'From the Stars & Stripes archives'
Hoodoo
Photo of the day From the Stripes archives
March 7, 2004
http://www.stripes.com/photoday/030704.jpg
Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
reporter called "2� solid hours of total entertainment." Zappa had fired
his old band a few months earlier; at the Frankfurt show, the musicians
included Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan ("Flo and Eddie," formerly of the
Turtles) and drummer Sly Dunbar.
- - -
From -
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=126&article=19992&archive=true
From the S&S archives:
Frank Zappa in Frankfurt: A seven-part invention
By Bruce Johnson, S&S staff writer
European edition, December 10, 1970
[Captions for accompanying photos:]
Frank Zappa
Zappa gets ready backstage.
Mark Volman, left, and Howard Kaylan: Ex-Turtles, now Mothers.
Aynsley "Sly" Dunbar on drums.
Frank Zappa onstage.
FRANK Zappa, in a simple blue knit shirt and velvet slacks, stands aloof
on the left side of the six-foot-high stage. His thin frame leaps into
the air, and the brilliant rock-jazz sound of the new Mothers of
Invention captivates the audience. In a swift, decisive movement,
Zappa's right hand moves downward and there is abrupt silence.
Frank Zappa � famous for once posing on a toilet seat, for insulting
audiences, and described by critics as a freak � played it straight
Saturday night during a Frankfurt concert.
Those who came for a show were not disappointed, although Frank was
content to direct, rather than star, in his new group. The new Mothers
of Invention fuse rock, jazz, and theatrics into 2� solid hours of total
entertainment. Without question, Zappa � when the mood strikes him � is
a serious and talented musician-composer.
Granted, almost all of his lyrics are "obscene," but that's only a
problem for the "old" straight world, rather than the "young" adults who
find them highly amusing.
The new Mothers were handpicked by Zappa. Each is an accomplished
musician in his own right, all are professionals. Mammoth Mark Volman
and Howard Kaylan, who do the majority of the singing and dialogue, were
previously the lead singers for the Turtles. George Duke's talents on
the bass trombone and electric piano add tremendously to the Mothers'
music. Jeff Simmons, an anemic looking bass guitar player, has recorded
on his own. Aynsley Dunbar � instead of being hidden like many drummers
� is center stage front, indicating what Zappa thinks of Dunbar's
abilities. Not to disappoint the audience, Dunbar did a solo near the
end of the concert which was a masterpiece.
Then there is reliable Ian Underwood, the only survivor of Zappa's wrath
which led to his firing of the first Mothers about a year ago. Ian plays
a solid organ which complements the total sound rather than overwhelming
it, as happens in so many groups.
In short, Zappa has surrounded himself with six professionals who enjoy
performing his music and skits. What makes the show move is the
performers' obvious enjoyment on stage. They're loose and honest with
the audience while enjoying themselves immensely.
"We have a certain feeling other groups miss," Volman said backstage.
"We have a good time. ... we really dig it rather than get serious.
People feel that." Anyone who sees the new Mothers of Invention will
know that's an understatement.
On their European tour, which continues through Dec. 17, the Mothers are
experimenting with music and ideas for a film. The theme is a natural
for Zappa and the new group: the story of a rock group on the road.
Necessity dictates that the lyrics have sexual overtones and they are,
to say the least, descriptive and earthy. The tentative title of the
film, set for shooting in England next year, is "200 Hotels."
Few in the audience Saturday probably knew what Mark meant when he over
the mike; "I never had trouble getting any when I was a star in that
other group (The Turtles)." Only minutes before the concert a pretty
German bird had made advances to Ian and Frank. "But only you two," she
emphasized.
Zappa took time out in the middle of the concert to cut down German
radicals. In Berlin several years ago, a Mothers concert was interrupted
after Zappa refused to encourage a crowd to burn down the "Allied
Command" Building. "I'm sorry, boys and girls," he recalled saying "I
told them it was bad mental health." Then he sang a number based on the
incident and ridiculing the students, "The Duke."
Throughout the show, Zappa is seldom the center of attention. In fact,
one is hardly aware of him on stage. But then, that's the way Zappa
wants it. He is the musical director and theatrical producer more than a
performer.
"It's not a pop group at all," explained Volman. "It's a small traveling
orchestra to do Frank's thing."
With Zappa leading such a talented group of musicians, the new Mothers
of Invention are having a ball, while doing it all.
--
Trout Mask Replica
eelco janzen
>
>
> http://www.stripes.com/photoday/030704.jpg
> Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
> before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
> included Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan ("Flo and Eddie," formerly of the
> Turtles) and drummer Sly Dunbar.
>
> - - -
>
>
I saw them a day later in Amsterdam.
Drummer was of course Aynsley D.
And the great George Duke on keyboards and Jeff Simmons on bass.
Those were the days, my friend...
VVV
eelco
FZfan
>
> Those were the days, my friend...
>
.. and it's SO INSANELY SAD that those days will NEVER return again....
Charles Ulrich
wrote:
> Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
> before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
> reporter called "21�2 solid hours of total entertainment."
In article <4b69343f$0$99337$dbd4...@news.wanadoo.nl>,
eelco janzen <jan...@dds.nl> wrote:
> Hoodoo wrote:
> >
> > Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
> > before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
> > reporter called "2� solid hours of total entertainment."
So how long was the show? 10.5 hours or 6.3 hours?
--Charles
Bill
> Aynsley "Sly" Dunbar on drums.
It's drummer Lowell Dunbar who is now known by the nickname "Sly". It's
interesting to see it in this context in this 1970 story.
--
Bill
eelco janzen
> In article <4B692F58...@spamcop.net>, Hoodoo <hoo...@spamcop.net>
> wrote:
>
>> Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
>> before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
>
> In article <4b69343f$0$99337$dbd4...@news.wanadoo.nl>,
> eelco janzen <jan...@dds.nl> wrote:
>
>> Hoodoo wrote:
>>> Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
>>> before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
>
> So how long was the show? 10.5 hours or 6.3 hours?
>
> --Charles
9000 seconds
VVV
eelco
Les Cargill
Biffy the Elephant Shrew
> In article <4B692F58.8060...@spamcop.net>, Hoodoo <hoo...@spamcop.net>
> wrote:
>
> > Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
> > before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
>
> In article <4b69343f$0$99337$dbd4d...@news.wanadoo.nl>,
> eelco janzen <jan...@dds.nl> wrote:
>
> > Hoodoo wrote:
>
> > > Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
> > > before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
> > > reporter called "2½ solid hours of total entertainment."
>
> So how long was the show? 10.5 hours or 6.3 hours?
On my browser, Hoodoo's quote has 2 followed by a half symbol, eelco's
quote of Hoodoo has 2 only, your quote of Hoodoo's quote has 21Z2 with
a caron over the Z, and your quote of eelco's quote of Hoodoo's quote
mysteriously restores the original half sign. If you're seeing that Z
as a slash, that explains the 10.5, but I don't get the 6.3.
BTW, did this concert take place in 1907?
Your pal,
Biffy the Elephant Shrew
Charles Ulrich
<686f914b-3e91-4289...@v20g2000prb.googlegroups.com>,
Biffy the Elephant Shrew <biffy...@aol.com> wrote:
> On Feb 3, 5:46 am, Charles Ulrich <ulr...@sfu.ca> wrote:
> > In article <4B692F58.8060...@spamcop.net>, Hoodoo <hoo...@spamcop.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
> > > before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
> > > reporter called "21Ž2 solid hours of total entertainment."
> >
> > In article <4b69343f$0$99337$dbd4d...@news.wanadoo.nl>,
> > eelco janzen <jan...@dds.nl> wrote:
> >
> > > Hoodoo wrote:
> >
> > > > Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
> > > > before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
> > > > reporter called "21ŕ2 solid hours of total entertainment."
> >
> > So how long was the show? 10.5 hours or 6.3 hours?
>
> On my browser, Hoodoo's quote has 2 followed by a half symbol, eelco's
> quote of Hoodoo has 2 only, your quote of Hoodoo's quote has 21Z2 with
> a caron over the Z, and your quote of eelco's quote of Hoodoo's quote
> mysteriously restores the original half sign. If you're seeing that Z
> as a slash, that explains the 10.5, but I don't get the 6.3.
One of the messages (and my quote of it, when it came back to me)
appeared with 2 pi. In fact, I see 1/2 as pi fairly frequently.
--Charles
Les Cargill
907, I fear.
(lunchtime doubly so)
--
Les Cargill
Les Cargill
> In article
> <686f914b-3e91-4289...@v20g2000prb.googlegroups.com>,
> Biffy the Elephant Shrew <biffy...@aol.com> wrote:
>
>>> In article <4B692F58.8060...@spamcop.net>, Hoodoo <hoo...@spamcop.net>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
>>>> before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
>>> In article <4b69343f$0$99337$dbd4d...@news.wanadoo.nl>,
>>> � eelco janzen <jan...@dds.nl> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hoodoo wrote:
>>>>> Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
>>>>> before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
>>> So how long was the show? 10.5 hours or 6.3 hours?
>> On my browser, Hoodoo's quote has 2 followed by a half symbol, eelco's
>> quote of Hoodoo has 2 only, your quote of Hoodoo's quote has 21Z2 with
>> a caron over the Z, and your quote of eelco's quote of Hoodoo's quote
>> mysteriously restores the original half sign. If you're seeing that Z
>> as a slash, that explains the 10.5, but I don't get the 6.3.
>
> One of the messages (and my quote of it, when it came back to me)
> appeared with 2 pi. In fact, I see 1/2 as pi fairly frequently.
>
> --Charles
The wages of calculus are blindness.
--
Les Cargill
deepinder
> > Biffy the Elephant Shrew <biffysh...@aol.com> wrote:
>
> >> On Feb 3, 5:46Â am, Charles Ulrich <ulr...@sfu.ca> wrote:
> >>> In article <4B692F58.8060...@spamcop.net>, Hoodoo <hoo...@spamcop.net>
> >>> wrote:
>
> >>>> Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
> >>>> before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
> >>>> reporter called "21Ž2 solid hours of total entertainment."
> >>> In article <4b69343f$0$99337$dbd4d...@news.wanadoo.nl>,
>
> >>>> Hoodoo wrote:
> >>>>> Frankfurt, Germany, December 5, 1970: Musician Frank Zappa relaxes
> >>>>> before the Mothers of Invention take the stage for what a Stripes
> >>>>> reporter called "21Å•2 solid hours of total entertainment."
> >>> So how long was the show? 10.5 hours or 6.3 hours?
> >> On my browser, Hoodoo's quote has 2 followed by a half symbol, eelco's
> >> quote of Hoodoo has 2 only, your quote of Hoodoo's quote has 21Z2 with
> >> a caron over the Z, and your quote of eelco's quote of Hoodoo's quote
> >> mysteriously restores the original half sign. If you're seeing that Z
> >> as a slash, that explains the 10.5, but I don't get the 6.3.
>
> > One of the messages (and my quote of it, when it came back to me)
> > appeared with 2 pi. In fact, I see 1/2 as pi fairly frequently.
>
> > --Charles
>
> The wages of calculus are blindness.
>
> --
> Les Cargill
There is another Interview with Frank from 1978.
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=29037
pbuzb...@yahoo.com
> There is another Interview with Frank from 1978.
>
> http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=29037- Hide quoted text -
Interesting that FZ gives a specific date for his having the band play
every song with a reggae beat in rehearsal (August 78).
Pat Buzby
Chicago, IL