Gimme Gimme

Posted on Tuesday, 01/24/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

I am going to do the unthinkable on this weblog and admit that I am an Abba fan. Isn’t it about time you got out of the closet as well?

Posted in Music, Pop Cult | 9 Comments

Chinese Admiral Discovering America?

Posted on Saturday, 01/21/06 by Balint

Well, who knows?…

A map due to be unveiled in Beijing and London next week may lend weight to a theory a Chinese admiral discovered America before Christopher Columbus.

Posted in Amusing, Science | 9 Comments

Potatoes On Broadway

Posted on Friday, 01/20/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

In May 2003 we reported about an upcoming live onstage adaptation of Thing-Fish. Today, my inbox tells me a book is being written about the production:

Rumours have it that the author of the book has completed the first bunch of chapters describing the events leading up to the first production in Liverpool 2001. Expect insights into castings, copyright procedures, mask-making and the secret potatoe-mash baking instructions, hitherto only known to very evil princes.

Stay tuned as your humble narrator *might* just possibly be involved in the making…

Posted in Books, Frank Zappa, Zappa Misc | 1 Comment

Hempstead ’73

Posted on Friday, 01/20/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

With the sad news of soul giant Wilson Pickett’s demise, here is Hempstead NY, Nov 6 1973 — from an era which arguably saw Zappa’s most soulful line-up…

Posted in Frank Zappa, Friday Boots, In The News | 10 Comments

Wolfgang’s Vault

Posted on Wednesday, 01/18/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Very cool: a bunch of Zappa/Mothers posters and handbills for viewing and purchasing (IF you have the money!). Some postcards and original “fine art prints” there as well. (Thanks Danny!)

Posted in Frank Zappa, Zappa Imagery | 6 Comments

The Groupies

Posted on Wednesday, 01/18/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

For those with an appetite for bizarre recordings, here’s mp3s of the entirety of “the astounding, disquieting” 60s record ‘The Groupies,’ a collection of actual interviews with Manhattan groupies discussing their depraved post-gig activities.

It’s not quite what you would expect — sometimes the girl’s experience slips into tragedy, as when one of them describes a beating at the hands of a lover. But for those looking for a peek into the wild nights of the Age of Aquarius, this is it, raw and uncensored.

Posted in Music, Pop Cult | 1 Comment

Music Biz Lament

Posted on Wednesday, 01/18/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Rolling Stone reports on a very bad year for the music industry. Overall, consumers bought 48 million fewer albums than in 2004, marking a disastrous twenty-one percent slide from the industry’s peak in 2000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. “It was arguably the worst year in the music business’s history,” says Steve Bartels, Island Records president. (Gee, I wonder why…)

Posted in In The News, Music | 4 Comments

2 Out Of 5 Stars

Posted on Wednesday, 01/18/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Another review of Joe’s XMaSage:

Overall, while I enjoy the musical moments of this CD, there is simply too little music, and too much talk. In fact, there’s only about 20 mintues of music on this sucker. Come on ZFT, you can do better.

Yup, that pretty much seems to be the consensus. Meanwhile I’m reading the first reports here and there of people that have received Imaginary Diseases, although this release appears to be unavailable currrently.

Posted in Frank Zappa, Zappa Audio/Video | 5 Comments

Count Zappa

Posted on Tuesday, 01/17/06 by Balint

A painting by an Anonimous Actor from the eighties (maybe). Buy it!

Posted in Bizarre, Frank Zappa, Silly, Zappa Imagery | 3 Comments

Ponty Talks

Posted on Tuesday, 01/17/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Interview with Jean-Luc Ponty in which he talks, among other things, about Frank Zappa:

Some of his pieces were a total musical patchwork; a few measures of basic rock suddenly moving into jazz then into a Stravinsky like written section. He was a true pioneer of fusion but I preferred his pieces that were in one style from start to finish, some were very inventive, intricate yet melodic.

Posted in Frank Zappa, Music, Zappa Misc | 2 Comments

Impeaches En Regalia

Posted on Tuesday, 01/17/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

The Impeachment Project: “If you feel George W. Bush should be impeached, paint a sign that says ‘Impeach.’ and post it in a public place.” Read the blog for more guerilla marketing. Related: Al Gore’s speech in Washington yesterday and this dead-on article from The Nation.

Could it be?

Posted in In The News, Politics | 5 Comments

RIP Alex St Clair

Posted on Saturday, 01/14/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Some rather sad news for Cpt. Beefheart fans: Alex St Clair passed away last January 5th. St Clair – real name Alex Snouffer – was one of the original guitarists with the group and helped shape their sound from their inception in 1964 via their deranged cover of Bo Diddley’s “Diddy Wah Diddy” single released in 1966 and on to the groundbreaking Safe As Milk.

Posted in In The News, Music | 5 Comments

I Got It From The Toilet Seat

Posted on Saturday, 01/14/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Dear KUR,
I ran across this video on Google video. Some kids making a video about “Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?”. It’s a noble effort.

It certainly is. Thanks Scott!

Posted in Amusing, Frank Zappa, Zappa Audio/Video | 3 Comments

Vienna Wighalle ’74 (2)

Posted on Friday, 01/13/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

Last week we offered the early show, now it’s time for Vienna Wighalle ’74, Late Show. Oh and could someone ask the janitor to have a look at the central heating? It’s friggin’ cold in here!

Posted in Frank Zappa, Friday Boots | 4 Comments

Pride & Prejudice

Posted on Thursday, 01/12/06 by Barry's Imaginary Publisher

What people in the world are known for, according to Google. Typical: poor old Argentina doesn’t get a mention since its place on the map is overlapped with a little square needed to describe Brazil! Belgium, quite fittingly, simply disappears underneath the G of Germany.

Posted in Randamonium, Science | 3 Comments