There I said it. I've tried my whole life to ignore him, but he keeps rearing his poorly mustachioed and purposefully uncoiffed hippie head via periodic mentions of his "genius." I think his music was self-important, coarse and bludgeoning, un-funny, unlistenable noodlings for other self-important un-funny musicians. Nothing sends me over the edge more than his cheezy, sarcastic, radio-announcer singing voice as he recites scathing lyrics about coke heads and bureaucrats. Oooh, I'm simultaneously scandalized and educated. I hate to tell his fans, but kazoos and slide whistles were funny when Spike Jones was around. But they were already unfunny in the 60s, let alone the 70s. Frank Zappa was the Christopher Hitchens of the music industry -- and I don't mean that in a good way. Shrill, is the word I'm looking for. Don't get me wrong: I love rock. I even like some rock operas. I love jazz. I even like some free jazz. I love social criticism. And I like frank analysis of the world's ills. But he just falls way, way, way short. Sure, he was an accomplished musician, but that doesn't mean he makes great music. Sure he was bucking the system, but that doesn't mean he was a visionary. Sure lots of people adore him, but lots of people also voted for George W. Bush. At least he's funny. [/rant]
I don't hate him, but don't love him either. I have always thought that Zappa was one of those "you had to be there" people who, in 1969 when the Mothers first started, was truly radical and ground-breaking in a way that later generations take for granted. Beyond that, if you really hate him it's not that hard to avoid his music, is it? Has your favorite radio station in Oakland switched to an all-Zappa format? Will the 100,000-fan Zappafest take place right outside of your apartment? Are you dating Moon Unit? If the answer to all of those is no, you should have no problem avoiding him, either.
Not liking Zappa is ok. Personally, I can think of few twentieth century musicians of his quality. But, since you love rock...I challenge you to listen to Zappa's "Shut Up and Play Yer Guitar" and then name me one rock guitarist who was as good. Not trying to force him on you, just saying that if you throw out everything he's done because you don't care for his voice or his politicizing then you're going to miss out on some damn fine stuff.
There are a few of his albums that are actually quite good. I actually own about 3 or 4 of them. But I believe the vast majority of his work was total crap. Completely unlistenable.
"Hot Rats" "Apostrophe" and "Freak Out" are severly awesome, as are several other of his albums. I could handle the politics and all that, I just couldn't handle some of the stuff on "Joe's Garage" and a few others. I just got sick of listening to lyrics about robots having sex with people. Just seemed kind of immature.
Heh, funny you mention that. I hijacked that little bit from "Stick It Out" for the beginning of Fire games. The "dum du-dum dum dum FIRE!" part. One or two people have recognized it. Well, one that I remember. And, in my opinion, Zappa has too many fingers in too many pies for there to be NOTHING in his catalog that you might like. I'm partial to the more instrumental stuff (Regyption Strut, Sofa #1, Echidna's Arf, that sort of thing) than the vocal stuff, and I understand how you could not like the vocal stuff, but there are several babies you might throw out with that bathwater. That said, it's a really, really big bathtub, so it's understandable if you don't want to wade through it, to continue that metaphor to previously unimaginable lengths. Later, COZ
It's kind of cool to see that Frank is still able to piss people off all these years after his death. I'm pretty sure he'd be happy to read some of these comments. Being funny is one thing, disturbing and/or annoying clueless people for amusement is an altogether different talent...
Besides being one of the best most underrated lead guitarists of his time, Frank Zappa was the musician most likely not to give a fvck about what people thought about his music. He frequently went after music executives, fadism, stereotypes...etc. Hell, he even slammed his own fans. He truly played his music for his own self enjoyment. Having seen him three times in concert, I'd say he played it for mine too.
Dude~and I mean this in a supportive way.....Move on. Get over it. I'm glad you were able to get it off your chest, but I'd like to see you put that behind you, ok? As for the G.W. B. reference....Now THAT'S someone to fear/loathe/hate......I have a hard time warming up to blood thirsty war mongers. Thanks for letting me share.
You suck and I hate you. I've had to make do with Banned From Utopia, Project/Object and Mike Keneally & Beer For Dolphins. The 7-piece BFD had a definite Zappa-ness about it. Later, COZ
Frank played 3 nights in a row at the Warner Theatre in DC in '89*. I made the first and the last night. I saw him at Towson State for a three hour jam in 81. * Changed my life forever......
If the '81 show was with Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, then I really, really, REALLY hate you. Or was it Chad Wackerman already by that point? I wasn't hip to Zappa in '88, which would have realistically been my only chance to see him, at Fairleigh Dickenson in NJ. Later, COZ
Whoa, you're really making me stretch the 'ol memory banks. I think I had ingested some sort of mushroom type thingy or so But I'm pretty sure the series in '89 was with Terry Bozzio.
I've never gotten around to checking out Zappa, though for years reliable people have told me I need to. If anyone knows where I can hear some samples (without having to download any kind of player) I'd be glad to listen now.
I would suggest you go to your nearest Tower Records and pick up either "Apostrophe" or "Strictly Commercial" just to get an overview of his more mainsteam music. You can't go wrong......
I don't think there was a tour in '89, actually. The '88 tour was the one that self-destructed midway through, and cause FZ to swear he'd never embark on a tour again. I was talking about '81, which would have been around Joe's Garage, or You Are What You Is. Actually, I think Vinnie was gone sometime in 1980. I love talking about this in a thread called "I Hate Frank Zappa." I concur with Strictly Commercial and Apostrophe as starting points. Although if you want the broad, and slightly more expensive, perspective, I'd highly recommend the 3-CD set Läther. I don't know of online resources that have samples outside of the usual suspects (CDNow, etc.) Later, COZ
I would also recommend "Hot Rats" as a good starting point. It is largely instrumental and doesn't contain as much of the "Zappa weirdness" (except for "Willy the Pimp")