zappa?

[Icetech]

Hey guys, i been listening to alot of zappa lately, mostly apostrophe, I am curious if anyone knows what amp he used on the leads on uncle remus and cosmic debris? Lovin that tone....

[sliberty]

I don't know specifically about those songs, but Frank used a Pignose frequently in the studio. Really, I am not kidding.

[Allynmey]

I'm going to see the Zappa Plays Zappa show in Providence Wednesday night. It will be good to see spanking Stevie Vai again!

[philmanatee]

That should be awesome! Phil

[sliberty]

OK, since the subject has turned to Zappa, I will let you in on my own little "7 degrees" type of brush with fame.

When I was in high school, I played in a band with Warren Cuccurillo. Warren went on to play with Frank Zappa during the 200 Motels, Joe's Garage period, then Missing Persons with Dale and Terry Bozio, and finally, he played with Duran Duran for several years (until they tossed him recently to take the original guitarist back into the band).

Warren and I played in and won the Battle of the Bands during our junior year, and then of course he went on to greatness while I went on to obscurity.

Oh well, thats my story and I am sticking to it (it is actually true).

[philmanatee]

That's great! I can't remember if Warren was with him or not when I seen him, I think it was '81. Great concert nonetheless. I've recently turned a few people on to Apostrophe, what a great album! Phil

[Allynmey]

Zappa plays Zappa was very good. Mostly their long jam songs. Everyone was a top notch musician. Steve Vai was awesome as was Terry Bozio!
Dweezil is much better than I remember him from years ago.

Allynmey

[sliberty]

Terry is amazing. I have seen him with Jeff Beck a few times. He uses more drums than all of the drummers in a small third world country combined.

[skyboltone]

That's great! I can't remember if Warren was with him or not when I seen him, I think it was '81. Great concert nonetheless. I've recently turned a few people on to Apostrophe, what a great album! Phil

I saw Frank probably 5-6 times over the course of the Roxy and Elsewhere/Apostrophe period. I had a massive vinyl Zappa collection in those days like "Studebaker Hawk", "Weasels ripped my flesh", all the greats. Nowadays I have, "Broadway the Hard Way", "Sheik Yerbouti", "Shutup and Play Yer Guitar", "Jazz From Hell", "Ship Arrives Too Late to Save a Drowning Witch", and maybe a couple things with Beefheart. "Peaches in Regalia" I think. Maybee. But my favo hands down out of the entire oeuvre is "You Are What You Is". If you don't have that album you should get it.

I've never seen Dweezle live.

Dan

[Icetech]

Damn you guys, i came around too late to see zappa.. I mainly listen to Apostrophe and overnight sensation, i had a cassette of drowning witch, when i was like 15.. hell i forgot that album ever existed:)

I am gonna look for the one you mentioned though.. Some of the albums i can't get into.. but some are just genius:)

BTW.. dweezil is a amazing guitarist, but he doesn't have that flow or feeling that frank had..

BTW, im sure you guys have all seen it, but incase you havn't, heres frank showing vai how all the speed and technique in the world doesn't mean anything without the soul:)

[doctord02]

Link?

[jaysg]

I mainly listen to Apostrophe and overnight sensation

Outside of those and a couple others, I find his stuff a bit inaccessible. As to six degrees of separation, my wife has a best friend. Her husband remembers Frank Zappa as, "...that geek who always ran the projector during high school. Nobody knew he played guitar."

[philmanatee]

I really dig some of the early Mothers of Invention like We're Only In It For The Money. I seen The Grandmothers a few years back, that was pretty cool. Phil

[Icetech]

bahah sorry guys, i got into watching it and forgot to post the link:)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=z5ORGWfJiTI

BTW, i did see albert king before he died.. so that makes up for missing zappa:)

although i was around 22 at the time and didn't understand:(

[skyboltone]

I mainly listen to Apostrophe and overnight sensation

Outside of those and a couple others, I find his stuff a bit inaccessible. As to six degrees of separation, my wife has a best friend. Her husband remembers Frank Zappa as, "...that geek who always ran the projector during high school. Nobody knew he played guitar."

My top three or four or......
"You are what you is"
"Frank Zappa Live at the Roxy and Elseware"
"Overnight Sensation"
"Apostrophe"
"Studebaker Hawk"

Most of the rest of it is Frank goofing off on our nickle. Oh well, no worse than most record companies. Don't waste your time/money on "Shut Up and Play Your Guitar" or "Jazz From Hell". By far his best guitar work is in the above named albums. He was at his best in suites of songs like those that occur on the first two named above. "Society Pages" thru "Any Downers" comprises about 2/3rds of "You Are What You Is" and is amongst the best rock and roll ever recorded. YMMV. I say that with the added note that I'm pretty conservative musically and never cared for the meandering dimwitted nonsense he often produced for lead guitar. The live shows back in the olden days were pretty tightly scored and always had the very best of guest artists. Ruth Underwood on keyboards and percussion was amazing to watch and hear. George Duke on Vocals and Jack Bruce doing the honors on bass was also a great show.

Frank spent a tremendous amount of emotional and spiritual energy doing battle with God for some reason. Most of us really couldn't have cared less in those days. We just came to hear the dirty talk, get high and listen to some pretty amazing and different music. In the end, none of it mattered anyway, the score ended up God 1 Zappa nothing. Still, I never tire of the key and time signature changes and the tone he got power cording his SG. I really don't recall his amps. The stage was usually extremely full of equipment of all types and it was hard to tell who was playing out of what. He had really good sound people too. There was always balance to the shows with everybody being heard and no earplugs necessary.

Ah, memory.
Dan