Frank Zappa FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Father of Invention

by John Corcelli

Overview

(FAQ). In this volume, author John Corcelli reveals Zappa's roots as a musician, from his diverse influences to his personal life. We also learn more about his former band members and the enormous musical legacy inherited by his son, Dweezil. The book features a juried examination of Zappa's recordings and his videos. It also features a complete discography and a recommended reading list. Each chapter has a special focus on Zappa's life, with sections covering his family, his home studio known as the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen his keen interest in the Synclavier (a device he first used in 1980), his guitars, and more. Special attention is paid to the Mothers of Invention. Frank Zappa FAQ is a must-have for fans new and old looking to delve into some of the best music ever made by one of the most innovative artists the world has known.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781617136030
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/01/2016
Series:	FAQ
Pages:	328
Sales rank:	1,068,730
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

John Corcelli (Toronto, Canada) bought his first Zappa album at the age of 16 and was immediately hooked for life. Corcelli is a musician, writer, and broadcaster. He graduated from Ryerson University in 1984 and currently works for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Toronto. This is his first book.

Table of Contents

Foreword ix

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

1 "Who I Am Not": Frank Zappa's Origins 1

2 All Good Music: Zappa's Musical Influences 11

3 A Day That Will Live in Infamy: Mother's Day 1965 25

4 Unemployable: The Mothers of Invention 32

5 Noodling: Zappa and the Jazz Influence 39

6 Beefheart vs. Zappa: A Clash of Icons 44

7 Mr. Dad, Frank Zappa: The Artist as Parent 51

8 No Dope-Heads: Zappa's Drug-Free Zone 57

9 Welcome to the Machine: Zappa and the Record Business 61

10 Liking the Sound of His Own Voice: Choice Quotations 72

11 Zappa and His Fans: A Cultivated Audience 78

12 Send-Ups: Zappa Lampoons the Beatles, Bob Dylan, and Michael Jackson 83

13 Today's Lesson: Does Humor Belong in Music? 90

14 The Recordings: A Curated Look at the Zappa Collection 106

15 Bootlegs: Zappa and the Power of Ownership 133

16 The Gift That Keeps On Giving: Zappa's Archives and the UMRK 137

17 Modern Sounds: Zappa Goes Digital 143

18 A Man's Man: What Women Think About Zappa's Music 153

19 A Guitarist's Guitar Player: Zappa as Instrumentalist 161

20 We'll Fix It in Post: Overdubs Galore 169

21 On the Road: Opening Acts Get a Shot 174

22 The Woodstock Festival Without Zappa: The Mothers Make Other Plans 178

23 Best to Prepare: Auditioning for Frank Zappa 181

24 Playing Zappa's Music: Insights from His Musicians 186

25 Annus Horribillis: 1988 190

26 Music Theories: Zappa's "Conceptual Continuity" 198

27 Not a Place to Stay: 200 Motels 203

28 Steal This Video: Frank Zappa's Visual Productions 211

29 A Medium with His Message: Selected TV Appearances 218

30 User Discretion Advised: Zappa and the Politics of Censorship 223

31 Yearbook Signing: Zappa Alumni 229

32 Father and Son: Zappa's Legacy, Part 1 260

33 Cover Bands: Zappa's Legacy, Part 2 266

Recommended Reading: The Real Frank Zappa Books 273

Complete Discography 277

Selected Bibliography 285

Index 289