Frank Zappa - It was 20 years ago today
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=96173
Printed Date: March 13 2025 at 13:56
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Frank Zappa - It was 20 years ago today
Posted By: Jim Garten
Subject: Frank Zappa - It was 20 years ago today
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 02:28
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. ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Replies:
Posted By: zravkapt
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 04:35
|
Will never be forgotten. I knew of someone who would listen to all his albums in chronological order every year between Dec. 4 - Dec. 21.
------------- Magma America Great Make Again |
Posted By: smartpatrol
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 13:01
|
One of my biggest idols and influences. Shame such talent had to die so young. ------------- http://bit.ly/1kqTR8y" rel="nofollow">  The greatest record label of all time! |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 16:21
One of my musical mentors, especially when I attempt to compose "serious" instrumental music. I can't count the hours I've spent marvelling, enjoying, and laughing with the body of work he created - often with the help of unsuspecting musicians! Never met him but he did send me a Christmas card the year I bought a bunch of stuff from his newly created "Barking Pumpkin" merchandise business...it's one of my prized prog possessions:
 "A composer is a guy who goes around forcing his will on unsuspecting air molecules. Often with the assistance of unsuspecting musicians" - RIP Frank ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 16:42
|
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. ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: argybargy
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 06:01
|
At least Dweezil is doing a good job, in my opinion, of keeping the music alive and adding his own stamp too. Mike Keneally is also producing some excellent zappa influenced stuff - more so than Steve Vai I think.
------------- music adds meaning |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 06:07
|
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.
Very true, welcome to the forum, too  -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
argybargy wrote:Posted By: Evolver
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 08:21
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. ------------- Trust me. I know what I'm doing. |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 11:16
Me too (Robert Fripp, Alan Holdsworth, Roger Powell) and I find it much more memorable to have spoken with them rather than collected an autograph  ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: Prog_Traveller
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 11:49
Strange to think it's been twenty years. It really makes me feel old. REALLY OLD. Now I just need to pick up some young women(introduce them to prog)and go listen to Justin Beiber.  That last part anyway was a joke. ;) But yeah it sucks that he's no longer with us. RIght around the time of his death, however, prog was on the verge of a major resurgence(ok maybe not that major but a resurgence nonetheless). It would have been interesting to see what he would have done if he stayed with us for a few more years. As it is he left us a huge body of works. He was one prolific artist for sure. |
Posted By: zravkapt
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 12:16
|
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.
------------- Magma America Great Make Again |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 12:28
------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 13:03
|
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. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm 
|
Posted By: timothy leary
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 13:22
| http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/music-news/frank-zappa-legacy-gnarly-mixed-feelings-valley-girl-165112355.html |
Posted By: Crumple
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 13:46
|
20 years! Egads.
Love FZ. every time I hear the guitar solo on Zomby Woof it makes me want to weep with joy. RIP |
Posted By: proggman
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 15:35
|
I am gross and perverted I'm obsessed 'n deranged I have existed for years But very little has changed I'm the tool of the Government And industry too For I am destined to rule And regulate you I may be vile and pernicious But you can't look away I make you think I'm delicious With the stuff that I say I'm the best you can get Have you guessed me yet? I'm the slime oozin' out From the internet. RIP Uncle Frank. ------------- When he rides, my fears subside. For darkness turns once more to light. Through the skies, his white horse flies. To find a land beyond the night. |
Posted By: lazland
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 15:49
20 years ------------- Enhance your life. Get down to www.lazland.org Now also broadcasting on www.progzilla.com Every Saturday, 4.00 p.m. UK time! |
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 16:17
|
***EDIT*** Woops, I thought I posted in the "Who IS Frank Zappa" thread. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: December 05 2013 at 16:50
I remember being so upset in the wake of 9/11 and it's subsequent events (The Patriot Act, Afghan/Iraq invasions, etc) that FZ wasn't here to provide a critical voice or narrative to the insanity around us. It's the only time I've really felt a loss and missed someone that I never actually met. ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: December 06 2013 at 02:28
Not to mention George W Bush... 
There've been so many times over the last 20 years I could imagine Zappa in an argument with God, demanding "oh go on... just one more album!!" -------------
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: December 06 2013 at 04:07
|
...amazing, we have been spoilt by all these musical geniuses of our time, 20 years already, blinked.
------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 06 2013 at 04:31
|
I've always had some Zappa LP's in my collection since my late-teens, but only in the last few years I expanded my Zappa to 31. I find the weakest album out of what I have is '200 Motels' - but I still rate that with 3 stars.
Random thought - I absolutely adore the 'Orchestral Favorites' version of 'Duke Of Prunes'. |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: December 06 2013 at 20:07
|
Damn. 20 years already.
I only wish I was old enough/aware of Zappa when he was alive. The only positive I see is that there is a large amount of unreleased material that is slowly leaking out. Still though...what a world it would be if he didn't leave the Earth. RIP Frank. ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 06 2013 at 21:51
| Just imagine the volume of material from Frank by now, had he stuck around. 200 years from now they'll still be in awe from Zappa !! Bless his soul. |
Posted By: hellogoodbye
Date Posted: December 06 2013 at 22:12
| We never die really when we live so intensely. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: December 07 2013 at 12:02
|
Hi,
I think I saw that ZpZ is passing through and doing "Roxy and Elsewhere".
It's a nice double album and excellent concert, but when I saw ZpZ they were so poor and Return to Forever made them sound like a garage band, that I got totally disgusted! It was also sad/bad that he mentioned Chick Corea as a guest (King Kong) and left behind Jean Luc Ponty that also played on a few FZ albums! ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: December 07 2013 at 12:15
I kinda think of this film as the Ken Russell of rock music and rock film. But as a satirical piece, both visual and in words, it is second to very few works out there, but something that we can not imagine or conceive because we're used to having the story told for us in kindergarten style, not in other ways! For example, we have to have lyrics telling us what it is about.
It actually reminds me in parts of a day in front of the television, and the parallels with another LA funny group, The Firesign Theater, would be inevitable as they were both the "underground". ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 08 2013 at 02:29
|
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 21 2013 at 03:16
|
To hell with when he died. Happy Zappa birthday. "The biggest threat to America isn't moving America towards communism, it is moving America towards a fascist theocracy." ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
|
Posted By: darkshade
Date Posted: December 21 2013 at 08:11
|
Happy Birthday Frank.
------------- http://www.last.fm/user/MysticBoogy" rel="nofollow - My Last.fm
|
Posted By: zappaholic
Date Posted: December 21 2013 at 08:26
|
"I never set out to be weird. It was always other people who called me weird." Rest easy Frank. ------------- "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." -- H.L. Mencken |
Posted By: KingCrInuYasha
Date Posted: December 21 2013 at 21:57
|
20 years since he passed on. Man I feel old. Anyway, Happy B-Day FZ.
------------- He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball! |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: December 23 2013 at 09:59
|
Hi,
At 63, I know who the artists are that I enjoy listening and it doesn't matter when they were dead or alive.
I can not put on "Cheap Thrills" and not get a tear or two in my eyes!
I can not put on "When the Music is Over", and not get a tear in my eyes!
I can not listen to "Echoes" and not be thrilled by several moments!
I can not listen to "Yeti" and not fly away with the guitar!
And by the time you see 200 Motels, you will realize that you will NEVER EVER AGAIN, see anything so crazy and different in your life, even in the early MTV days ... but it doesn't matter to you when it was 1968 and today is 2013 almost 2014 and all you see is ugly badly out of focus television stuff, that you don't think makes for good imagery ... it was one of the first times EVER that video was used, and the next year, they used similar technologies for 2001 and everyone thought it was genius! ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: hellogoodbye
Date Posted: December 23 2013 at 11:03
| Crazy Birthday, Frank. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 24 2013 at 08:03
|
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
|