Frank Zappa - It was 20 years ago today

On 4th December 1993, modern music lost a true icon, satirist & one of the finest guitarists of his generation:



Moving with apparent ease between rock, jazz, classical & the avant garde, Zappa's various bands & groups of musicians (whose alumni include members of bands as diverse as King Crimson to Duran Duran) forged a unique path through music from the 1960s until his death by cancer at the tragically young age of 52.

From serious, to scatalogical to satiric, no-one was safe from his biting wit & social commentary which held no cow to be sacred.

I was lucky enough to see him on many occasions through the late 1970s & up to his last gigs in the UK in 1989 and I'm not ashamed to say I shed a tear when I heard of his passing.

Frank Zappa: 21.12.1940 - 04.12.1993



Gone, but definitely never to be forgotten.

Edited by Jim Garten - December 04 2013 at 02:29

One of my biggest idols and influences. Shame such talent had to die so young.

My only consolation when he died is that he had already left so much music behind - the amount of music he composed, created, and recorded is mind-boggling.  Hard to believe he was barely 50 when he died.  But I remember that day well.  I was at work and my co-worker/friend told me.  She and I remain close friends to this day, and our mutual appreciation for Zappa (I taught her everything I know, and she ran with it from there!) is one of the foundations of our friendship.

I think my favorite memory is probably his last concerts in the UK in 1988 - Jazz From Hell had not long been released, so when we arrived, we were fully expecting to see a stage with just a Synclavier & for FZ to be performing solo.

Went into the Arena & saw the stage set up for a full 13 piece band & knew then we were in for a special night - they didn't disappoint. The ovation when they finished the main set with Stairway To Heaven nearly took the roof off.

argybargy wrote: At least Dweezil is doing a good job, in my opinion, of keeping the music alive and adding his own stamp too.

Very true, welcome to the forum, too

Evolver wrote: 20 years.    I was able to thank Frank for his music when he came to Harvard to debate a stand-in for Tipper Gore (I think Tipper was supposed to be there but cancelled).  He just smiled and thanked me for supporting his music.  That's all the time they gave each person.  I cherish that moment.   I have since been able to thank a number of my favorite artists in person for providing the soundtrack of my life.

Even ignoring what music he would have made, I've always wondered what his opinions on things like the internet, smartphones, 9/11 and the NSA would be.

I was in 1st grade. A newborn baby during the 88 tour. I recently found out an older cousin of mine was (is) a big fan of the original Mothers. It kinda blew my mind, besides the fact that we've had this common interest this whole time and never knew, but also because I have this very fuzzy memory of the Frank Zappa Honker video being on during Christmas when I was really young, because I remember the big nose they show, and the fact that there was this weird mustached man in it, and weird, funny things were happening. Must have been '93 because I recall having started 1st grade around that time. My cousin must have put it on when relatives were over because of Zappa's recent passing. I never knew if it was the Honker video I saw, or it was some wishful memory my mind made up, since I didn't know anyone in my family who likes FZ. Now it all makes sense. Funny how much of a Zappa fan I've become; it may have had something to do with it. RIP Frank Zappa.

20 years! Egads.

Love FZ.

every time I hear the guitar solo on Zomby Woof it makes me want to weep with joy.

RIP

20 years

zravkapt wrote: Even ignoring what music he would have made, I've always wondered what his opinions on things like the internet, smartphones, 9/11 and the NSA would be.