Zappa, Palais des Sports, Paris, 1980



This particular concert took place at the Palais des Sports, Paris, France on June 11th, 1980 and was first broadcast on France’s Antenne 2 in late 1980, and later rebroadcast on Europe2 TV on May 10, 2007.

It features Zappa’s Rockin’ Teenage Combo:

Frank Zappa–lead guitar, vocals
Ike Willis–guitar, vocals

Ray White–guitar, vocals 

Tommy Mars–keyboards, vocals

Arthur Barrow–bass, keyboards, vocals

David Logeman–drums

Besides the three clips posted above — “Chunga’s Revenge”, “Outside Now” and “Pound For A Brown”, respectively — I have endeavoured to link the following setlist to available videos from that concert:

• Chunga’s Revenge
Keep It Greasey
• Outside Now
City Of Tiny Lites
• Pound For A Brown
Cosmik Debris
• You Didn’t Try To Call Me
• Ain’t Got No Heart
• Love Of My Life
You Are What You Is
Easy Meat
• Mudd Club
The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing/Heavenly Bank Account
Suicide Chump/Jumbo Go Away
If Only She Woulda (Pt 1)
If Only She Woulda (Pt 2)
• I Don’t Wanna Get Drafted
Joe’s Garage/Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?
Dancin’ Fool/Bobby Brown/Ms Pinky
Stick It Out
Illinois Enema Bandit

Information Is Not Knowledge identifies many highlights in this concert, one of which:

There’s a lot of guitar in this concert.. nearly every song has an extended guitar solo, so if you like that sort of thing you’re definitely in luck. Ike sang really well on Outside Now, and then Ray did his usual fantastic singing of City of Tiny Lites. John Smothers runs out a couple of times and shines his flashlight into the crowd. Then something curious happens. In the middle of Pound For A Brown, Frank “brings the band on down” and says that he’s going to give a demonstration to a mystery guest… this would be Pierre Boulez, whom both Frank and Tommy Mars got to meet personally and show off their electronic effects, which Boulez seemed to enjoy.

Much thanks to “YourArf”, “bongolampo”, “zw”, “berthy75”, and “justanotherbrick” for posting all these videos.

Author: urbangraffito

I am a writer, editor, publisher, philosopher, and foole (not necessarily in that order). Cultural activist and self-described anarchist.

12 thoughts on “Zappa, Palais des Sports, Paris, 1980”

  1. [quote comment=”4614″]I just had a Friday Boot flashback.[/quote]

    It’s a glitch in The Matrix…

  2. Sometimes Arthur Barrow is my favourite bassplayer. Favourite bassSOUND anyway.

    Th.

  3. Thanks for putting this together. I’ve only seen a few of these.
    Even on YouTube you can tell this is an incredible show.
    My first Zappa show was a few months earlier so this line-up
    is special to me. What’s stands out in my mind
    (and is backed up here) is Zappa’s total control over
    the band/mind-blowing guitar solos, Arthur Barrow’s
    fine/funny performance, Ray & Ike’s incredile vocals,
    plus the depth of Tommy Mars.
    Yes, a dvd version would be nice, but why would a
    full-length show be a priority. Frank never seemed
    to be compelled, why should the ZFT
    (unless you’re talking ZPZ)?

  4. [quote comment=”4635″]Thanks for putting this together. I’ve only seen a few of these.
    Even on YouTube you can tell this is an incredible show.
    My first Zappa show was a few months earlier so this line-up
    is special to me. What’s stands out in my mind
    (and is backed up here) is Zappa’s total control over
    the band/mind-blowing guitar solos, Arthur Barrow’s
    fine/funny performance, Ray & Ike’s incredile vocals,
    plus the depth of Tommy Mars.
    Yes, a dvd version would be nice, but why would a
    full-length show be a priority. Frank never seemed
    to be compelled, why should the ZFT
    (unless you’re talking ZPZ)?[/quote]

    You know I’ve given up bitching about what the ZFT does
    and does not do, Hugh. If I can gather together these videos
    using the HTML tools at my disposal, imagine what they could
    do with all the material they have at hand…

    Anyway, it seems it’s up to the Zappa community itself to service itself instead of looking towards one primary source for all things Frank (and Mothers related), at least in my opinion. And, as it is,
    that community still appears pretty healthy to me (with the odd
    bit of bruising here and there, that is).

    I believe the video of this show is available for torrent at Zappateers (though I’m uncertain about the quality). Just don’t be buying it off some bootlegger on eBay when there are those who are willing to share it). And probably like you, Hugh, I’d much prefer to purchase a copy when and if it’s an official release.

  5. “You know I’ve given up bitching about what the ZFT does
    and does not do, Hugh. If I can gather together these videos
    using the HTML tools at my disposal, imagine what they could
    do with all the material they have at hand…”

    Urbangrafitto, I agree totally with your opinion. It would be nice, when someone would gather this and other material, like the label “Purple Chick” does in case of The Beatles and put in online via a blogspot, so that everybody interested can get it. From fans for fans without interest in money.

    And a bit of bitching is alright.

  6. But Plooker, if you look a bit more carefully into the internet, you will find other places with FZ material. Just be bold and go, where no man has gone before …

  7. [quote comment=”4656″]I know, KUR just spoiled me, until Gail came and took our ball.[/quote]

    Roland’s quite right. The bootlegs and field recordings are out there to be downloaded, mostly in lossless (FLAC) format from sites like Zappateers. It does take a while, though. Like all good things…

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