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.
Here Comes the Gear Lads
Frank Zappa Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dunbar
Hear comes the gear, lads
I'm telling you man
Sounds like a Beatle cartoon
Key down
Just keep your mouth shut, you Curly
Look at those cars! The race cars
Hey, wankers, there goes the gear
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, this is your passenger agent I'd like to weclome you to abord
United's flght 664 to
Spokane We're departing in just a few more minutes We'll just be a couple minutes delay due to loading some extra
Baggage
Could that be ours?
I'd like to remind you that the, the bags you've carried on, that they should be stored underneath the seat in front of you
Howard?
During the flight
Us, yes, Mark
Would you like some film?
I would
Hope you have a pleasant, and thank you for flying the United
Good night, all)
Ha ha!
Now, the trip
This is great!
The lyrics of Frank Zappa's song "Here Comes the Gear Lads" are an interesting mix of spoken-word commentary and ambient sounds. The song begins with the repetition of the phrase "here comes the gear, lads", which is then followed by various sounds including the revving of cars and the chatter of a crowd. There is also a reference to a "Beatles cartoon", which is possibly an allusion to the 1965 animated series "The Beatles". The singer then tells someone to "keep your mouth shut, Curly", which could be a reference to the Three Stooges.
As the song progresses, we hear snippets of dialogue between people on a United flight to Spokane, including a flight attendant reminding passengers to stow their bags and an offer of film to someone identified only as "Mark". These spoken-word sections are interspersed with ambient sounds such as engine noise and the clinking of glasses.
It's unclear what the overall message of "Here Comes the Gear Lads" is supposed to be, as there is no clear narrative arc or theme. However, the song does give the impression of being a kind of sonic collage, with Zappa using various spoken-word and ambient elements to create an impressionistic snapshot of a particular moment in time.
Line by Line Meaning
Here comes the gear, lads!
Excitement at the arrival of something new and interesting.
Dunbar
Possibly a reference to a location or person associated with the arrival.
Hear comes the gear, lads
Reiteration of the excitement felt towards the arrival of something new.
I'm telling you man
Asserting one's excitement and enthusiasm towards the arrival.
Sounds like a Beatle cartoon
Drawing a comparison between the arrival and the excitement often associated with popular culture and media.
Key down
A phrase used to indicate that the arrival is imminent or has arrived.
Just keep your mouth shut, you Curly
An admonishment of someone who is acting in a disruptive manner towards the arrival.
Look at those cars! The race cars
Expressing admiration or fascination towards a specific aspect of the arrival.
Sure sounds like the Beatles cartoon, hey, John Lennon here
Continuing the comparison to popular culture, specifically referencing a member of a famous band.
Hey, wankers, there goes the gear
A declaration to others that the arrival has happened and to take notice.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, this is your passenger agent I'd like to welcome you to aboard
An introduction to a new experience or journey.
United's flight 664 to Spokane We're departing in just a few more minutes We'll just be a couple minutes delay due to loading some extra baggage
Announcement of the next step in the journey, including minor disruptions or delays.
Could that be ours?
Wondering if a specific item or aspect of the arrival belongs to the individual.
I'd like to remind you that the, the bags you've carried on, that they should be stored underneath the seat in front of you
A reminder or instruction on how to correctly handle items or belongings during the journey.
Howard?
Possibly a call to an individual or a reference to a specific role or position during the journey.
During the flight
Indicating a change in location or experience, specifically referencing the journey itself.
Us, yes, Mark
Confirmation of a conversation between two individuals regarding a specific item or aspect of the journey.
Would you like some film?
A question about a possible leisure activity or request during the journey.
I would
A positive response to the previous question or request.
Hope you have a pleasant, and thank you for flying the United
A closing statement, expressing well-wishes and gratitude towards the individual for their participation in the journey.
Good night, all
A final farewell or acknowledgement of the end of the journey or experience.
Ha ha!
An expression of joy or amusement towards the journey or experience.
Now, the trip
Recognition and excitement for the journey that is about to happen.
This is great!
An expression of enthusiasm and contentment towards the arrival and journey as a whole.
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