Dweezil's registered birth name was Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa, although this occurred only because the hospital at which he was born refused to register him under the name Dweezil. The name was a nickname coined by Frank for an oddly-curled pinky-toe of Gail's. His father instead used the first names of his bandmates to form a name. He was always called "Dweezil" by his family and was unaware that this was not the name on his birth certificate. Upon this discovery at the age of five, he insisted on having his nickname become his legal name. Gail and Frank hired an attorney and soon the name Dweezil was official.
In the 1980s, Dweezil worked as a MTV VJ. He also recorded some solo rock albums, as well as playing guitar for other artists. Dweezil can be seen in the music video for Don Johnson's top 40 song, "Heartbeat." Dweezil has said that Eddie Van Halen was his favorite guitar player, and he began copying Van Halen's distinctive guitar style. He also had a part in the futuristic Arnold Schwarzenegger movie The Running Man as Stevie ("Don't touch that dial!"), and gave his most famous cameo role in Molly Ringwald's brat-pack movie Pretty in Pink as Andi's friend, Simon.
In the mid 1990s, he voiced the character Ajax Duckman on the animated series Duckman. He also briefly appeared in the television sitcom "Normal Life" with sister Moon Unit Zappa and former Laverne and Shirley star Cindy Williams. And he also had a small role in the Michael Keaton movie Jack Frost in 1998, along with his sister Moon Unit Zappa and fellow musician Henry Rollins.
Dweezil's first serious relationship of note was with Katie Wagner, daughter of actor Robert Wagner, star of the Hart to Hart tv show. Dweezil later went on to have a brief relationship with actress Sharon Stone. For six years, Dweezil dated musician Lisa Loeb. Dweezil and Lisa wrote and performed music together, and even went on tour with Loeb's band. The couple co-hosted the cooking show Dweezil & Lisa on Food Network in 2004. However, the couple broke up in the summer of 2004. Dweezil married fashion stylist Lauren Knudsen on September 3, 2005 in Los Angeles.
In 2006, Dweezil organized the "Zappa Plays Zappa" tour. He assembled a band of young musicians with a view to bring the music of Frank Zappa to a younger audience. The tour also features guest appearances by Steve Vai, Napoleon Murphy Brock and Terry Bozzio. The tour began in Europe in May with dates in the U.S. from June. After a break it continued in the U.S. on October 18, 2006.
In 2003, on "Weird Al" Yankovic's album, Poodle Hat, Yankovic featured Dweezil Zappa on the song "Genius in France.
Let's Talk About It
Dweezil Zappa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You won't believe it but it's true
We're still making weapons
To protect us from you-know-who
If we really need them to keep the peace
Then they do too one guy throws the swtich
We all die, nothing we can do
Let's talk about, let's talk about it
Scream and shout what
Everybody's talking 'bout
Let's talk about, let's talk about it
Capitalism, communism, freedom
They're all words do we know what they mean?
Its just depends how we use them
If there is a right way
It remains to be seen
More and now we abuse them
We better stop so our conscience is clean
There's more than just one reason
No one's perfect if you know what I mean
Talking 'bout what everybody's talking 'bout
I wanna talk about, we gotta talk about it
Talking 'bout what everybody's talking 'bout
I wanna talk about, let's talk about it
Talking 'bout what everybody's talking 'bout
I wanna talk about, we gotta talk about it
Talking 'bout what everybody's talking 'bout
I wanna talk about it, let's talk about
Why don't we come to terms with the facts
There's a method behind all this madness
We must be blind not to realize
We're all victims of chance now
Talking 'bout what everybody's talking 'bout
I wanna talk about, we gotta talk about it
Talking 'bout what everybody's talking 'bout
I wanna talk about, we gotta talk about it
Talking 'bout what everybody's talking 'bout
I wanna talk about, we gotta talk about it
Talking 'bout what everybody's talking 'bout
I wanna talk about, we gotta talk about it
Talking 'bout what everybody's talking 'bout
I wanna talk about, we gotta talk about it
Talking 'bout what everybody's talking 'bout
I wanna talk about, let's talk about it
The lyrics to Dweezil Zappa's song "Let's Talk About It" address various pressing issues and invite listeners to engage in meaningful conversations about them. The opening lines hint at a sense of disbelief and urgency, as the singer informs us that despite advancements in society, we are still manufacturing weapons out of fear for an unknown enemy. The lyrics suggest that the potential consequences of relying on such weapons are dire – emphasizing the shared vulnerability of humanity in the face of annihilation at the hands of a single decision-maker.
The chorus underscores the necessity of discussing these complex topics that society often shies away from. By urging listeners to "talk about it" and "scream and shout," Zappa emphasizes the importance of openly addressing key themes like capitalism, communism, and freedom. The lyrics highlight the ambiguity in the meanings of these words and the critical role our actions play in interpreting and shaping them. Zappa suggests that it is up to us to navigate the nuances of these concepts and to wield them responsibly to preserve our collective morality.
As the song progresses, Zappa delves deeper into the need for introspection and self-awareness in our interactions with these ideologies. The lyrics caution against mindless exploitation and abuse of these societal systems, urging listeners to act with conscience and consideration. Zappa acknowledges the complexity of humanity, noting that perfection is unattainable and implying that our shared imperfections necessitate ongoing dialogue and introspection about the societal structures that govern us.
In the final verses, the lyrics urge a reckoning with the reality that our world is shaped by calculated decisions and chance occurrences. Zappa challenges listeners to confront the interconnectedness of all humanity, emphasizing that we are all affected by the consequences of these decisions. By repeating the call to "talk about it," the song encourages dialogue, reflection, and action as essential steps toward understanding and possibly addressing the challenges that confront us. Ultimately, "Let's Talk About It" serves as a poignant reminder of the power of communication and collective engagement in navigating the complexities of our modern world.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you heard the news today?
Have you been informed about the latest events?
You won't believe it but it's true
Although surprising, it is indeed accurate
We're still making weapons
The production of weapons is ongoing
To protect us from you-know-who
Intended for defense against unspecified threats
If we really need them to keep the peace
In case weapons are necessary for maintaining peace
Then they do too one guy throws the switch
A single person has the power to cause destruction
We all die, nothing we can do
If triggered, the outcome is inevitable
Talking 'bout what everybody's talking 'bout
Discussing common topics of conversation
Let's talk about, let's talk about it
Encouraging dialogue on important issues
Scream and shout what
Expressing intense emotions
Everyone's talking 'bout
Many are discussing
Let's talk about, let's talk about it
Urge to engage in meaningful discussions
Why don't we come to terms with the facts
Acknowledging reality and facing it head-on
There's a method behind all this madness
There is an underlying strategy to chaos
We must be blind not to realize
It should be evident to all
We're all victims of chance now
Subject to unpredictable circumstances
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MIKE GROSS ROCKINGUITARLESSONS1
DWEEZIL IS INSANELY TALENTED...end of story
M T
Might be genetic.
D Clipper
Look who's talking!
Billy Ed Satiristry
Yes, he's talented, but he also worked is ass off practicing and developing his style. He definitely earned his own way.
Ale13xander S
That’s how it works man. Don’t you think Eddie Van Halen practiced a lot? The stories go that Alex Van Halen would go out to parties, and ed would stay behind to play guitar—when Alex would come back home hours later, Ed would still be playing.
Claudio Llanes
My personal favorite guitar solo, the short slides, tappin, picking Amazing!
Blissful Ignorance
Still one of my favorite guitar solos. I think Dweezil was only 15 when he recorded this song.
Jeffrey Jackson
Love that green Charvel.
Jen Malloy
@Records Geek Dweezil was born 9/5/69
Records Geek
He's a year younger than me - so he would have been about 17 in 1986. Moon Unit was born in '67 so she would have been about 19.