Frank Zappa's been gone for 20 years

[Puppet Guy]

today's the 20th anniversary of Frank Zappa's death. We lost something really valuable when he died - musically, socially and politically. I can only imagine what he'd have to say about the political climate since 2000. Based on this interview, he was spot-on.

[troutman]

My Hero.

I especially loved him at the 1985 PMRC Congress Hearings:

No one has forced Mrs. Baker or Mrs. Gore to bring Prince or Sheena Easton into their homes. Thanks to the Constitution, they are free to buy other forms of music for their children. Apparently, they insist on purchasing the works of contemporary recording artists in order to support a personal illusion of aerobic sophistication. Ladies, please be advised: The $8.98 purchase price does not entitle you to a kiss on the foot from the composer or performer in exchange for a spin on the family Victrola. Taken as a whole, the complete list of PMRC demands reads like an instruction manual for some sinister kind of “toilet training program” to house-break all composers and performers because of the lyrics of a few. Ladies, how dare you?

While the wife of the Secretary of the Treasury recites “Gonna drive my love inside you” and Senator Gore’s wife talks about “Bondage!” and “oral sex at gunpoint” on the CBS Evening News, people in high places work on a tax bill that is so ridiculous, the only way to sneak it through is to keep the public’s mind on something else: “Porn rock”.

Children in the vulnerable age bracket have a natural love for music. If, as a parent, you believe they should be exposed to something more uplifting than “Sugar Walls,” support Music Appreciation programs in schools. Why have you not considered your child’s need for consumer information? Music Appreciation costs very little compared to sports expenditures. Your children have a right to know that something besides pop music exists.

The establishment of a rating system, voluntary or otherwise, opens the door to an endless parade of Moral Quality Control Programs based on “Things Certain Christians Don’t Like”. What if the next bunch of Washington Wives demands a large yellow “J” on all material written or performed by Jews, in order to save helpless children from exposure to concealed Zionist doctrine?

Senator GORE. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

I found your statement very interesting and, although I disagree with some of the statements that you make and have made on other occasions, I have been a fan of your music, believe it or not. I respect you as a true original and a tremendously talented musician.

[troutman]

Senator EXON. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much.

Mr. Zappa, let me say that I was surprised that Senator Gore knew and liked your music. I must confess that I have never heard any of your music, to my knowledge.

Mr. ZAPPA. I would be more than happy to recite my lyrics to you.

Senator EXON. Can we forgo that?

Senator GORE. You have probably never heard of the Mothers of Invention.

Senator EXON. I have heard of Glen Miller and Mitch Miller. Did you ever perform with them?

Mr. ZAPPA. As a matter of fact, I took music lessons in grade school from Mitch Miller’s brother.

Senator EXON. That is the first sign of hope we have had in this hearing.

[DuffMan]

Definitely gone too soon.

Whenever I see people do the 25 or 30 questions things, and they get asked who would you like to meet, alive or dead, Frank Zappa comes to my mind quite often.

Did someone just post some clips of him in the religion thread not long ago?

[habernac]

Zappa, Dee Snider from Twisted Sister and John Denver!!!

[rbochan]

Recommended reading.

[Hanna Sniper]

[Huntingwhale]

He looks like Borat.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by troutman

Senator EXON. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much.

Mr. Zappa, let me say that I was surprised that Senator Gore knew and liked your music. I must confess that I have never heard any of your music, to my knowledge.

Mr. ZAPPA. I would be more than happy to recite my lyrics to you.

Senator EXON. Can we forgo that?

Senator GORE. You have probably never heard of the Mothers of Invention.

Senator EXON. I have heard of Glen Miller and Mitch Miller. Did you ever perform with them?

Mr. ZAPPA. As a matter of fact, I took music lessons in grade school from Mitch Miller’s brother.

Senator EXON. That is the first sign of hope we have had in this hearing.

trout...citation needed desperately!

[troutman]

http://downlode.org/Etext/zappa.html

[Jacks]

Originally Posted by habernac

Zappa, Dee Snider from Twisted Sister and John Denver!!!

Who are 3 people that have never been in my kitchen?

[troutman]

All three were artists that spoke out against labelling at the PMRC hearings.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by troutman

All three were artists that spoke out against labelling at the PMRC hearings.

That was incredible. I think Dave Mustaine of Megadeth was there as well. All were extremely well spoken.

Cockroach in the concrete
Courthouse tan and beady eyes
A slouch with fallen arches
Purging truths into great lies

The little man with a big eraser
Changing history
Procedures that he's programmed to
And all he hears and sees

Altering the facts and figures
Events and every issue
Make a person disappear
No one will ever miss you

Rewrites every story
Every poem that ever was
Eliminates incompetence
And those who break the laws

Follow the instructions of
The New Ways Evil Book of Rules
Replacing rights and wrongs and files
And records in the schools

You say you've got the answers
Well, who asked you anyway?

Ever think maybe
It was meant to be this way?

Don't try to fool us
We know the worst is yet to come

I believe my kingdom will come

(1st solo)

F is for fighting
R is for red
Ancestors' blood in battle they've shed.
E, we elect them
E, we eject them
In the land of the free, and the home of the brave
D, for your dying
O, your overture
M, they'll cover your grave with manure

This spells out freedom, it means nothing to me
As long as there's a P.M.R.C.

(2nd solo)

F is for fighting
R is for red
Ancestors' blood in battle they've she'd
E we elect them
E we eject them
In the land of the free and the home of the brave
D for your dying
O your overture
M is for money
You know what that cures

This spells out freedom, it means nothing to me
As long as there's a P.M.R.C.

F is for fighting,
R is for red,
Ancestors' blood in battle they've shed.
E, we elect them
E, we eject them,
In the land of the free, and the home of the brave
D, for your dying
O, your overture
M, they'll cover your grave with manure

This spells out freedom, it means nothing to me
As long as there's a P.M.R.C.

Put your hand
Right up my shirt
Pull the strings
That make me work

Jaws will part
Words fall out
Like a fish
With hook in mouth

Rewrites every story
Every poem that ever was
Eliminates incompetence
And those who break the laws

Follow the instructions of
The New Ways Evil Book of Rules
Replacing rights with wrongs,
The files and records in the schools

I'm not a fish
I'm a man...

HOOK... IN... MOUTH!

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by troutman

http://downlode.org/Etext/zappa.html

Thank you for that link, I really enjoyed reading it all.

This particular quote is simply brilliant. Should be imprinted in stone plaques and placed in all government offices at all government levels, including politicians and bureaucrats.

There are little technical difficulties here, and and you have the problem of having somebody in the position of deciding what’s good, what’s bad, what’s talking about the devil, what is too violent, and the rest of that stuff.

[Hack&Lube]

John Denver was great at the PMRC hearings. A lot of the PMRC mothers thought that he would be on their side but he came out hard against any kind of censorship.

I wish that Prince could have testified at those hearings.

[undercoverbrother]

Listening to more Zappa is my New Years resolution

[troutman]

A good place to start (NSFW):





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YzKACZ6DVI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8AksTwnCLQ

[Osker]

Are any of you Zappa fans going to see Dweezil in the new year?