Kill Ugly Radio | Frank Zappa & Elsewhere
Frank Zappa news, weird links, lumpy gravy. Wanna bun?
Since Jingle Bells is a little overdone this time of year, I thought Tchaikovsky’s “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy†would be a great alternative. At first I didn’t think it could be done, but as I recorded sounds from my road bike and mountain bike it started to take shape.
See a smidge of Conceptual Continuity emerging? Thought so. (via)
I am almost certain that Frank Zappa had AS or HFA.
Anyone up for a game of Dentil Floss Tycoon? Your goal, the longest string of floss! Check the demo.
Christie’s will be holding a Rock and Pop Memorabilia Auction on December 4th featuring “some of the more choice lots to hit the lots in quite some time”. One item, estimated at 5,000 to 7,000 USD, is this abstract painting by Frank Zappa entitled William’s Special #2.
Meet Patricia Kennealy: author, Celtic priestess, retired rock critic, wife of Jim Morrison. She had a brief relationship with David Walley — “probably the closest friend I have ever had“.
Frank had this to say about The Fugs:
You mentioned the Fugs in comparison to us. The Fugs are not in good taste. They have a few bugs in their plan. One of them appeared on the David Susskind Show. I suppose their basic premise is “You talk dirty on a rock and roll record and this will lead the way to freedom of speech.” This guy is sitting there in his chair and he couldn’t care less about freedom of speech. He wants to be as cool as possible saying things like, “Yeah man, sure. Yeah, we live in the Village.”
Regardless: here’s a full download of their “Electromagnetic Steamboat”, should you be curious enough…
For my birthday, Peter of Uni-Muta gave me (among other things!) Ike Willis‘ album “Dirty Pictures” which has been on heavy rotation as of late at Barry Towers. But an even cooler surprise unfolded when I had a look at the CD’s booklet — behold:
Weeee! Thanks again, Peter! :)
Press release: Howard Kaylan to offer up rare and one of a kind memorabilia in an auction which will feature over 4 decades of historical artifacts direct from his personal collection.
Among the many notable pieces being offered are rare artifacts that were saved from the 1971 Montreux Jazz Festival fire, original movie scripts from Zappa’s “200 Motels” and “Billy the Mountain”, Marc Bolan (T.Rex) stage worn shoes, original handwritten lyrics, rare photos and slides, recordings and an amazing collection of vinyl, acetates and test pressings.
We’ve had the Freak Out Ale, but did you know about the Brother Thelonious, the Gonzo Porter or Lenny’s Bittersweet R.I.P.A.? I’ll leave you with a little quote from the article:
Lagunitas co-founder Tony Magee has been a Frank Zappa fan since studying his compositions in a college course. He plans a new Zappa tribute beer every nine to 10 months as anniversaries of successive albums occur.
Yes, you read that right…
You may wonder: what’s the source for “Metal Man Has Won His Wings“, off Mystery Disc? Biffy has the lowdown:
Frank Zappa’s notes on the song, prepared in 1984, tell us that:
“In our spare time we made what we thought were ‘rock & roll’ records. In this example, Vliet was ‘singing’ in the hallway outside the studio (our vocal booth) while the band played in the other room. The lyrics were derived from a comic book pinned to the bulletin board near the door.”
That comic book was called “Metal Men”, inside it was an ad for a comic called “Hawkman” and as it turns out Frank Zappa later became friends with its author, Jack Kirby. Electro-flyer!
Meanwhile, here’s what Ahmet Zappa is up to these days: producing a feature-length Fraggle Rock movie.
Zappa — a musician and TV personality who will serve as the project’s executive producer — is developing a treatment in which puppet stars Gobo, Wembley, Mokey, Boober and Red will travel from beneath the Rock and venture into the human world for the first time.
While we’re on the topic of Phlorescent Leeches: Mark Volman has recently launched a new website called Ask Professor Flo that is “proving to be a valuable tool for struggling and misguided musicians everywhere”.
“For every successful story, there are many more reflecting the outcomes of battered lives left to fade away in the wake of misguided musical choices and decisions… Many, I should say most artists, have no idea of a long-range plan for survival, and the idea of having a plan for a career is so far away from their reality that most will find themselves signing one bad deal after another…over and over again. It is my goal to teach musicians and entrepreneurs how not to be abused by the sharks in the industry,” says Volman.
I was lighting designer on the 2003 performance of Thing Fish – An Authorized Adaptation in London. From that production I am currently selling a unique piece of props, a glowing cross from the scene The Meek Shall Inherit … If you could post that on your site (or make it public) I would be very glad.
Well who could turn down such a politely worded request… here be the eBay link.
The Idiot Bastard got to interview Scott Thunes recently:
IB: What can you tell me about the session with Lisa Popeil?
ST: You mean the original meeting? Or the week she was a full-fledged member of the ensemble before Frank had to fire her because it was painfully obvious that she was unable to deal with the real-music elements (ie. non-classical) of a rock-band’s particulars? Or the time we were in the bathroom together, making out? I don’t recall much about that particular time, so I was glad she mentioned it in song. I fondly recall her soft smooth skin, and her bounteous breasts and her obvious sexual passion, but I’m a gentleman and she’s a lady and we don’t talk about such things.
Hasn’t changed a bit, that Scott. :)