Zappa's Uncontinuities

[NoPlasticRobots]

This has been a topic I've been looking into for some time now, and upon failing to find any straight answers, I've decided to post it to the forum to hopefully try and get some understanding.

We all know Zappa didn't do drugs or drink. The exception to the drugs was about the 10 times he smoked joints when there was no cigarettes. I believe him on that. BUT it seems that he did drink every now and then. From what I've read, he seemed he was drunk when he broadcast Lather on KROQ. In Poodle Play, Ben Watson says he sounds "almost drunk" which "makes the braodcast interesting". In a transcript of the braodcast, FZ opens it talking about how they're drinking fancy imported beers with foil on the tops. In the book "Necessity Is..." it clearly shows FZ drinking a Beck's (pg 98.) And of course the Friday Night Soirees with margaritas. I don't have any "proof" he would drink at those, but from the Zappa documentary on zappa.com, FZ was the one that "pushed" the idea after it was proposed.

Now I'm not saying he was a drunk, or that there's anything wrong with drinking (unless it's in excess of course,) but it seems that a man who said he didn't drink, really in fact did.

Another source of confusion is the origin of Ahemt's name. Some say "It's the imaginary butler they used to have, everyone knows that!", or "He's named after Ahmet Ertegun, ex president of A&M Records, everyone knows that!" Well the problem here lies in that FZ has said both of these are true. But he hasn't said them in the case of "We had an imaginary butler named Ahmet, and we liked the name Ahmet because of Ahmet Ertegun." It was always one or the other. I have actual audio of Zappa on Stern in 87 saying he named Ahmet after Ahmet Ertegun. But, in countless other interviews, it was the Imaginary Butler he was named after.

If anyone has any clues on these uncontinuities, please fill me in. Or if anyone else has noticed an uncontinuity, please post it. Or if any of this is confusing, message or mail me. I'm not very good at getting stuff from my head to the screen..

[NoPlasticRobots]

No one has any thoughts on this matter or what?  

[Barry]

Maybe these uncontinuities are continuities in disguise
But really, these uncontinuities are details pertaining to FZ's private life. The music is what interests me first and foremost. Apart from that, if FZ had a beer or a margarita at this or that time: so what...
He's always remained loyal to his own talent and views regardless of what others thought/wrote/said of it, and therein lies the crux of the biscuit if you ask me!

[SOFA]

We all know Zappa didn't do drugs or drink. BUT it seems that he did drink every now and then. Now I'm not saying he was a drunk, or that there's anything wrong with drinking (unless it's in excess of course,) but it seems that a man who said he didn't drink, really in fact did.
There are people that can drink socially... Then there are people that "drink". FZ was a social drinker. He did not "drink". I believe that is a distinction that FZ would have made - daily, or monthly?
No one has any thoughts on this matter or what?
Interestingly enough, I do...
Another source of confusion is the origin of Ahemt's name. Some say "It's the imaginary butler they used to have, everyone knows that!", or "He's named after Ahmet Ertegun, ex president of A&M Records, everyone knows that!"
I have participated in this very argument with a number of fans over the last couple of years... I've researched it as far as I was able. The best I could come up with a direct quote from Gail (In the "Rock Wives" interview); she says servant - no mention of Ertegun. I've found no evidence at all from Frank. So, I'm intrigued by:"I have actual audio of Zappa on Stern in 87 saying he named Ahmet after Ahmet Ertegun."
I believe I've read a transcript of that one - or, at least, a transcript of an interview with Howard. (I couldn't say what year.) I don't recall FZ making that statement...
I would really LOVE to hear that audio - the whole interview. I need to hear from Frank, that he was sentimental enough to name his son after a living human.
Otherwise, I remain firmly entrenched in the "imaginary servant" camp. That SOUNDS like FZ. The other? It don't fit...
SOFA

[NoPlasticRobots]

Sofa, check your messages and your email.

[Debrakadabra]

NPR, I would have to echo Barry's sentiments.  It's not that I think FZ was completely consistent and never contradicted himself.  I think there are many examples of this in his life.  These things are interesting.  Sometimes I agree with what he expresses and does, and sometimes I do not.  I do not think these things help me appreciate his music any more.  It's funny, where I agree with him I find that the songs that express these ideas leap up and hit me in the face and I nod a secret nod to myself and say "Right on!  You tell em FZ!"  But when they are something I am out of sympathy with I shrug and say "Oh well, we differ here."  Maybe that is why I enjoy most of all the instrumental music of FZ.  Lyrics have a way of putting you in sympathy with them.  With instumental music you put the music in sympathy with yourself.  You apply the music to your own experience.  There is freedom in that.  What Frank did that contradicted what he said, or the parts of his music that seem to contradict what he said and did do not seem to matter in that place.

Listening to Burnt Weeny Sandwich a whole lot lately.  What a powerful piece of music.  And the whole thing is one piece.
DebK