Category Archives: Frank Zappa

FZ Interview – KYUU-FM San Francisco, 1984

In this three part KYUU-FM radio interview with Frank Zappa broadcast on May 17th, 1984 in San Francisco, California, Zappa talks about some his early guitar influences (Johnny Guitar Watson and Clarence Gatemouth Brown, for instance), the reasons which led … Continue reading

Posted in Frank Zappa, Interview, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

UG’s Semi-Orchestral Low Budget Memorial Barbecue

This month I have put together a special mixtape for Zappa/Mothers Die-Hards with many of my favorite instrumental, semi-orchestral, and orchestral Zappa works – many of which I’m mixing here for the first time – from some of the best … Continue reading

Posted in Alumni, Frank Zappa, Interview, Music | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

200 Motels DVD – Review by SOTCAA

Frank Zappa’s 1971 big-screen venture 200 Motels has not been particularly well-preserved on VHS over the years. Although there have been several releases and re-releases, these have tended to be sourced from the same slightly iffy video masters with no … Continue reading

Posted in Frank Zappa, Movies, Official Releases | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Public Service Announcement

Via Dangerous Minds, hat tip Mike McCroy.

Posted in Frank Zappa, Heh Heh, Miscellany, YouTubery | 6 Comments

New Zappa Release: Congress Shall Make No Law

By now I guess you all know about the Zappa event in Baltimore that is to take place on September 19. A couple of days ago, a new Zappa Records release was announced for this date: September 19, 2010 marks … Continue reading

Posted in Frank Zappa, In The News, Official Releases, Politics | 71 Comments

Polygon Head Plays The Black Page #1

So, you’re interested in learning to play The Black Page #1 on guitar? Check out this video from Polygon Head, angrily shake your fist at the guitar gods, and go back to your Neil Young Harvest songbook (that’s what I … Continue reading

Posted in Frank Zappa, Music, YouTubery | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Who IS The REAL Frank Zappa, Anyway?

Sometimes I am quite delighted to discover a fan-made Frank Zappa video like the one posted above. It reinforces my belief that the future of FZ’s public image is in the right hands: creative, open-minded, technology embracing hands. This is … Continue reading

Posted in Alumni, Bizarre, Frank Zappa, Miscellany, Music, Personal, Pop Cult, YouTubery, Zappa Family Trust, Zappanale | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Defending Zappa?

In my youth, I felt like I had an easier time introducing my friends to Zappa. I used to simply play “Bobby Brown Goes Down,” because when you’re 14 or 15 years old, it’s the funniest thing you could possibly … Continue reading

Posted in Community, Frank Zappa, Politics, Pop Cult | 44 Comments

KUR’s 2nd Annual Virtual Zappanale Mix

Welcome to KUR’s 2nd Annual Virtual Zappanale Mix for August 2010. For those of us who cannot make it to this year’s festival in Bad Doberan, I have compiled an eclectic mix of some of my favorite FZ covers by … Continue reading

Posted in Alumni, Community, Frank Zappa, Mike Keneally, Miscellany, Personal, Zappa Plays Zappa, Zappanale | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Asphalt Orchestra – Bang On A Can

Created by Bang On A Can, New York City’s Asphalt Orchestra is Bang On A Can’s street band. A 12 piece ensemble of brass and percussion, Asphalt Orchestra brings together “odd meters, virtuosic playing, and general tech-dorkery under the vibrant, … Continue reading

Posted in Frank Zappa, In The News, Miscellany, Music, Pop Cult, YouTubery | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments