Frank Vincent Zappa (born December 21, 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland, United … Read Full Bio ↴Frank Vincent Zappa (born December 21, 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland, United States – December 4, 1993 in Los Angeles, California, United States) was an American composer, guitarist, singer, bandleader and producer. He was one of the most prolific musicians of his time, releasing over fifty albums of original material spanning over a thirty-five year career.
Zappa's earliest influences were 1950s pop and rock (such as doo-wop and rhythm and blues), and 20th-century classical composers including Igor Stravinsky and Edgard Varèse. His output was divided between adventurous instrumental compositions and succinct, catchy rock songs with ribald, satirical, or comically absurd lyrics. On stage he demanded virtuosity and spontaneity from his musicians, and employed many performers who would later go on to achieve fame in their own rights. He directed and released a number of films featuring himself, his musicians and entourage, including 200 Motels and Baby Snakes.
His career started in 1955. His earliest recordings date from the mid-1960s, and include collaborations with his school friend Captain Beefheart. In 1965 he joined a bar-band called The Soul Giants, quickly dominating its musical direction and rechristening it The Mothers. Their first release (as The Mothers of Invention; the name alteration requested by their record company) was the 1966 double album Freak Out!. The line-up of the Mothers gradually expanded to accommodate Zappa's increasingly ambitious and avant-garde music, but by 1969 he decided to work outside the band structure, focusing on his solo career, and effectively disbanding the Mothers in 1971.
The beginnings of his solo career in the late sixties and early seventies was characterised by a strong free jazz influence, with albums containing little, if any, lyrical content, such as Hot Rats, Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo. Towards the mid-seventies his albums became more rock-orientated, with a combination of Jazz Fusion instrumentation and Rock song structures. This more accessible sound bore reasonable mainstream appeal, especially with the release of the well-advertised albums Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe (') (which both went Gold), but Zappa's unpredictably eclectic output never led to solid mainstream recognition. He received uniformly lukewarm reviews from popular music publications such as Rolling Stone throughout his career. In his late seventies' output, the gulf between his humorous songs and more lengthy, complex instrumental music widened, and albums, such as Zappa in New York, Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III, and Sleep Dirt displayed, by track, both sides firmly segregated.
Zappa saw a second run of success in the early eighties with the release of many albums with predominantly comedic rock songs, but later continued to experiment with virtually every style of music through the eighties, and was productive as ever until his death. His output in this later-career period included two albums of strikingly original classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra, an electronic take on 18th-century chamber music (written by the obscure Italian composer 'Francesco Zappa', no relation), an album of Synclavier compositions (misleadingly titled Jazz From Hell which garnered a Grammy award), a double-CD release of electric guitar instrumental music (the laconically titled Guitar) and a plenitude of official live releases, revisiting fan-favourites as well as showcasing Zappa's talent for reinventing the music of others; his version of Stairway to Heaven becoming a word-of-mouth favourite.
Zappa produced almost all of his own albums, spending many hours in the studio recording and manipulating tracks, and was always at the forefront of emerging technologies; from tape editing, collage, multitrack and overdubbing in the sixties to digital recording, electronic instruments and sampling in the eighties. Conversely, Zappa was also a obsessive self-archivist, recording virtually every one of his live performances, and often using live recordings of new material without needing to enter the studio. The archive of tapes at his family home in Los Angeles continues to be a source of posthumous releases for the Zappa Family Trust. He was also noted as a spotter of talent and his shifting line-up of musicians included Lowell George, Jean-Luc Ponty, Terry Bozzio, Chad Wackerman, George Duke, Mike Keneally, Adrian Belew and Steve Vai, as well as giving Alice Cooper his first break in music and working again with his old collaborator Captain Beefheart when his career was in decline.
In the late 1980s he became active in politics, campaigning against the PMRC's music censorship scheme and acting as culture and trade representative for Czechoslovakia in 1989; and considered running as an independent candidate for president of the US.
His death in Los Angeles, California, on 4th December 1993 came three years after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Zappa's earliest influences were 1950s pop and rock (such as doo-wop and rhythm and blues), and 20th-century classical composers including Igor Stravinsky and Edgard Varèse. His output was divided between adventurous instrumental compositions and succinct, catchy rock songs with ribald, satirical, or comically absurd lyrics. On stage he demanded virtuosity and spontaneity from his musicians, and employed many performers who would later go on to achieve fame in their own rights. He directed and released a number of films featuring himself, his musicians and entourage, including 200 Motels and Baby Snakes.
His career started in 1955. His earliest recordings date from the mid-1960s, and include collaborations with his school friend Captain Beefheart. In 1965 he joined a bar-band called The Soul Giants, quickly dominating its musical direction and rechristening it The Mothers. Their first release (as The Mothers of Invention; the name alteration requested by their record company) was the 1966 double album Freak Out!. The line-up of the Mothers gradually expanded to accommodate Zappa's increasingly ambitious and avant-garde music, but by 1969 he decided to work outside the band structure, focusing on his solo career, and effectively disbanding the Mothers in 1971.
The beginnings of his solo career in the late sixties and early seventies was characterised by a strong free jazz influence, with albums containing little, if any, lyrical content, such as Hot Rats, Waka/Jawaka and The Grand Wazoo. Towards the mid-seventies his albums became more rock-orientated, with a combination of Jazz Fusion instrumentation and Rock song structures. This more accessible sound bore reasonable mainstream appeal, especially with the release of the well-advertised albums Over-Nite Sensation and Apostrophe (') (which both went Gold), but Zappa's unpredictably eclectic output never led to solid mainstream recognition. He received uniformly lukewarm reviews from popular music publications such as Rolling Stone throughout his career. In his late seventies' output, the gulf between his humorous songs and more lengthy, complex instrumental music widened, and albums, such as Zappa in New York, Joe's Garage: Acts I, II & III, and Sleep Dirt displayed, by track, both sides firmly segregated.
Zappa saw a second run of success in the early eighties with the release of many albums with predominantly comedic rock songs, but later continued to experiment with virtually every style of music through the eighties, and was productive as ever until his death. His output in this later-career period included two albums of strikingly original classical music with the London Symphony Orchestra, an electronic take on 18th-century chamber music (written by the obscure Italian composer 'Francesco Zappa', no relation), an album of Synclavier compositions (misleadingly titled Jazz From Hell which garnered a Grammy award), a double-CD release of electric guitar instrumental music (the laconically titled Guitar) and a plenitude of official live releases, revisiting fan-favourites as well as showcasing Zappa's talent for reinventing the music of others; his version of Stairway to Heaven becoming a word-of-mouth favourite.
Zappa produced almost all of his own albums, spending many hours in the studio recording and manipulating tracks, and was always at the forefront of emerging technologies; from tape editing, collage, multitrack and overdubbing in the sixties to digital recording, electronic instruments and sampling in the eighties. Conversely, Zappa was also a obsessive self-archivist, recording virtually every one of his live performances, and often using live recordings of new material without needing to enter the studio. The archive of tapes at his family home in Los Angeles continues to be a source of posthumous releases for the Zappa Family Trust. He was also noted as a spotter of talent and his shifting line-up of musicians included Lowell George, Jean-Luc Ponty, Terry Bozzio, Chad Wackerman, George Duke, Mike Keneally, Adrian Belew and Steve Vai, as well as giving Alice Cooper his first break in music and working again with his old collaborator Captain Beefheart when his career was in decline.
In the late 1980s he became active in politics, campaigning against the PMRC's music censorship scheme and acting as culture and trade representative for Czechoslovakia in 1989; and considered running as an independent candidate for president of the US.
His death in Los Angeles, California, on 4th December 1993 came three years after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
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Mystery Box
Frank Zappa Lyrics
Agency Man Sell us a president, agency man Smiling Big Brother, stern …
Approximate Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Napoleon murphy brock (sax…
Babette Don't tell me no, Babbette (I mean Duke) Don't you tear my…
Bacon Fat While I was down in W.D.C. Certain folks were not glad…
Bamboozled By Love Frank Zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike Willis (rhythm guitar,…
Black Napkins Terry bozzio (drums, background vocals) Davey moire (vocals)…
Bwana Dik Frank Zappa (guitar, dialog) Mark Volman (lead vocals, dial…
Chunga's Revenge Frank Zappa (guitar) Ian Underwood (electric alto with wah-w…
Cosmik Debris The mystery man came over And he said I'm outta sight He…
Daddy Daddy Daddy Ooo-ooo, do you like my new car? Ooo-ooo, do you like…
Dancin' Fool Don't know much about dancin' That's why I got this song One…
Do You Like My New Car? Frank Zappa (guitar, dialog) Mark Volman (lead vocals, dial…
Dog Breath Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-yah! Ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-ya-yah! Ya-ya-ya-ya-…
Don't Eat the Yellow Snow Dreamed I was an Eskimo Frozen wind began to blow Under my…
Doreen Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ray white (guitar, vocals)…
Drafted Again Registered mail...special delivery OH NO You're gonna hafta …
Easy Meat Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike willis (rhythm guitar,…
Father O'Blivion (Get up on your feet and do the Funky Alfonzo)…
Fine Girl Frank Zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike Willis (rhythm guitar,…
Flambay He used to be very kind in his own crude…
Florentine Pogen Frank Zappa (guitar, vocals) George Duke (keyboards, synthe…
Frogs With Dirty Little Lips Frank zappa (lead vocals) Ray white (background vocals) Bobb…
Harder Than Your Husband Frank Zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike Willis (rhythm guitar,…
Hungry Freaks, Daddy Ray Collins (lead vocals, harmonica, tambourine, finger cymb…
I'm the Slime I am gross and perverted I'm obsessed 'n deranged I…
Inca Roads Did a vehicle Come from somewhere out there Just to land in…
King Kong Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Mark volman (vocals) Howar…
Latex Solar Beef Frank Zappa (guitar, dialog) Mark Volman (lead vocals, dial…
Magic Fingers. Oh, the way you love me, lady, I get so hard…
Montana I might be movin' to Montana soon Just to raise me…
Mr. Green Genes Eat your greens Don't forget your beans & celery Don't forge…
Nanook Rubs It Well, right about that time people A fur-trapper who was str…
Peaches En Regalia Jean-Luc Ponty - Violin, Keyboards Paul Humphrey - Violin, D…
Penguin in Bondage Frank Zappa (lead guitar, vocals) George Duke (keyboards, sy…
Penis Dimension Penis dimension Penis dimension Penis dimension is worrying …
Pick Me, I'm Clean Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike willis (rhythm guitar,…
Return of the Son of Monster Magnet Suzy? Yes Suzy Creamcheese? Yes This is the voice of you…
Saint Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfast Yes indeed, here we are! At Saint Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfas…
Ship Ahoy [includes part of the leather conversation] [Guitar solo fr…
Smell My Beard Frank Zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Napoleon Murphy Brock (sa…
Son Of Saint Alfonzo Yes indeed, here we are! At Saint Alfonzo's Pancake Breakfas…
Spider Of Destiny Listen carefully, spider of destiny You must heed the call …
Stinkfoot In the dark Where all the fevers grow Under the water Where …
Suicide Chump Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike willis (rhythm guitar,…
T'Mershi Duween Wow!…
Teen‐Age Wind Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Ike willis (rhythm guitar,…
The Booger Man Frank Zappa (lead guitar, vocals) Napoleon Murphy Brock (sa…
The Duke That is the sound of a Very short cymbal it's a Finger…
The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing Frank zappa (guitar, synclavier) Steve vai (guitar) Ray whit…
The Purple Lagoon Hello Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen Welcome to o…
Them Or Us Frank zappa (guitar) Scott thunes (bass, mini-moog) Chad wac…
Time Is Money Time is money But space is a long, long time! Perhaps you…
Truck‐Driver Divorce Frank zappa (vocals, guitar) Steve vai (rhythm guitar) Ray w…
We're Turning Again Frank zappa (guitar, synclavier) Steve vai (guitar) Johnny "…
What Kind Of Girl Do You Think We Are? Howard: What's a girl like you Doin' in a place like this?…
What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning? What will this evening Bring me this morning? What will th…
What Will This Morning Bring Me This Evening? What will this evening Bring me this morning? What will this…