Zappa: Bicycle to Synclavier

The Tonight Show 1963 is a crystal-ball of what he already was. At 22 he demonstrates that his psychic is not a later accretion but a previous manifestation. In his toolkit he wields zany from Bicycle to Synclavier and merges intellect, imagination and humor to evolve a distinct genre -- Zappa.

He makes no apologies for narratives that morph vulgar from classical to rubato spliced with paranoia and exclamatory interruptions. He decries recognition but is inducted posthumously into a Rock & Roll Hall with a Grammy a Bust and a 'Frank Zappa Day' in the equation.

To surmise, the Mozart of the 20th takes a 'condescending' alec out of The Tonight Show in 1963 and leaves the same platform 'placid' 30 years later.

Words - Tommy Peters

http://tommypetersbicycles.blogspot.com/2010/11/zappa-tonight-show-1963-1993....

http://vimeo.com/16561374

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30255934@N02/5147449677/lightbox/

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Frank Zappa
• Bicycle
• Synclavier
• Mozart
• Steve Allen
• Jamie Gangel
• The Tonight Show
• rubato
• Konstantinas Bogdanas
• Frank Zappa Day
• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

[tmpeters]

Zen, I agree, but he did leave us a distinct 'genre'. My gripe is he is hardly mentioned by the current crop. I used one of his 'recitals' from his Zoot Allures Album of the 70s to describe a current situation here inn Malaysia. "Zappa's 'The Torture Never Stops' was chosen because the narrative is rare and dark as the machinations of Ms. Shaariibuugiin's cowardly despatch; more so because the cocktail-lounge jazz track was borne in the 70s at a time the young lady was."

[tmpeters]

I agree Reneal. The man was effervescent right to the end.

[tvcbabu]

This is

[tvcbabu]

@tvcbabu This is

[tvcbabu]

@tvcbabu

[tvcbabu]

@tmpeters

[zenmachinefilms]

Fascinating interview I'd never seen before. Shame he didn't maybe take better care of himself over the years, and a real shame his cancer wasn't caught earlier. He's been gone for 18 years now, and one can only wonder what music he would have given us during that time.

[MrRenealexis]

Moving. not sure about the interviewer, she missed a golden opportunity to ask intelligent stuff.