Frank Zappa at 22 (1 of 4)

[TarantulaTown]

....and his name as Frank Zoppa.

[rokimbo]

FRANK ZAPPA....FRANK ZAPPA..... he whas born as FRANK ZAPPA....

[RollingPeople97]

That presenter was a total dick! Getting his cheap snide remarks in at every conceivable turn.

[VaiRendy]

this show is when Steve Vai was still in his father balls

[MarionLord]

Fuuuuck how annoying those people laughing

[silvernail6]

Schmock, Schmock!!!!

[dob90210]

Audience: duh huh huh huh huh

[DarkeningSkies1]

Steve is typically dismissive, but Zappa wins him over (eventually) with his intelligent humor and musical knowledge.

[hamidfan]

they laughed about him... but he laughed at least... he became one of the greatest musiscians ever

[justkevy]

WTF!

[anticorpration]

Frank could be "Kramer"!

Bet Steve went nuts later on when he saw M.O.I. and realized he had Frank on his show years before.

[qqvids]

people love this song in my country

[godfatherjeb]

this is so surreal

[NotComingBack01]

Shit, and I thought I'd never see him without his moustache.

[TheWizardofGore]

This is LOUD damn near killed my ears

[PrinceZappa]

It's not Frank Zappa here, it's Novak Djokovic! Is there no end to this man's talent?

[platypusboy]

Join the union Frank, you scab

[Bass5el]

How long you been playing bike, Frank?

(pause)... 'bout two weeks...

Bet Steve Allen wasn't expecting that!

[Derangedxzombie]

/watch?v=aFIMWRXWY90

Who'd have guessed from this he'd turn out to be one of the greatest guitarists of all time lol. Composers too.

[thestarwriters]

MY EARS



[MrLiam65]

bike



[littletingoddess96]

steve allen show = david letterman of the good 'ol days.

[NWG92]

These Steven Allen show clips are the only instances I've ever seen where Frank actually displays some sort of vulnerability and nervousness. The way he trips up on his words and nervously laughs at some of Allen's questions is just so rare a treat that I can't help but feel emotionally attached to this young version of the most confident and brilliant American composer I've ever heard.

[jahannon312]

@NWG92 I agree, and I do believe all his confidence and composture are symbolizated by his imponent moustache.

[MinirampMeltdown]

looks like dweezil without the mustache

[ZeroFrillsMan]

he looks soooo italian here.

[CoolerKing37]

Zappa looks like Bill Nye the Science Guy!

[karenbcz22]

He NEVER plays the bike in this video.

It just Steve Allen asking silly questions.



[MrElmonte1313]

It was shot in El Monte. " They shot my agent in EL MONTE, it could happen to anybody" Ha!!HA!! EL MONTE RULES!!

[MrElmonte1313]

It was shot in El Monte. " My agent got shot in El Monte" Ha!!HA!! EL MONTE RULES!!

[fadethetrade]

Allen asks,Are you going to play the Departure blues,yeah steve Allen,you don;t have any idea how great this guy became with playing the blues!

[lenskap]

When Frank was only 3, he played the tricycle.

[Er3b1ne]

Shut up and play yer bicycle

[atheistunicorn]

<3

[MCNovak100]

Hard to believe. Somebody taking piss out of Frank.

The volcano of rock'n'rock , master of intransigent ribaldry ... as a timid, weirdish skeletal, composer, that'll take some beating!

Frank? ... Frank? .....what's got out of you?

[samsoundworld]

sooo condescending 

[jonlovesmay]

should it be 4 years from now>>? 1966 prog rumblings

[Dfrankjazz]

Marvelous Frank Zappa free online master class!! Learn all about Frank and analyze Peaches in Regalia, Watermelon in Easter Hay and Envelopes..type in "Dave Frank" Zappa on Ustream. You vill enjoy this!

[tiintoon]

Glad Steve Allen died.

[caesiume]

I love how they pronounce bicycle.

[47tooter]

You cut it before he played the BIKE !!!

[fruhko]

@47tooter try with part 4

[pigsy12321]

steve allen thinks he's funny ,what a wanker

think frank did better than him

flower punk

[pigsy12321]

@fruhko steve allen thought he was funny and being clever

frank zappa i have heard of , who the fuck was steve allen ?

[rrhynes]

@pigsy12321 LOL. A lot more famous than Zappa, to the general public.

[jmmkllj7]

Those comedy hour/interview shows were great for new talent!! Don't knockit!!! Frank Zappa went on, did what he went to do, and recognition, mostly thru word of mouth, went around. Communication comes in many forms, sometimes odd.Don't get so high and mighty. MR ZAPPA would not approve.

[owlsrfun47]

What a condescending prick that Steve Allen is . . . .

[vidform]

My goodness! The older generation of this time period were complete jerks. I'm glad that the young generation of the 60s and 70s rose up against a lot of their staid and stuffy way of thinking and believing. The interviewer kept making jokes about playing bicycle instead of just introducing Frank and letting him do his thing. The young people of the 60s and 70s had a LOT of bullshit to fight and protest against and that show host is just one example. Sheeesh!

[Gyperboloid]

@vidform Yeap, we suck today (((

[machesterman83]

@vidform While you're right about that generation as a whole, remember this was a comedy show. If the same interview took place today between an unknown bicycle playing musician and Conan O'Brien, Conan would be making jokes just like Steve (But Conan would do a better job of making it obvious he was kidding). And forty years down the road, some youtube surfer, unaccustomed to Conan might make the same accusation you did.

[rrhynes]

@vidform And those poor little babies grew up to be teh corporate rapists and politicians that fuck you every which way they can. Human nature always prevails.......even in hippies. 

[happyface4444]

and from then on frank zappa became the most famous bicycle player

[BuddySweyzer]

Exactly what year is this?

[jimharris84]

@BuddySweyzer 22 years after 1940

[LowBid86]

Always the hustler!

[keitaro21]

I like how Frank look so much clever than the man in front of him ^^

[Rmathis00]

Wow. He looked so much like Dweezil when he was young.

[Zombywoof91]

none of theses people know how big of a deal this guy will become haha

[offrampt]

He should've played Bobby Brown.

[ACDC7369]

"you will be familiar with some of my songs as of 3 years from now when i invent progressive rock"

[Steve7508]

There's a touch of Norman Bates about him.

[MountMarcyNY]

Steve Allen was supposed to be hip for his time, think about it.

[ANIKANSKYWALKERG]

you can see that zappa is miles ahead of the show host

[mountainhigh88]

Befor4 when...

[Carthsting]

Makes me feel better that such cool guys start off being geeks like me.

[baconsplace]

Frank Zappa

Legend

[usulkane]

Little did Stev Allen know-

'whats something real jerky that'll get me on youtube with Frank Zappa"?

[piprobins]

i dont think he would approve !

[noodlesmealey]

ask his pah if he knows about camp X in ontario? want some tea,mr.bike?

[j4unumber1]

Frank actually received inspiration in creating music through your basic general rhythm. I really enjoyed watching and listening to this 4 part interview regarding playing a bicycle.  It is very uhh...original. Frank himself even said that he was always fascinated by sound and that he wanted to create art through sound. So...I think that is a very cool ambition to have. Personally, I do not like everything Frank did, but I have the utmost respect for him as THE quintessential sound artist.

[WimGrundy]

Frank's humility is now legendary, thanks again to YouTube!

[ePhilosopher9]

dear mister zAPPA, THRULY, THE NEARER TOWARDS YOUR DEATH THE CLOSER, AS ONLY ONE TO IMAGINE, SMALLER FUTER GETTING LARGER PAST AND VICE VERSa, um and going back throw thineself andf i shall catch you

for in 2010 we have the futuristic machines to return star people

[Pazak68]

Frank out does Steve Allen. He's the best.

[julian831016]

frank legend..!!!!

[waltherppk1000]

Actually Frank Zappa would appear on Steve Allen's show years later when he was leading the Mothers of Invention. Allen seemed to like Zappa and respected his talent.

[cellardoor199991]

Zappa'sparents did a good job raising him. He was smart , creative, and funny. Sticks his guns and doesn't take shit from anybody.

[wagsouza]

BIG EARS !!!

[cillsurunfil]

My Daughter Never Stop

[Nevigo]

There is a certain "acid like" quality over this video.Maybe because it is so old.:)

[cookmoore]

Although, Allen doesn't seem to give Frank a break til the end of the show.

[cookmoore]

This is just great!

[patton303]

Don't mean to be an asshole but....JESUS CHRIST LEVEL OUT YOUR AUDIO.... Your video is like 10x louder than any other video on YouTube.

...you blew my fucking ears out goddammit.

[Theakker3]

He's wearing probably the thinest tie I have ever seen.

[BagheeraBirk]

Que bien

[potatoepeter1]

;-)

[bicycleswithwings]

Of course, Steve Allen was quite an accomplished composer and musician himself. Once commonly known for being quite a prolific writer of music.

[sammyboi11890]

You can always tell when interviewers don't know or care about music because they just berate and belittle musicians.

[angrysamoan666]

@sammyboi11890 yes, belittling Frank's opportunist bike playing is a very low act

But 2 weeks playing deserves a t.v slot?

I don't think so.

[fadethetrade]

Allen asks if he wants to play the new departure blues.Damn,little did steve allen know what r and b intense music zappa would eventually play 10 yrs later!!!!

[elc1960]

Funny how Steve Allen was always an advocate for anti-censorship, yet late in his life he became a celebrity spokesperson for L. Brent Bozell III's "Parents' Television Research Council" (PTRC), which was nothing more than an arch-conservative group that advocated heavy censorship of everything on broadcast TV. Bozell's dad was a former speechwriter for Barry Goldwater, and former writing partner of William F. Buckley.

[dekekyo]

do your bit.have a zappa.

[Jcolinsol]

And looking very relaxed, Frank Zappa on vibes.

[superkulmedkniv25]

baisaikl, lol

[fruhko]

Theres a much better resolution version of this called Frank Zappa on the Steve Allen show. part 1 by DRMUX

[brainslow]

LOL good old times... even mavericks like Zappa had to use suit and tie and have a proper haircut and be clean shaven

[Mariofan7]

A phenom was born

[ppericodelosppalotes]

Wow, a very young and less cocky zappa than we're used to!

Very 'well behaved' on the screen and towards that silly cunt steve...

...But he'd get him later on and all of his kind!

[yasthedoomed]

Where is the fucking mustache?

[panqueque445]

who would have thought that a guy playing a bicycle would become one of the best musicians ever?

[southrules]

A future music legend with a comedy legend. Fucking sweet

[dermagrafa]

You would be amazed at what steve allen knew..

[carbonarc23]

FZ ever the entertainer, even entertaining the TROLLS lol

[BrianMauk]

Wow, it's interesting to see him at 22. While still coming off articulate, his demeanor is not the same semi sarcastic, jaded, Frank Zappa that we are used to seeing. I'll tell you what though. Some of his later interviews were so entertaining because he would put the interviewer in his/her place before they even realized it..

[Tengent]

God he was a sexy motherfucker. :B

[jsfleisher]

The one word that best applies to both FZ and SA = "prolific". While not comparable musically, they're probably the two most prolific composers of our time...

[deathmetalben]

He was an idiot but thats what made his comedy

[fairwaysandgreens77]

@bizzipajaro or whoever the fuck you are... Well said.

[sobebabes]

Steve Allen was a very talented and cutting edge guy. What he was doing here is exposing his audience to something that they would not normally come in contact with, and he was presenting it as the kind of "zany" and funny entertainment that his viewers expected to see on his show. He mentions Frank's name more than once and even spells it to help the audience remember it. In closing, he made some very supportive comments regarding experimental music.

[MrMack53]

@sobebabes Agree, totally. Long time fan of both men, and was lucky enough to meet both. Mr. Allen was NOT pleased when I called him "Steve" !

[titostacos]

@MrMack53 and sobebabes are right. Steve Allen was Letterman before there was Letterman. This is an amazing video of two cutting edge artists.

[2242bzo]

@sobebabes Steve Allen sucked. "Cutting edge"!? What the fuck!?

Frank Zappa was on because there wasn't anything else to put on! haha!

Sometimes, slots just have to be filled up.

[Texaskingfish]

@2242bzo The Edge was a little farther back, back then.

[AgentCProductions]

Zappa was always an idiot.

[rissole1982]

@AgentCProductions shoosh

[figaz555]

@AgentCProductions

Yes but he was also a genius.

[1BlaK99]

that guy was an asshole to frank. better be glad he's a humble cat cuz if it was me dude would be bleeding

[JJRiffy488]

1962

[inhocsignovinces88]

Steve Allen towers over Frank Zappa. I never knew he was tall.

[keezproductions]

lmao they dont know what they're laughin that back then

[MulletRocker88]

you could tell frank was always a smartass, he just knew how to be polite about it. hahaha hilarious.

[velyogendra108]

This is really cool. Wasn't Steve Allen a composer as well?

[BookerDayton]

frank zappa is THE Musician..Genius, God, Jesus, THE Titan

[PwShelton]

I love how calm Zappa is.

[GlorifiedTruth]

Man, Steve Allen didn't score a single funny comment during this whole segment...

[henrimoon]

steeve wont take him seriously but zappa is fine with this because of the publicity it got him- and it probably helped somewhat to make him famous!

[banjocal]

its scary how much dweezil looks like him!!

[Mrvoodooboy89]

Bicycle! FRANK ZAPPA FTW!

[amcugura]

Alguien se atrevería a traducirlo al español...?

[StarFieldsCo]

That guy doesnt know who he's fucking with! That's Frank Zappa the Mechajesus he'll ride that bike all over your ass. ZAPPA WINS!

[pauldrendon]

He refers to the Tim Carey film "The World's Greatest Sinner" which Zappa wrote the music for. One of the most amazingly cool/strange movies of all time. Must watch anything with Tim Carey in it. He's genius.

[navettiere]

ahahahaha che grande!

[justaman6972]

steve you are an asshole

[trainluvr]

jesus TV sure did suck back then. on to part 2.

[poncedeleon99]

wow- when I was watching this in 1962 it didn't look so old-timey

[CtrlRm]

"How long have you been playing bike Frank?"

"About 2 weeks." lol

[jclarencelove3rd]

@CtrlRm "he was probably selling insurance" ( while Frank looks to the ceiling for the irony of that commentary...) lol

[sankfinatra]

He looks like a very young Groucho Marx

[SuckMyAssAmerica]

FUCK BLACK & WHITE TELEVISION

[mchadeath]

fuck hes young

[jetcloud2001]

musical bicyclist?

[eveningtsar]

"Might we be familiar with any of your songs?"

"You will be. . ."

The man was a prophet.

(PS. Don't let the net trolls get to you. They congregate here like maggots, but they give up easily: I find they go away if they're just ignored. Though there are times I would like to. . .nevermind.)

[nciviero]

It is weird to see Frank Zappa acting so shy, I guess your first tv appearance will do that.

[DaRandom90]

Looks so much different, but his voice sounds exactly the same, Genious

[rustafari50]

Speaking of Frank Zappa:

I don't think he'd necessarily hate "Ezz-Rah, MOY EEZ MAY," now playable over on my channel.

[bluestrat88]

LMAO!! Zappa is briliant only he can play a bike and make it sound interesting

[reignbeaugunn]

he affected music by this being the first time endustrail music ever record public or other wise industerial music he also was the real father of rap music .....prostate cancer why ? what happened to the hippies the good vibe people

[jugbandblues3]

Zappa is getting more laughs than the host.............. he was awesome

[phlizmo]

@jugbandblues3 The host is creating the atmosphere for laughs. THe juxtaposition. Steve Allen knew what he was doing.. He was no slouch when it came to avant guard either..

[dbvalentine]

I wonder what that soundtrack was like?

[richcapo]

How was stuff like this recorded by viewers prior to the advent of VCRs?

[jesusjerkoffisgod]

hahaha...he played skin flute and bonaphone also(his best performances), simultaneously from both orifices. he shoulda just stuck with that and not try to do muzak

[Harvey3rdman]

@jesusjerkoffisgod what the fuck are you talking about? best not be FZ! If so then the "jerkoff" part of your name is apt.

[jesusjerkoffisgod]

@Harvey3rdman hahahaha...1 jerkoff+10000000 zappas. 1 of you eats 100000 anus

[Beatnikzombie]

@jesusjerkoffisgod Ignorance is rampant.

[jesusjerkoffisgod]

@Beatnikzombie hahaha...it is rampant in your mom's vagina

[Beatnikzombie]

@jesusjerkoffisgod What the hell is wrong with you?

[jesusjerkoffisgod]

@Beatnikzombie a few thing which i caught from yer mom

[Harvey3rdman]

@Beatnikzombie this guy is the living, breathing example of AAron Sorkin's quote about the anonymity of the internet making us all stupid and mean-spirited. This guy's got a bad case of angry mental diarrhea because he doesn't have the ability to keep a mate or his father/mother abused him as a child. Or both. Everytime I read these from certain folks here I just feel pity for them and any folks who are forced [one way or another] to be around them. Pitiful, tiny brained fool.

[Beatnikzombie]

@Harvey3rdman I know. They're all over youtube. I don't understand it. I blocked him. I don't care. He's probably 12 years old, or has the mental maturity of a 12 year old.

[Gabe4208]

@jesusjerkoffisgod fuck you

[jazzsaavy]

conventional frank loved that word about as much as he loved the word restricted

[bizzipajaro]

Zappa would be ashamed at all the ridiculous arguing on this page. He would have rather you used your frustrations on something positive. Get going today and do something worth while!!

[treephant]

@bizzipajaro well said

[yoshiman666]

@bizzipajaro thank you

[angrysamoan666]

@bizzipajaro Zappa would love the arguing

He would rather you do your thing

[TheTTBT]

Jung would love this.  Somewhere deep in the shadow, is the motherfuckin' Muffin Man.

[GCScreamer17]

Everyone loves incest and scat play.

[khaled88]

I've been discussing with a friend how Rock changed from the 60's to 70's to 80's.... Thanks for the footage. CRIKEY!! I can actually remember those early days on TV!

[musicphan1]

If Nirvana sux, then ALL music sux, not just Nickleback, John Conley and .38 Special.

[v2vroth]

Zappa rules, God we miss him..he looks like Billy Martin way back when he played for the Yankees in the 50's lol...

[s90skank]

thanks!

[GURAKASCA]

this is great footage man... thanks for this!

[drfoxcourt]

One of the best things about the early days with Steve allen was that he got all kinds of acts on his show. Ed Sullivan looked for great and unusual acts too, but SAllen was tops at it. Nowadays if an act isn't on American idol (blah) there's no place for them on TV shows (cept what Paul brings to Dave Letterman).

alas... a world of mediocrity and no art.

[bagrat22]

I graduated high school in 77. Hair bands are cool. Cobain is cool. All a matter of taste. Just appreciate musicianship. I play guitar and most people who comment play air guitar.