Crush All Boxes

Posted on Monday, 06/11/07 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

While I mull over the rather baffling results of yesterday’s Belgian elections, may I direct you toward Crush All Boxes: a Zappa-centric blog well worth keeping an eye on.

Posted in Frank Zappa, In The News | 5 Comments

Turn It Up To 11!

Posted on Saturday, 06/09/07 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Music recordings these days are becoming entirely TOO LOUD. Peter Mew, senior mastering engineer at Abbey Road studios:

“Record companies are competing in an arms race to make their album sound the ‘loudest’. The quieter parts are becoming louder and the loudest parts are just becoming a buzz.” Mr Mew, who joined Abbey Road in 1965 and mastered David Bowie’s classic 1970s albums, warned that modern albums now induced nausea.

Via Esoteric Trivia

Posted in In The News, Music | 13 Comments

The Inauguration Of Frank-Zappa-Strasse

Posted on Friday, 06/08/07 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

For those of you who are a bit bummed out by the fact that Napoleon Murphy Brock won’t be playing any of the ZPZ shows, here’s some good news (if you can make it to Berlin). From a press release I received:

Frank Zappa band alumnus Napoleon Murphy Brock will perform at the dedication of Frank-Zappa-Strasse in Berlin on July 28, appearing with German Zappa tribute band Sheik Yerbouti. They will join 17 other musical acts paying tribute to the rock and roll legend. The dedication ceremony will take place at the ORWOhaus, a former photographic film plant that is now home to a musicians’ collective. It will be the first street in Germany named for a rock musician, and the first street in a world capital named for Frank Zappa.

Nappy will also appear at this year’s Zappanale:

Thomas Dippel, president of Arf-Society, said, “Napoleon Murphy Brock joining us is just one more reason why the Zappanale will be the world’s premiere Zappa experience this summer. Fans will be able to see four Zappa alumni who have their own musical ventures and also choose to honor Frank’s legacy with their presence.” This year’s festival headliner is renowned former Zappa drummer Chad Wackerman. Former Mother of Invention Don Preston will appear with his Akashic Ensemble, and long-time Zappa front-man Ike Willis will perform with his protégés Project/Object.

Posted in Frank Zappa, Zappa Misc | 9 Comments

UCLA ’70

Posted on Friday, 06/08/07 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Here’s a nice little Friday treat for you: Pauley Pavilion, UCLA, 15 May 1970 — Zubin, hit it!

Posted in Frank Zappa, Friday Boots | 6 Comments

It Was 36 Years Ago Today

Posted on Wednesday, 06/06/07 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

… John Lennon and Yoko Ono joined Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention on stage at the Fillmore East where they performed three songs – “Well (Baby Please Don’t Go)”, “Scumbag”, and “Au”. Yoko arranged for the event to be filmed and audio of the songs were later released on John Lennon’s album, “Some Time in New York City“. Just in case the Sgt. Pepper album’s 40th anniversary hype has been getting on your nerves, here’s a clip of the rather infamous “Scumbag“. More, as ever, on YouTube.

Posted in Frank Zappa, In The News, Pop Cult | 13 Comments

Gingerism

Posted on Wednesday, 06/06/07 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Redheads, and how they suffer. Photographer Charlotte Rushton has been chronicling the UK’s redheads for a book, Ginger Snaps. Of the 300 she snapped, only two have been spared bullying because of their hair:

“I was on the Tube, pregnant, and I was really humiliated by this drunk yob. He was shouting ‘do the cuffs and the collars match?’ He got right up into my face. You don’t do that to other people.” She believes the phenomenon is long-standing and uniquely British in its most virulent form.

Posted in In The News | 13 Comments

A Whole Lotta Smoke (On The Water)

Posted on Wednesday, 06/06/07 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

On June 3rd 2007, in Kansas City, Ks, 1,683 people played “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple at the Community American Ballpark for the Guiness World Record:

More here. Thanks Rick!

Posted in Music, Pop Cult | 7 Comments

The Voice Of Cheese: Murray Walters

Posted on Tuesday, 06/05/07 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

VOC #19! We’ve had loads of wonderful submissions so far — I honestly can’t say I’ve disliked any single one of them. It just goes to show that KUR readers are smart, creative people! What sets this entry apart though is the guitar/vocal-only approach. The track is called “Dragon Smile”, and I for one happen to like it a lot.

Murray says:

Goddam having a surname like Walters! I have been going through a tough period musically and your timely words were a good kick in the arse. The tune goes out to describe the restrictions and ‘prisons’ we create for ourselves through excessive behaviour or imbibance in certain… substances! I have always seen the smile of a dragon as one of full of wisdom and malice, where the dragon sits and waits for the certain mistake to come so that punishment can be dealt out.

Have a listen:

[audio:019_Dragon_Smile_Murray_Walters.mp3]

Like it? Download it!

Posted in Music, The Voice Of Cheese | 3 Comments

Elektronikus Don Quijote

Posted on Saturday, 06/02/07 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

hu-electric-don-quixote.jpg

Major kudos to Our Man In The East, Balint, for having contributed to the Hungarian translation of Neil Slaven’s Electric Don Quixote — on sale now!

Posted in Frank Zappa, Zappa Articles | 3 Comments

Idiot Bastard Son Redux

Posted on Saturday, 06/02/07 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

The Idiot Bastard, in conjunction with Cordelia Records, is concocting a pretty cool project:

(…) to produce a CD of 20 different versions of Frank Zappa’s The Idiot Bastard Son to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the release of the album it first appeared on (We’re Only In It For The Money) next January – which also happens to be when The Idiot’s 50th birthday is!

Which reminds me: would you guys be interested in a double/triple/quadruple release of The Voice Of Cheese? Fancy artwork and superior mixing included?

Posted in Frank Zappa, Music, Zappa Misc | 13 Comments

Hollywood ’72

Posted on Friday, 06/01/07 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

This Friday’s Boot is a cool show from the Grand Wazoo era: Hollywood Bowl, 10 September 1972. Not complete from the looks of it, but enjoy anyway…

Posted in Frank Zappa, Friday Boots | 10 Comments

My Generation

Posted on Tuesday, 05/29/07 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

The Zimmers on MySpace. Fabulous. Thanks Duncan!

Posted in Amusing, Music, Pop Cult | 5 Comments

The Voice Of Cheese: Hermann Schindler

Posted on Tuesday, 05/29/07 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

VOC #18 has wiki-contributor Hermann Schindler (aka Propellerkuh) whipping it out. The track is called “You-Nique!”. Hermann says:

It’s a piece about stupidness of radio-listeners and Austrian radio-programmers, who always play music of Brian Adams, Bonny Tyler, D.J.Bobo, Cher, Celine Dion, Spice Girls, Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker, George Michael, Arrowsmith, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John, or other up-to-the minute-actualized white-list-item over and over again while they themselves and the local public is too dumb to check when they are beeping out “dick” or “fuck” when once in a year they play “Bobby Brown” but not understanding when Lou Reed sings “… she never lost her head even when she was giving head”. They probably misunderstand that for some kind of special tender stroking like one would treat his dog or cat…
Just another proof of cultural and social retardedness.

Have a listen:

[audio:018_You-Nique_Hermann_Schindler.mp3]

Like it? Download it!

Posted in Music, The Voice Of Cheese | 8 Comments

ZPZ DVD Trailer!

Posted on Monday, 05/28/07 by Balint

So: on the slightly renewed ZPZ page here’s the trailer – and also a few words for The Still Hoping European Audiences:

I have already made my own inquiries into the possibilities of increasing the number of European dates. If it can be done it will done.

Posted in Zappa Plays Zappa | 9 Comments

Dweez On ZPZ

Posted on Friday, 05/25/07 by Balint

Dweezil’s new post on the ZPZ Tour lineup:

I’ve noticed that there seems to be a bit of confusion surrounding the lineup of this year’s tour. I would love to clarify things for all of you.

…and he continues:

I am extremely excited to be able to present some new songs to you this year aided by the talents of our special guest vocalist Ray White. (…) Later in the year we may even have an international reunion with Steve Vai and Terry Bozzio but that has yet to be confirmed. I’ll keep you posted on the status of that as well as any other additions to our lineup.

Posted in Zappa Plays Zappa | 5 Comments