Some ironic words from Frank Zappa in 1994 re: Pappy Bush

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

I came across an old VHS tape I haven't watched since I recorded it in 1994: the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony, in which Lou Reed posthumously presented Frank Zappa's award to his daughter Moon Unit.

In a taped segment, Zappa (in what was obviously one of his final interviews, looking thin, grey and weak) said that "being remembered" was not important to him, that it was for "guys like Reagan and Bush." He said that their ilk generally had enough influence and money to make sure that when they ARE "remembered," it's "really, really, terrific" (said with a sarcastic "thumbs up" gesture). He said that he wanted his works to be "available" as "an alternative" to whatever other music / entertainment was in the mainstream, and beyond that he didn't care about how it was received. He wanted the people who wanted it to have access to it, that's it. Doing the work was what was important, doing the work was all that mattered.

It's been 10 years and I miss Zappa as much as the day he died. In his speech, Lou Reed said that when an organization like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame makes an effort to honor a man like Frank Zappa, they honor themselves in return.

Somewhere, Frank is laughing as he lurches into today's version of "Black Napkins." I had the honor of hearing him play that at the Paramount Theater during the Beefheart / Bongo Fury era. He tied his hair back into a ponytail, said "time for some serious music," and just friggin' ripped on his SG.

[thebigidea]

1. if I ever invent a time machine

the first thing I do is zip back to the Fillmore and watch a perplexing double bill of the Velvet Underground & the Mothers, complete with seething Reed/Zappa rivalry/hatred.

[charlie]

5. Haw!

No kidding! The sight of the curmudgeon's curmudgeon, shoehorned into the bizarre role of uber-hippie because of his uncompromising "weirdness", spewing his disdain for twee flower-child-dom would be a priceless sight. Frank was special, my kind of asshole.

[thebigidea]

6. yeah! Not to mention a twisted speed freak NYC band scaring hippies

ending with a 30 minute "nothing song" featuring unmanned guitars leaning against the amp, overloading until that asshole Fillmore guy has a seizure.

[charlie]

8. There it is!

Anyone can excuse a stray fart under the penumbra of Dada or We're Busting Your Boundaries hippiedom, maaan. But it's the real deal when a cold-eyed bean counter like Frank Zappa warns you to back off because the moment is important. He meant that shit.

[MichaelHarris]

2. Zapster

"He took a dog-doo snow cone and stuffed it in my right eye
He took a dog-doo snow cone and stuffed it in my other eye
And the husky wee-wee
I mean the doggie wee-wee
Has blinded me
And I can't see
Temporarily"

[rawtribe]

3. That's my nine year old

nephew's favorite song. He knows all the words. Zappa and his music will live on! When the kid get allot older he will be introduced to the rest of Franks catalog.

[MichaelHarris]

4. Best poet of the 20th century

Oops besides Bob and Van

[ConsAreLiars]

7. Some lyrics and discography here

Put together by a Dutch fan.

http://www.science.uva.nl/~robbert/zappa/albums/

[wal]

9. Dear Frank

When I came out of the Navy in 71, my cousin took me under his wing, put on some Zappa - Weasels ripped my Flesh - and layed some fine Moroccan on me.
It changed my life, especially Frank's out there approach to music.
As a musician, I think that Frank is as important (to me) as the Beatles.