Percussionist Ruth Underwood talks about Frank Zappa

[risgrigg]

I bought the video from the drum channel. It's absolutely wonderful. Great discussions, anecdotes and some super drumming.

[sonicfuker]

Ruth = so much energy she even blinks too much from it.

[tacomadc]

Now was Ruth married to Ian Underwood, great early Mothers sax player? What's that story, and why did Ian leave the band before she did?

[Fluffyfluffyhead]

I love you Ruth

[ambush77]

why did you guys not contact..jimmy carl black, art tripp, billy mundi, aynsley??????????

[5jerry1]

@ambush77

This was posted in '09, maybe was recorded that year. Jim Black died in November '08 (lung cancer), so in all likelyhood, he was already dead at the time of this show. Art Tripp now works in an insurance office, so he probably had no interest in doing this (a guess?), Mundi - who knows? But it would have been cool to see Aynsley Dunbar here though.

[61alfonzo]

@ambush77 Jimmy Carl Black passed away 3 years a go.

[cherryorchards]

i suddenly fell the urge to put some Inner Mounting Flame on the cd player

[Juulian83]

terry hate vinnie coauliotta???? the best drummer of zappa???

[thekwaze]

Nearly everyone has their favourite zappa drummer - a difficult decision, but I always choose Ralph - The Overnite Sensation drumming and the actual recorded "sound" of the drums is my favourite of favourites.

I think Chads drum sound never sounded unrealistic, which I believe is actually Franks fault insisting that he played electronic drums.....but I could be wrong.

The "Broadway" drums are probably the worst sounding - nonetheless always magnificent playing!

[13Danjiri]

I'm not even a drummer or percussionist, but this stuff is awesome.

Forgive me in advance for posting this on the other YouTube videos of this, but this stuff is just awesome.

[Aiden057]

I was at that show, it was Leo Kottkey, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Zappa as the headliner -- great concert.

[cjk9013]

Chester is also great on Weather Report "Black Market". I met him several years ago at the West LA Music festival. He seemed like a really cool guy; not all puffed up with a "Jack in the Box" head sized ego.

[nwopropaganda]

I love it when Zappa musicians talk about playing with Zappa. I also loved his choice of musicians.

[freein2339]

Didn't Ruth Underwood retire..???

[pazzensutra]

This is one killer collection of musicians here. Wow. Too bad Vinnie couldn't have been there.

[deepindercheema]

Ruth not only is very perceptive, but was at the right time to witness a seachange in FZ's approach to rock and roll. Not only did his guitar playing improve by a distinct leap his compositional urges reached a new intensity. The first Mahavishnu had their moment but Jazz rock began and ended with them 580 gigs later. I don't think Miles really got it, but Johnny Mac did, and it was all thanks to Coltrane.

[mirzamarco]

Was Vinnie even invited? I guess it would have been nice to see him sitting among these killers here.

[DrumChannelOfficial]

@mirzamarco - Hi, yes he was invited but his schedule did not permit him to attend at that time. He was definitely missed! ~DC

[mmowoa]

@mirzamarco Vinnie doesnt deserve that. He played with FZ just for the money.

[kevinjohnmorris]

Ruth is a fine musician and a darling. It's a pleasure to see her!

[Utah165]

When I saw the original Mothers of Invention in Central Park in the summer of 69 shortly before he disbanded the group I recall him performed a 10 +/- minute drum solo. What a concert! I was in 8th grade. It was my first rock concert and I even got Jimmy Carl Black's autograph while he came out into the audience before the show to hang out and tell stories. Buddy Guy opened...and killed!!! It was toally boss!!!

Saw Zappa many times in subsequent years but never heard him play drums live again.

[dapunkof1975]

God this is great footage man all these years and now these greats get to sit with each other and reflect

[TonyNewman]

Who is the gray-haired drummer in this video?

[DrumChannelOfficial]

Do you mean Ralph Humphrey?

[pallhe]

No other than the legendary Ralph Humphrey, without the beard.

[dekekyo]

one very happy fly.

[SKYVOLTAGE]

Ruth is the best on the planet at what she does. Totally under rated.

[cnychu]

SKYVOLTAGE, you are so right! Thanks for posting.

[dontillman]

@SKYVOLTAGE AND HOT! See her in some earlier Zappa videos where she would wear jeans but a bikini top! Wildly talented and hot! Great!

[Zappafan1980]

@SKYVOLTAGE

Ed Mann is just as good as her in my oppinion check his playin on the Song Alien Orifice

That Stuff is Mind Blowing

But i like them both

[dontillman]

@SKYVOLTAGE And hot! : )

[Br0kenEnGliSh]

I want to see you all jammin together.

[digimaton]

Mahavishnu opening for Zappa? Great! I would have liked to have seen his face when walked in there too!! : )

[ornleifs]

Ruth really whould write a book about her Zappa years, she is intelligent, articulate and funny.

[arheru]

Cool! You never see Ruth in the media nowadays, so every snippet counts. =)