Zappa’s opinion on prog

Many people say that Frank Zappa didn't like Progressive Rock, and that he was not happy about his music being compared to Progressive Rock. Does anyone know what he really said, or where one can find information about the matter?

I think Zappa belongs to select bunch of artist who became a genre unto themselves along with (IMO) Elvis, The Beatles & Pink Floyd.

Keke wrote: sigod wrote: I think Zappa belongs to select bunch of artist who became a genre unto themselves along with (IMO) Elvis, The Beatles & Pink Floyd. 100% agreed.

Agreed 110%, but what did he say about Prog rock?

Velvetclown wrote: He liked Gentle Giant and he asked Ian Anderson to visit him, just before he died.

Ian Anderson is dead!!!!!!!!! Oh God!!!!

sigod wrote: I think Zappa belongs to select bunch of artist who became a genre unto themselves along with (IMO) Elvis, The Beatles & Pink Floyd.

WELL SAID,I THINK SO TOO.

zappa123 wrote: Velvetclown wrote: He liked Gentle Giant and he asked Ian Anderson to visit him, just before he died.  iS THAT REALLY TRUE?Because I heard him said that Jethro tull is the worse group that he heard.Ian called him-he wanted to know why--but he newer got a response.Or I mixed up everything? My opinion is that he didn't like much progressive rock anyway.

I reckon you're right. I cant imagine him liking the likes of Yes or Genesis to be honest. Too much pomposity, not enough humour and probably not enough musical innovation for him. When you consider the bizzare collaborations and way out projects Zappa worked on, something like Close to the Edge must have sounded as straight and predictable as the Stones to him.

Velvetclown wrote: He liked Gentle Giant and he asked Ian Anderson to visit him, just before he died.

What a horrible thing to do, saying I hope you visit me soon, and than die

I've read some of Frank's quotes on other artists and there not that many. But he's been known to do 180s on some opinions. He once quoted that while Sgt Pepper was ok, The Beatles didn't really appeal to him. Then he was quoted that I Feel Fine was one of the best pop songs ever done. He also said a few times that Lennon was the true genious of the group. He did the same thing on The Beach Boys as well. So go figure.

i don't really think that these musicians have a beef with the label "progressive rock", i think they have a problem with any label. As a musician myself, I sympathize. Musicians of that kind of caliber are trying to express themselves as individuals, not as part of some subcategory. They want to have their own voice, a voice which defies categorization. 

M: Did it hurt your feelings in the late ’70s when all the punk bands were citing Jethro Tull as the antithesis of rock ’n’ roll? Like, hey, why me?

IA: It didn’t upset me particularly when Johnny Rotten lumped Jethro Tull together with a bunch of other things that he despised at the time. In recent years I’ve heard he says “Aqualung” is one of his all time favourite records, so who knows? It upset me more in the early ’70s when Frank Zappa said he didn’t like us. I was quite a fan of Zappa’s music, I admired and revered him as a contemporary, and yeah, having him turn around and suddenly slap us down obviously hurt a little bit.

It made it that much more difficult a few years ago when I got a message from his son saying that Frank, who was terminally ill at the time, would really like me to call him and left me his home phone number. I sat and looked at this number, I even dialed it a few times and hung up, because I just didn’t know what you would say to a dying man, especially one who was on record as not liking my work. But I wanted to speak to him, I just found it really difficult. Then I heard on the news one day that he’d died. I felt a profound sense of loss and deep regret that I had never made that call. I would have liked to have spoken to him, just for a minute.

Edited by Velvetclown