Frank Zappa

There used to be an old streetcar that was converted into a record store in downtown Toronto. My brother met Zappa and his band there while they hung out signing Zoot Allures. He's still got it.

The people behind Zappanale Festival, the German-based Frank Zappa dedicated music festival, are being sued by Frank Zappa's widow. Gail Zappa believes that using her late husband's name has a price tag, a £200,000 price tag. She also has some other demands. Ms. Zappa wants to pick the acts performing and wants a new logo that doesn't carry Zappa's trademark stache on it. (The stache and goatee logo in question) But the Zappanale promoters are not backing down so ea... MORE

Nipple ring search procedures faulty, TSA admits

The Transportation Security Administration said Friday its officers at a Texas airport appear to have properly followed procedures when they allegedly forced a woman to remove her nipple rings -- one with pliers -- but acknowledged the procedures should be changed.
Mandi Hamlin, at center with attorney Gloria Allred, demonstrates how she removed her nipple ring.
The woman involved -- Mandi Hamlin -- told reporters earlier Frida

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We got several inches of the wet white stuff yesterday but it was nothing compared to the Montana pictures I was looking at this morning. Maybe if you could play the song and watch the vid with the sound turned down it would give a Floyd in Oz sort of experience, maybe not. This is for all of you that might be snowblind this morning.

So i was looking at the ID3 tags someone put on a couple of mp3s of stuff by Frank Zappa, and whoever it was had marked the genre as "Alternative". I'm trying to imagine the reaction of the man who once described himself as "a composer who operates a guitar" at being put into the same category as REM... Hysterical laughter followed by a truly crushing put-down of the way that useful tags so quickly become nothing but tools for the hyopesters, likely. If you have a co... MORE

and, after you digest that one, try this:

British author Terry Pratchett, in one of his hilarious (and often thought-provoking) "Discworld" fantasy novels (Soul Music, in which the Discworld goes through the entire history of rock and roll in about three weeks) has a sequence with a guitar maker telling the troll that works in his shop

"...and if one more wanker tries to play Pathway to Paradise, rip their head off."
"Shouldn't I give 'em a warning first?"
"That'll be

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OK guys and girls, this a masterpiece of an album, one that really could exemplify the classic rock period of Zappa´s gigantic oeuvre. Between 1973 and 1975, Zappa released 4 amazing classic rock albums ( Over-nite Sensation, Apostrophe, Roxy & Elsewhere and my favorite of them all, One Size Fits All), Apostrophe was, for the very first time in his career, a commercial and critically acclaimed and successful album. The recording is pristine, full of details, genius arrange... MORE

www.oldschoolmusic.imeem.com Frank Zappa, Rock Musician / Guitarist / Composer

• Born: 21 December 1940
• Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland
• Died: 4 December 1993 (prostate cancer)
• Best Known As: Iconoclastic rocker who did "Dynamo Hum"

Guitarist Frank Zappa was also a production wizard whose early work with The Mothers of Invention displayed terrific musical knowledge and an outrageous sense of humor. His foul and funny lyrics were consciously crass, earning him cult stat... MORE

What a venerable instrument the Fender Rhodes electric piano has become. Since its introduction in 1966 the Rhodes has lent its distinctive sound to countless classic jazz, rock and pop recordings. Invented by Henry Rhodes in the 60s, the Fender Rhodes has been played by nearly every famous keyboards player since. Its rich, bottle-gentle and sometimes growling fierce sound has featured in recordings too numerous to mention, a unique range of tones that have graced many ... MORE

Called a bunch of old pals, plus my old Beauticide drummer Matt. He's a huge Zappa fan! Terry Bozzio is a huge influence on the dude! He studied a bit at Cal Arts in S. Ca. with Ed Man. He hated the school, and well thats all I say. He's pretty much privately taught like myself. But here's some Zap to ya' bro and to working with ya' again!

The Second Annual International Festival of Erotic Animation is occuring in Rio de Janeiro...

"Watermelon In Easter Hay" is one of Zappa's signature songs. It was played live once per year if I am not mistaken.(If I am let me know) Perhaps only on Halloween or another holiday type show. Anyway, its always stood out in his great catalog of music as a really beautiful song. This song was recorded for the final act of the 1979 rock opera "Joe's Garage." Zappa is the kind of artist you love or hate. Really no middle ground in my opinion. Some find his music offensive... MORE