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.
Intro
Frank Zappa Lyrics
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The opening lines of this Frank Zappa song "Intro" are his typical humorous and ironic remarks that he often used to make at his shows. Zappa had a unique style of connecting with his audience while keeping them engaged and entertained throughout his performances. In this particular case, he begins with thanking his audience for being present at the show, but then proceeds to mockingly claim the existence of a secret word that is floating around the audience. Following that, he points out his awareness of the purpose of the audience's attendance, which is to witness an impressive modern music ensemble performance.
Zappa is openly acknowledging the main attraction of his show while adding his personal touch of humor and sarcasm. The final part of his remarks is the playful jab at his audience's tendency to throw underpants or other articles of clothing onstage during live performances. He cleverly directs them to a specific location where they can throw them. This statement is characteristic of Zappa's humorous personality, where he pokes fun at the audience in a playful manner without mocking or insulting them.
Line by Line Meaning
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you.
The performer is expressing gratitude to the audience for their presence and support.
I understand there is a sign in the audience that once again says: "What's the secret word for tonight?"
The performer acknowledges a recurring request from the audience for a 'secret word', likely a joke or reference to a previous performance.
The secret word for tonight is . . .
The performer teases the audience with the notion of a 'secret word' but does not reveal it, maintaining an air of playful mystery.
Now, let's get serious, ladies and gentlemen,
The performer shifts the tone of the presentation to a more serious focus, perhaps indicating the upcoming performance will be challenging or emotionally impactful in some way.
I know you came here to see really FINE performances by a really FINE modern music ensemble, conducted by a really FINE conductor.
The performer sets high expectations for the quality of the performance and emphasizes the skill of the musicians and conductor.
And here comes the FINE conductor now, Peter Rundel, ladies and gentlemen!
The performer introduces the conductor with enthusiasm, reinforcing the high expectations set for the upcoming performance.
And if you feel like throwing underpants onto the stage, put 'em over there.
The performer makes a humorous request to the audience not to throw undergarments onto the stage, indicating a playful rapport and potentially acknowledging past incidents of onstage disruption.
Contributed by Lincoln P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.