It’s from America!

Dennis’ wonderful Zappa painting has arrived at Barry Towers!
It was delivered while I was at work today, so the mailman dropped it off at my neighbours. The minute I get home, there comes the neighbour, puffing as she carries the big-ass cardboard package.
“It’s from America!”, she utters, her eyes wide open, revealing a hint of suppressed suspicion.
So now I’m stuck with a neighbour who probably thinks I’m ordering rubber sex dolls from some exotic American location. As Dennis put it: “In some circles,that would be more socially acceptable than a Zappa painting…”

WTF, so to speak: Black Tongue

Apparently Gene Simmons will be releasing a solo album which has one track based on a Zappa-riff. “The idea is to have Dweezil and Ahmet Zappa, and everybody, to come play on this track called “Black Tongue”, to take Frank’s voice, and make a new song this way. It’s very dark, very crimsonian, à la In the Court of the Crimson King in 7/8.” A number of people are invited to come in and sing, such as – get this – Axl Rose.
Please stand back. AaaaaAAaaaAAargh!

Blix Krieg

Hans Blix, in the Guardian, accuses:
– The Bush administration of leaning on his inspectors to produce more damning language in their reports;
– “Some elements” of the Pentagon of being behind a smear campaign against him; and
– Washington of regarding the UN as an “alien power” which they hoped would sink into the East river.
Oh well, just another brainless longhaired peacenik, right?

The Purple Cucumber

On april 30 1995 a Frank Zappa memorial concert took place in Antwerp featuring music from Peter Vermeersch, and performed by the BRTN Philharmonic Orchestra. It was dubbed The Purple Cucumber. For several reasons the recording failed to get released – until recently. An interview by the producer of this release (Zjakki Willems) with Frank Zappa related to The Yellow Shark, can be found right here.