Frank Vincent Zappa (1940-1993)

musical genius

just too crass in the commentary, not really repetetive kinda stuff 4 me. although i do have a small collection of his stuff) saw him ina doublebill with Jerry in chicago, later 70s nice artwork, reminds me of zigzag man peace

Live Zappa

I had the golden opportunity of seeing Frank in 1978. Was very close to the stage and always remembered that there was another great guitar player with him.. Several years ago researched this and realized it was Adrian Belew! (who has played with two of my other favorites King Crimson and The Talking Heads). Only other band that I ever saw that was in this league of incredible tightness was Miles Davis Band in the 80s. Saw Zappa plays Zappa last summer at 10,000 Lakes Festival and was blown away. Don't miss them if they pass through your way. If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake

thanks y'all......

I appreciate all the commentary. Funny how my zappa drawing gets the most responses of the drawings i've posted. i remember back in the 80's (my heyday for attending GD shows) almost all of my serious deadhead friends didn't listen to frank, and/or wouldn't listen either....(you talk about a musician didn't get nearly the respect he deserved). i just called it their loss. we all know that there was a lot of GD snobbery so to speak. i'm just glad i listened to more than just the GD. ....i was into zappa before i was into the GD, though that did change in time. what some most don't realize about frank was how though there was not that much improvisational output by his bandmembers in concert (mostly just when he played hid guitar solos), there didn't need to be. his mind was so far out there that he pushed his bands beyond their limits in rehearsals, and hence, those rehearsals carried over to the live shows, which were as good as any improv anywhere outside of you know who, the kings of improv themselves....the GD. franks band and his music could just as easily take you "there" and back again as the boys music could, sometimes even further depending on well, you know "circumstances." : ) : ) those of us who were lucky enough to be able to attend his shows are just that, lucky. just like with the dead. it was an unspoken thing.. can't put it down in writing. all i know was that in 1980 in el paso seeing that incarnation of the mothers of invention, sitting in the 4th row with my two roomates, all of us blazing, when he was playing this guitar solo i could see the genius in him. there was no mistake about it. his bands may not have been the kings of improvisation, but he was so respectful to his audience that he made sure that his bands knew the music, and he cared to give 100 percent. there weren't forgotten lyrics or a lot of the f'ups we lived and sometimes "cringed" with at dead shows. frank cared, and that was the difference. no knock on the GD, they will always be the true bearers of the torch in my eyes. so no misunderstandings please. I just really liked that frank was a showman, and went out of his way to make sure his audience got their money's worth. and he did this with making his band rehearse like son's a bitches..he paid them well, and expected only the best. i've been trying to post a couple more drawings i've done and for some reason, am having a "bitch" of a time doing it. i don't get it. i've posted some with no problem. if anyone can give me an idea or on what i'm doing wrong that would be very cool. Help on the way is what i need now. this Candyman illustration i've done i'm very stoked about. and i want to share it! ; )

Where the Dead were the Apples, Frank was the Orange. Both made me feel like there really was something out there musically and universally that couldn't really be explained. I was lucky enough to meet the man in a Holiday Inn in Baltimore before his show when I was 16. I was speechless, he was nice. I miss him too. -Tom Mittemeyer

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Sun, 12/31/2006 - 16:00

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Holiday Inn!?!?!

I hope this didn't involve either YooHoo, creamed corn or baby octopuses! Conversation is always more interesting than recitation, so speak your mind and not someone else's.

Thanks Tom ~

Very cool! Lovin Zappa & MOI, although I never got to see them. A very few of my personal favorites are: Charlie's Enormous Mouth (or Norma as I like to say) Dirty Love Baby Snakes Jewish Princess Flakes

Not to forget

Bobby Brown goes down-formerly my daughter´s favorite song! Cracked me up, and got us both some bizarre looks in public (yes even in Germany) when my 4 year old princess would be tra la la'ing "f&%$ed this dike by the name of Freddy" at top volume.********************************** Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you will still exist, but you have ceased to live. Samuel Clemens

Very Funny TL

Chip off the Old Block, eh? Belated Happy Birthday :-)

Hey Rider

A chip? My father says she is not my kid, but my clone! ;-) Thanks alot for b-day mention!!!!!!********************************** Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you will still exist, but you have ceased to live. Samuel Clemens

the album with the pencil

the album with the pencil on the front rules. do you like my new car? its a filmore, dig the fins. june 1971. For those of you that dont know this , the great JOHN LENNON played there with frank that night and played a very old beatles tune. Its on one of franks albums that doesnt really have any music on it but right now i just cant remember which one. I think it had something to do with a playground.

Black smoke jam from the Holiday Inn

Cool lines Tom. 'preciate all your impressions and this one is great! That cat could jam and I was fortunate enough to see FZ and friends a couple a times. Fourth row once and it was absolutely zany. Think it was in '76 but i have lost all of the calenders...again. Yeah man! Abolutely cool. Thanks! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Sun comes up blood red Wind yells among the stone All graceful instruments are known" Bobby Petersen ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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grdaed73

16 years ago

musical genius
just too crass in the commentary, not really repetetive kinda stuff 4 me. although i do have a small collection of his stuff) saw him ina doublebill with Jerry in chicago, later 70s nice artwork, reminds me of zigzag man peace
Hal R

16 years ago

Live Zappa
I had the golden opportunity of seeing Frank in 1978. Was very close to the stage and always remembered that there was another great guitar player with him.. Several years ago researched this and realized it was Adrian Belew! (who has played with two of my other favorites King Crimson and The Talking Heads). Only other band that I ever saw that was in this league of incredible tightness was Miles Davis Band in the 80s. Saw Zappa plays Zappa last summer at 10,000 Lakes Festival and was blown away. Don't miss them if they pass through your way. If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake
Tom Mittemeyer

16 years ago

thanks y'all......
I appreciate all the commentary. Funny how my zappa drawing gets the most responses of the drawings i've posted. i remember back in the 80's (my heyday for attending GD shows) almost all of my serious deadhead friends didn't listen to frank, and/or wouldn't listen either....(you talk about a musician didn't get nearly the respect he deserved). i just called it their loss. we all know that there was a lot of GD snobbery so to speak. i'm just glad i listened to more than just the GD. ....i was into zappa before i was into the GD, though that did change in time. what some most don't realize about frank was how though there was not that much improvisational output by his bandmembers in concert (mostly just when he played hid guitar solos), there didn't need to be. his mind was so far out there that he pushed his bands beyond their limits in rehearsals, and hence, those rehearsals carried over to the live shows, which were as good as any improv anywhere outside of you know who, the kings of improv themselves....the GD. franks band and his music could just as easily take you "there" and back again as the boys music could, sometimes even further depending on well, you know "circumstances." : ) : ) those of us who were lucky enough to be able to attend his shows are just that, lucky. just like with the dead. it was an unspoken thing.. can't put it down in writing. all i know was that in 1980 in el paso seeing that incarnation of the mothers of invention, sitting in the 4th row with my two roomates, all of us blazing, when he was playing this guitar solo i could see the genius in him. there was no mistake about it. his bands may not have been the kings of improvisation, but he was so respectful to his audience that he made sure that his bands knew the music, and he cared to give 100 percent. there weren't forgotten lyrics or a lot of the f'ups we lived and sometimes "cringed" with at dead shows. frank cared, and that was the difference. no knock on the GD, they will always be the true bearers of the torch in my eyes. so no misunderstandings please. I just really liked that frank was a showman, and went out of his way to make sure his audience got their money's worth. and he did this with making his band rehearse like son's a bitches..he paid them well, and expected only the best. i've been trying to post a couple more drawings i've done and for some reason, am having a "bitch" of a time doing it. i don't get it. i've posted some with no problem. if anyone can give me an idea or on what i'm doing wrong that would be very cool. Help on the way is what i need now. this Candyman illustration i've done i'm very stoked about. and i want to share it! ; )

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