do That on Stage Anymore, Volume 5, 1992
- Halloween, 2003
- The Man From Utopia / Ship Arriving Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch, 1988
- Quaudiophiliac, 2004
- Chunga’s Revenge, 1970
- 1980-05-24: Boot the Beats: The Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 1991
- Philly '76, 2009
- Cucamonga Years: The Early Works of Frank Zappa (1962-1964), 1997
- Civilization Phaze III, 1994
- Strictly Genteel: A Classical Introduction to Frank Zappa, 1997
- The Lumpy Money Project/Object: An FZ Audio Documentary, 2009
- The Dub Room Special!, 2007
- Kill Ugly Radio Some More, 1995
- Läther, 1996
- Everything Is Healing Nicely, 1999
- Zappa Picks—by Jon Fishman of Phish, 2002
- Wazoo, 2007
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Recently Played on Dig Music.
| Song | Sexual Harassment In The Workplace |
| Artist | Frank Zappa |
| Album | Guitar |
| Label | Rykosisc |
| Year | 1988 |
| Song | I Am The Slime |
| Artist | Frank Zappa |
| Album | Over-Nite Sensation |
| Label | Rykosisc |
| Year | 1973 |
| Song | Peaches En Regalia |
| Artist | Frank Zappa |
| Album | Hot Rats |
| Label | Rykosisc |
| Year | 1969 |
| Song | Cosmic Debris |
| Artist | Frank Zappa |
| Album | Apostrophe |
| Label | Rykosisc |
| Year | 1974 |
| Song | Montana |
| Artist | Frank Zappa |
| Album | Over-Nite Sensation |
| Label | Rykosisc |
| Year | 1973 |
Media
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- YouTube Frank Zappa on Crossfire 21:17
- YouTube FRANK ZAPPA COSMIK DEBRIS 8:07
- YouTube Frank Zappa Barcelona 1988 Full Show 132:21
- YouTube Frank Zappa Joes Garage Lyrics 6:10
- YouTube Frank Zappa Broken Hearts Are For Assholes 3:52
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Links
Artist Website
On the ABC
- Michael Kieren Harvey's homage to Frank Zappa - ABC Hobart ...
- Michael Kieran Harvey - The Music Show - 2 August 2003
- Melisma - 29/04/01: 29 April, 2001
- DIG Radio - Berlin Creates 'Frank Zappa Strasse'
- DIG Internet Radio - Album Rewind: Frank Zappa
- Mornings with Margaret Throsby: 27 September 2007
- triple j music specials: Captain Beefheart
- The Music Show - 02/08/2003: Michael Kieran Harvey
- Charred Hendrix guitar set to beat auction record. 28/8/2002 ...
- Radio National Breakfast - 14 January 2005 - Frank Zappa
Elsewhere on the Web
Links suggested here are generated automatically. The ABC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Page created on Apr 1, 2009. 7:07am and updated on Apr 25, 2013. 11:36am.
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Comments
Thanks DIG for playing this funky Zappa tune!!!! More please
My fave Frank album and fave song!
No-one has a sense of humour like Frank Zappa had.
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