Category Archives: Alumni

Humor in Music — Z

Does humor belong in music? During this particular Z gig (NAMM, Hilton, Anaheim, CA) in late January, 1995, it did. Bryan Beller: The Z show was a private party for Peavey, with a special guest appearance by Dick Clark. We … Continue reading

Posted in Alumni, Bizarre, Heh Heh, Insane, Mike Keneally, Music, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Conversations with Jimmy Carl Black

An exceptional interview with Jimmy Carl Black by Calvin Krogh recorded at the Grand Café in Oslo in January, 2007, as well as a second interview in another hotel in Oslo later that August – and broadcast on Krogh’s new … Continue reading

Posted in Alumni, Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa, Heh Heh, Interview, Mike Keneally, Miscellany, Zappa Plays Zappa, Zappanale | Tagged , , , , , | 82 Comments

Inca Roads a la Mike Keneally

Before you vote comment on the Ben Thomas rendition of Inca Roads with ZPZ, I suggest you watch these two clips: the first has Mike Keneally performing Inca Roads in Swindon, UK, in October of 2008; the second clip is … Continue reading

Posted in Alumni, Frank Zappa, Mike Keneally, Music, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , | 98 Comments

Strange News From Mars — Jon Larsen

Written, arranged and produced by Jon Larsen in its entirety, and recorded in Los Angeles in March 2007 with former Frank Zappa band alumni — Tommy Mars, Bruce Fowler, Jimmy Carl Black and Arthur Barrow (also engineered the recording) — … Continue reading

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Zappanale (Then & Now) — PGSOR All Stars feat. Denny Walley

Denny Walley, slide guitar player and childhood friend of Bobby and Frank Zappa, Don Van Vliet, and Jim Sherwood (Motorhead) was asked to tour with The Paul Green School of Rock (PGSOR) All Stars. As he says in the clip … Continue reading

Posted in Alumni, Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa, Interview, Miscellany, Music, YouTubery, Zappanale | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Mats & Morgan Play Beefheart

In keeping with the general Beefheartian theme of recent posts, I recently found this video of the Mats/Morgan Band performing Captain Beefheart’s “Lick My Decals Off, Baby”. Line Up: Freddie Wadling – lead vocals Morgan Ågren – drums Denny Walley … Continue reading

Posted in Alumni, Captain Beefheart, Music, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Jimmy Carl Black Story — Jon Larsen

Recorded prior to Jimmy’s passing from cancer in 2008, The Jimmy Carl Black Story is a double CD from Jon Larsen‘s label, Zonic Entertainment/Hot Club Records. Joined by Zappa alumni Tommy Mars (keyboards), along with Knut Reiersrud (guitar/harmonica), Ola Kvernberg … Continue reading

Posted in Alumni, Frank Zappa, Interview, Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Ban(ne)d From Utopia — Stuttgart, 1994

In the summer of 1994, promoters from the Jazz Open festival in in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, southern Germany, contacted the Fowler Brothers. Chad Wackerman interview at Idiot Bastard: The Fowler Brothers [Tom & Bruce] got a call from a festival in … Continue reading

Posted in Alumni, Frank Zappa, Music, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Frank Zappa — Composer & Guitarist

In the above clip, an audio interview circa 1984, Frank Zappa talks about soloing on the guitar, his attitudes toward live performances, and his relationship with his audience (listen closely at the 7:05 point for a relevant opinion of Frank’s … Continue reading

Posted in Alumni, Frank Zappa, Interview, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mothers Night: A Ten Hour Marathon

Rich of another Ugly Radio writes: We are doing a ten hour marathon of The Mothers on Portland OR station KBOO this Friday night starting at 8pm (PST). That’s right, it’s time once again to remember our Mothers. Of course … Continue reading

Posted in Alumni, Community, Frank Zappa | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments