alt.fan.frank-zappa FAQ: Whatever Happened To ... (Part 1 of 2)
Robbert Heederik
Archive-name: zappa-faq-whatever/part1
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| alt.fan.frank-zappa FAQ Whatever Happened To ... |
| (Part 1 of 2) |
| Maintained by Douglas Obrecht (obr...@rd.qms.com) |
| Revision 5.5.5, December 21, 1995 |
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===================================================
Musicians TimeLine
==================
Remarks:
-------
* some minor corrections since last version
* did not take into account 200 Motels and the 'orchestral' Cd's.
Maybe the omission of '200 motels' is responsible for some gaps
between 69 and 71.
* bootlegs: only 'The Ark' taken into account
* sorted by descending dashes and then by ascending (first+last) name
* Included the instruments:
B = bass v = vocals
D = drums t = trumpet
G = Guitar w = woodwinds
K = Keyboards b = brass
P = percussion g = gong
S = Sax
T = Trombone
V = violin
H = Harmonica
65 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89
| 66| 68| 70| 72| 74| 76| 78| 80| 82| 84| 86| 88| 90
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
------------------------++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
Jimmy Carl Black Dv|--------- - - |
Roy Estrada Bv|--------- --- - - |
Ray Collins v |-------- - - |
Eliot Ingbar G |--- |
Don Preston K | ----- ---- -- |
Jim Sherwood S | ----- - |
Bunk Gardner S | ----- |
Billy Mundi | --- |
Ian Underwood KS| ---- -------- |
Arthur Tripp D | ---- |
Ruth Underwood P | -- ---------- |
Nelcy Walker | -- |
Sugarcane Harris V | -- --- - |
Dave Samuels P | - - |
Buzz Gardner t | - |
Lowell George Gv| - |
Johnny Guerin D | -- -- |
Max Bennet B | -- --- |
Paul Humphrey | -- |
Don Van Vliet Hv| - - -- |
Ron Selico | - |
Shuggie Otis | - |
Aynsley Dunbar D | -------- |
Howard Kaylan v | ---- |
Mark Volman v | ---- |
George Duke Kv| -- -- ------- - |
Jeff Simmons BG| -- - -- |
Jim Pons Bv| -- |
Jean-Luc Ponty V | - ---- |
Bob Harris Kv| - -- - -- |
Alan Estes P | - |
Bob Zimitti P | - |
Earl Dumler w | - |
Ernie Tack b | - |
Ernie Watts S | - |
Fred Jackson w | - |
Joanne Caldwell w | - |
Johnny Rotella w | - |
Lee Clement g | - |
Tony Ortega w | - |
Bruce Fowler T | ----- - -- --- |
Ralph Humphrey D | ----- |
Erroneous B | --- |
Sal Marquez tv| --- |
Tow Fowler B | -- ---- -- |
Malcolm McNabb b | -- |
Tony Duran G | -- |
Bill Beyers t | - |
Chris Peterson v | - |
Janet Ferguson v | - |
Joel Peskin Sw| - |
Ken Shroyer b | - |
Mike Altschul bw| - |
Pete Kleinov G | - |
Rickie Lancelotti v | - |
Jack Bruce B | -- |
Jim Gordon D | -- |
Napoleon Murphy Brock Sv| ------- - - -- |
Chester Tompson D | ----- |
Walt Fowler t | -- --- |
Kerrie McNabb v | - |
Susan Glover v | - |
Terry Bozzio Dv| ----------- |
Dave Parlato B | ----- |
Patrick O'Hearn B | ---- ----- - - - |
Johnny Guitar Watson v | - - -- |
Don Brewer P | - |
Andre Lewis K | --- - |
Thana Harris v | -- - |
James Youman B | -- |
Denny Walley Gv| - -- --- - |
Davey Moire v | - - - |
Eddie Jobson KV| - -- |
Bianca Odin Kv| - |
Ray White Gv| - -- ---------- |
Lu Ann Neil | - |
Sharkey Barker | - |
Don Pardo v | - |
Lou Marini S | - |
Michael Brecker S | - |
Randy Brecker t | - |
Ronnie Kuber S | - |
Tom Malone t | - |
Tommy Mars K | ------------ - |
Peter Wolf K | ------ - |
Ed Mann P | ----- ----- --- |
Adrian Belew Gv| --- |
David Ocker | - - |
Randy Thornton | - |
Arthur Barrow BK| ------ - - |
Vinnie Colaiuta D | --- -- |
Dale Bozzio v | -- --- |
Al Malkin | -- |
Shankar V | - |
Ike Willis Gv| - --- - ---- --- |
Craig Stewart H | - |
Warren Cucurullo G | - - |
David Logeman D | --- |
Chad Wackerman D | ----- -- --- |
Scott Thunes B | ----- -- --- |
Steve Vai G | ----- |
Lisa Popeil v | - - |
Bobby Martin Kv| ---- -- --- |
Moon Zappa v | - - |
Dweezil Zappa G | - - |
Ahmet Zappa v | - |
Brad Cole | - |
Craig Stewart | - |
Alan Zavod K | -- |
Archie Shepp S | - |
Albert Wing S | --- |
Kurt McGettrick S | --- |
Mike Kenneally Gv| --- |
Paul Carman S | --- |
------------------------++-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 66| 68| 70| 72| 74| 76| 78| 80| 82| 84| 86| 88| 90
65 67 69 71 73 75 77 79 81 83 85 87 89
===================================================================
ARTHUR BARROW
-------------
Was Zappa's "Clonemeister" after the 1978 tour. He had the responsibility
of running rehersals in Frank's absence.
Last I heard of Barrow, he was touring with ex-Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger,
as was Preston, but that was some time ago. Appears on Krieger's "No Habla"
CD (1989).
Had a solo album 'Music for Listening ' released in 1992 on Tom and Slev's
New Masters, which has since folded, though Arthur has copies (but I have
no address for AB). Had some sort of underground rap hit late 1993 in the
California area. Worked with disco king Giorgio Moroder in the
1980s (god help us).
I'm not sure, but wasn't he involved with Mona Lisa Overdrive?
Or is that another Arthur Barrow?
I found the "Eyebrow razor" cd : it's almost all instrumental,
electronics and samples, very Zappesque (in the Synclavier vein).
Interesting, never boring even if quite difficult at moments.
The Fowlers, Ray White and Ike Willis appear on two tracks.
Humour and adventure are always present. Warning : There's only one
embarrasing track, made of earthquake noises trimmered at different
speeds. Apart this hoax, the Cd is good and rich of imagination
ADRIAN BELEW
------------
After touring with FZ, Adrian toured with the Talking Heads. He first did
this because FZ had planned a break and AB was to join FZ again when he
was going to form a new band. But then FZ changed his mind and when he put
together a new band AB was still with the Talking Heads (He's on the live album
"The name of this band is..").
AB also toured with David Bowie (live album:"Stage"). He joined King Crimson
for a couple of tours and three albums ("Discipline", "Beat" and "Three of
a Perfect Pair"). After the Crimson split-up he released solo-albums and
did some studio-work (Herbie Hancock, amongst others).
Solo albums :
1. "The Lone Rhino" (1981) ****
2. "Twang Bar King", (1983) *****
3. "Desire Caught by the Tail" (1985??) ***
4. "Mr. Music Head" (1989) ***
5. "Young Lions" (1990) ***
5a. "Pretty Pink Rose" (CD single w/ 2 unreleased tracks, 1990)
6. Inner Revolution (1992) ****
7. "Desire of the Rhino King" (1991) - digitally remastered ****
compilation of 1, 2, and 3
8. "Acoustic Adrian Belew" (1993) (rating ****)
9. "Here" (1994) **
10. "The Guitar as Orchestra" (1995) *****
Adrian Belew had a solo acoustic tour last fall (where he was distributing
his own acoustic cd) & should be coming out with another solo album
(electric with sidemen this spring). (source: Belew's mouth at Wolf
Trap last fall by way of Belew fan Erik Brady).
I'm 80% sure that he toured with Laurie Anderson and appears in her
movie of the tour "Home of the Brave".
In 1987/8 Adrian Belew played with a band called "The Bears".
They released two albums on Primitive Man/IRS/MCA: "The Bears" (1987)
and "Rise and Shine" (1988). Adrian produced both albums. I'm not sure
how many shows they did, but I did catch them in NYC, I believe it was
at "Irving Plaza". The band featured Adrian - guitar, vocals;
Rob Fetters - guitar, vocals; Bob Nyswonger - bass;
Chris Arduser - drums. The group was formed in his home town of
Cincinnati, Ohio. They all wrote. Adrian did most of the vocals.
Also, one other small extra bit of info - Adrian was with The Bears in 1987
and 1988 (as already stated), but The Bears became The Psychodots after
his departure and they commonly tour with Adrian as a warm-up act and as
a backup band.
Adrian Belew released the album "Mr. Music Head" in 1989. He played
all the instruments except for two songs which featured Mike Barnett
on string bass and the tune "Oh Daddy" which featured his daughter
Audie on vocals. The animated video for "Oh Daddy", a humorous
semi-autobiographical tune, was actually in light rotation on MTV
for a few months.
I just picked this ("Here") up this weekend and only have had time to
listen to it a couple of times. The general feel of the album reminds
me of "Revolver"-era Beatles (ie, a slightly psychedelic pop album).
Belew plays all the instruments (the CD booklet consists of a bunch of
photos of Belew playing the instruments (and making tea) pasted together
as if it is an entire band). On one track, his bass playing is
very McCartney-esque (reminds me of "Taxman"). Of course, there are
lots of swirling, layered guitars throughout. The songs are all fairly
simple, but he has written some memorable melodies. Don't buy this if
you are expecting "Elephant Talk", but if you like well-crafted
Beatlesque-pop (I do), I think you will enjoy this album.
If you get a chance to see Adrian Belew, you should do so. I
also picked up a copy of The Acoustic Adrian Belew, which contains
acoustic versions of a number of his own songs, and a Beatles and
Roy Orbison cover.
Adrian Belew may be the nicest man in the music business. After the
show, he hung around and talked to the fans one on one. I got him to
autograph my copy of "The Acoustic Adrian Belew" and chatted with him
about the new Crimson. He said that they have already started recording
and that their final recording session is scheduled for December.
He said that the album should be out in March or April of next year.
He said that with all the players it was pretty hard to tell who was
playing what. He also mentioned that they were recording at Peter
Gabriel's studio in Bath.
ADRIAN BELEW: THE ACOUSTIC ADRIAN BELEW (c)1993 ABP Compact Disc CD93001-1
Limited release given out at shows during the 1993 tour. Available in
Europe and Japan.
Songs: The Lone Rhinocerous, Peace On Earth, The Man In The Moon,
The Rail Song, If I Fell, Burned By The Fire We Make,
Matte Kudasai, Dream Life, Old Fat Cadillac ,Crying,
Martha Adored (Dream Life backwards), Of course all tracks are acoustic.
"Experimental Guitar Series Vol. 1: The Guitar As Orchestra".
It is most impressive, if you like modern "classical" music. It is in a
similar vein as Zappa's Civilization Phase III, but is not as statisically
dense as CP3. The Belew CD 's cover states: "10 moden classical
pieces presented as an orchestra in concert composed and performed
entirely on electric guitar by Adrian Belew."
The liner notes continue, "As the name implies, this is moden classical
music in which guitar plays the role of the various components of an
orchestra. Every sound on the record is made with guitar. Part of the
experimental nature of the music comes in designing those sounds rather
than using samples of actual instruments. The compositions themselves were
experiments. ... To my ears , _The Guitar As Orchestra_ is best suited as
a backdrop to common daily events such as reading, driving, or eating. It
takes time to discover its hidden melodies. I hope you enjoy it.
adrian belew"
He has gotten back together with Robert Fripp and Company with a New
and Improved King Crimson (a double trio). They have released a number of
albums:
VROOOM: their first album, a 31:04 CD called "VROOOM". Per the liner
notes, "This was recorded between May 2-7th, 1994 during the
first full rehearsals of this, the double trio formation of
King Crimson. We present VROOOM as a calling card, rather than
a love letter, to those generous enough to give it ears." The 94/95
King Crimson consists of:
Robert Fripp - Guitar
Adrian Belew - Guitar, voice, words
Trey Gunn - Stick
Tony Levin - Basses and stick
Pat Mastelotto - Acoustic & Electronic Percussions
Bill Bruford - Acoustic & Electronic Percussions
Thrak: Recently released is a full length Crimson CD called Thrak, which
contains much of the VROOOM single CD, but is much more polished.
Belew has carried his Beatle's flavor over to much of Thrak, sounding
a bit like John Lennon.
Dinosaur: Also released is yet another single CD called Dinosaur
(from Thrak). It also contains live versions of Red and Elephant Talk.
B'Boom: Recorded live in Argentina. A must have. Includes much of
the material found on Thrak played live. Also contains material from
the 73/74 era and the eighties. (Lark's Tongue, Talking Drum, Red,
Matte Kudasai, Frame by Frame, Indiscipline, Heartbeat, Sleepless.)
Walking on Air: Single CD includes Walking on Air, SSEDD, Heatbeat,
Silent Night (Soundscapes/Frippertronics version), One Time.
The King Crimson semi-official, Elephant Talk, can be found at:
http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/aig/staff/toby/elephant-talk.html
The Hermit's Unofficial Adrian Belew Page can be found at:
http://www.iglou.com/hermit/adrian
JIMMY CARL BLACK
----------------
Formed Geronomo Black back in the 70's. I think there were two albums.
Well, as I already mentioned in my post, Black, Preston and Gardner appear to
suing Zappa for his releasing the old MOI stuff without consulting
them.
Also appears on vocals on a couple of tapes by Ant Bee
(Billy James) and the Muffin Men CD 'Say Cheese and Thank You'. New
Grandmothers CD reasonably imminent, I expect.
Jimmy has been touring Europe with Eugene Chadbourne this fall &
winter. He had been thinking about moving to Italy. (source: T'Mershi Duween)
Jimmy Carl Black is credited on the cover of "Highway Cafe of the Damned"
by the Austin Lounge Lizards (P 1988; Watermelon 1001). He plays drums
on three songs: "Industrial Strength Tranquilizer," "When Drunks Go Bad,"
and "Get a Haircut, Dad." This is the only one of their four albums he
is listed on. I doubt that he ever played with them outside the studio.
This band, not to be confused with the Lounge Lizards, plays humorous
songs--largely bluegrass, but other styles as well. As their name
suggests, they are based in Austin, Texas, where I think JCB lived for
a while.
For awhile in the 80s Jimmy Carl & Arthur Brown (Crazy World of Arthur
Brown) had a painting company called Black & Brown Painting in Austin.
You may know this already, but Jimmy Carl Black did some recent touring
with radical hyperactive improvising/spoofing guitarist Eugene Chadbourne.
I don't know the details, such as venues and dates, but I know there are
audio documents of it: a CD entitled _Locked in a Dutch Coffeeshop_,
attributed to "The Jack and Jim Show," on (I believe) the Fundamental
label, and a C-90 cassette available directly from Chadbourne.
mid to late '70's in a band called 'Big Sonny and the Messila Valley Lowboys"
They released at least one album 'Big Sonny and the Lowboys"
I saw them quite a bit at the Anthogy Gap Saloon in Anthony, Texas
and at some other local bar in el paso. Great bar band, I bought a cassette
of their album at the bar. I still have it - great stuff, includes
love potion #9, sympathy for the devil, summertime blues. jcb's
son would sit in on trap set when jcb sang. Big Sonny where ever
he may be was one awsome blues guitarist.
saw the Grandmothers in grand rapids, Michigan a couple years back back
altho only Jimmy Carl Black was among the former Mothers in
the band and his comment at the time about the breakup was
"oh well' things happen." He seemed a nice guy but did appreciate
not being bombarded with Zappa questions. a member of his band
did say he would on occasion reminise about the " good old days."
See GRANDMOTHERS.
DALE BOZZIO
-----------
Dale and Terry split up at the same time as Missing Persons,
which was in 1986, as did Terry and Dale's marriage. Terry is remarried.
Dale Bozzio--had a solo album under the name "Dale" called
"Riot in English" in 1988--sort of a Janet Jackson/Karyn White/
Robert Smith/Samantha Fox/Prince sounding thing.
She is remarried and has two kids. According to
her manager, she is still involved in the music business, although
I haven't heard anything about it specifically. In 1991 she toured
as "Missing Persons" and did Missing Persons songs with a hired band.
She appeared at Zappa's Universe which was for Frank's 50th
birthday--eleven months late--it was held in Nov. 1991.
She sang "Fembot in a Wet T-shirt" and did the Mary speech from
"Packard Goose,"modifying it slightly to say "Music...and Frank
Zappa...are the best."
I saw Dale/The new Missing Persons in Dec. of `94 in Cincinnati, OH.
She did all the classics, Words, U.S. Dregs Destination Unknown, etc.
She went on to have her band play, since it was approximately a year
after Frank's death, Watermeleon in Easter Hay. It was decent, but
I think the guitarist missed a few licks. She said that she
would be coming out with a new album with her new band under
a different name sometime this year. Also in the Zappa's Universe
show she neglected a line from the `Music is the best' speech.
TERRY BOZZIO
------------
The ground breaking news on Terry Bozzio is that he has just done some work
with Duran Duran in the studio, recording, "Here Comes Success" (Iggy Pop
tune). This has made a lot of us DD/FZ/Missing Persons fans very happy, as
Duran hasn't had a stable drummer in many a year. Terry is a welcome addition
even if it is only a quick stint.
Oh yeah, don't forget Missing Persons, 3 albums ( none on CD, there is a
Best of though ) all worth picking up.
_Spring Session M_
_Rhyme & Reason_
_Color in Your Life_
Someone had inquired about Terry Bozzio's work. Here's the Bozziography,
as recommended by hisself, from ModernDrummer:
In the July '94 Modern Drummer interview with Terry Bozzio,
Terry lists the following as recordings that best represents
his drumming:
Solo Drum Music (vol. I and II), Terry Bozzio Polytown
Lonely Bears, artist Lonely Bears
Injustice, artist Lonely Bears
Heavy Metal Bebop, artist Brecker Brothers
Best Of, artist Missing Persons
Castalia, artist Mark Isham
Jeff Beck's Guitar Shop, artists Jeff Beck, Terry Bozzio, Tony Hymas
"Spring Session M" appears on cd. I believe it's an import
from Japan. Terry will also appear on some songs on the upcoming
Duran Duran album.
Was in a band called UK with Eddie Jobson and John Wetton. Terry replaced
Bill Bruford on drums. Can be found on the LP "Danger Money" (1979).
Bozzio is in a band at the moment called Lonely Bears with Hymas etc.,
the 3rd CD is due out at any time the first two CDs are superb
you can get them at G&S Music 0442 63287
TERRY BOZZIO is working in lotsa groups, and played on Jeff Beck's killer
GUITAR SHOP CD. Also toured with Jeff. Still has an edge.
Toured with Jeff Beck and is now touring with someone else, um, I
forget who though. I think he might be touring with Steve Vai's
current band.
Terry Bozzio is right now(?) on tour with Vai, a band presently consisting
of Steve Vai, Terry Bozzio, T.M. Stevens (bass), and Devin Townsend (vocals).
Has played on Jeff Becks "Guitar Shop" album and Steve Vai's,
"Sex and Religion."
Terry Bozzio has left Vai's band (source: T'Mershi Duween).
I've heard that Terry has recorded an album with Mick Karn, David Torn,
and Bozzio, to be released by the medium label. This came over the usenet,
but I'll be buying it when it comes out. Supposedly it's credited to all
their names.
I picked a Gary Wright album a few years ago cause it listed Bozzio,
but I don't believe the playing was much distinctive or memorable.
I've emailed ModernDrummer magazine (from rec.music.makers.percussion),
requesting that they post or email a Bozziography.
I believe there's some mo' Bozzio on the Jeff Beck collection that comes
in the FenderTweed case.
I don't know the Gary Wright material, but some while ago Bozzio was
on a Brecker Brothers release called 'Heavy Metal Bebop' (sorry if
someone else already mentioned this). What I heard sounded more like
'Purple Lagoon' than standard B-Bros; the recent CD I saw was too
expensive or it would now be mine (C$41, Japanese import I think).
It was a quintet - add bass and keybords to the others.
Bozzio is on David Torn's new album: "POLYTOWN is anything but quiet.
It's a ferocious, freewheeling electric improvisation. [Mick] Karn and
Terry Bozzio's rock background give it a groove and center around which
Torn whirls lines that transfigure in space." (John Diliberto, April 1994)
Saw Terry Bozzio's current band Polytown live last night, and just want
to say that it was one amazing percussion performance. Polytown is a
three person 90's supergroup thing, but to me Bozzio's playing was
consistantly interesting, and of course in the power trio format he
was given lots of space to show it off.
Saw Terry Bozzio's current band Polytown live last night, and just want to say
that it was one amazing percussion performance. Polytown is a three person
90's supergroup thing, but to me Bozzio's playing was consistantly
interesting, and of course in the power trio format he was given lots of
space to show it off.
Terry Bozzio appears in two Andy Taylor videos: Take It Easy and Wings
of Love. He did play on the actual songs, and they can be located on the
American Anthem soundtrack. Videos can be gotten from just about any
Duran Duran fan (Andy used to be in Duran Duran) or you can see Take
It Easy if you rent the American Anthem movie (they tacked it on to the end).
If I remember right, both Terry and Patrick O'Hern are in Andy's "When the
Rain Comes Down," but I'm not sure (it can be found on the Miami Vice
II album (not in the Miami Vice movie).
Terry has made a few drumming instructional videos which are very good.
The first one was in his "African-tribal, ear to nose ring" phase
released by DCI. The others are a trilogy of videos entitled "Melodic
Drumming". These videos are very good, and highlight such things
as polyrythms and the art of compositional drumming. Heard a rumor
in an interview with him in a recent Modern Drummer that he had
been thinking about getting back together with Patrick and Warren
for a pseudo-Missing Persons album????
Terry Bozzio -although we don't hear too much of him, at least
here in Europe- is a very busy man: besides his work with
Polytown lately, he is also pretty busy working on his
drum set at home. Sure enough, all of us Zappa fans realize the
weight of Bozzio's contributions to FZ's work (just think of Live
in New York with the irresistable The Black Page), but Bozzio is a
lot more than a damn good drummer who was once member
of Zappa's band, he is one of the most innovative drummers
around: this guy was pretty early with his double bass-drum,
he was one of the first (if not the first) to mount several
cymbals on each other, thus creating some sort of
'double-deck' or 'triple-deck' or whatever (you name it!), he
was the one who started mounting (preferably thick, heavy)
cymbals in a rototomframe for a dryer, trashier
sound, he pushed Paiste (his cymbal-maker) to start
colouring their cymbals (this idea didn't seem attractive
to Paiste in the beginning, and sales-figures "proved" that
they were right, but just recently they started making
black cymbals -conceptual continuity?- under the outspoken support
of Terry Bozzio, and hey ..they do sell here in Europe!) and so
on and on ... But besides being an extremely
inventive and creative person in terms of 'use of the
equipment', Bozzio's "big thing" of the past few years is without
any doubt the devellopment of the idea of "the drummer as
a solo-artist". Through his amazing skill, and his amazing
concept and imagination, Bozzio has established the idea
of "solo-drummer". Bozzio occasionally gives master
classes in drumschools, gives clinics all over the world and plays]
solo-concerts all over the world. Last year, I was there when he
played an hour-and-a-half-concert in Amsterdam, the Netherlands,
and djeez ... I never saw a thing quite like that in my
whole life! Bozzio played a pattern with, say, both his feet,
and solo-ed over this pattern with his hands, He then changed
the pattern, started playing it with left foot and left arm,
and solo-ed with "the remaining parts of his body", and so on!
It truly flabergasted me! He calls this
"patterns-with-incredible-solos-over-it type of drumming": melodic
drumming with ostinatos. He released three lesson-videos
in which he explains his approach to the drum set
("Melodic drumming and the ostinato vol. 1,2,3"), also there
must be a video with a solo-concert of his on it, and he
released two (if I'm not mistaking) CD's with his drum
music. All of these are by post-order only: you should
ask your local music-store about that.
One thins is for shure: you really should check out this
man's solo-career! (I poured this information out of
several articles about Terry Bozzio that were published in a
Dutch magazine for drummers (Slagwerkkrant) or occasionally
in some other magazine, heard him say a few words on it
when he played in Amsterdam, and had the chance to catch a
glimpse of his videos on a music fair- and immediately decided
to buy them!)
Terry Bozzio is currently living in Austin, TX USA. What is notable,
his phone number and address are in the Austin telephone book!
Just watched the Missing Persons performance from the US festival.
Terry Bozzio was absolutely AWESOME at this show.
The Torn/Karn/Bozzio album from last year, _Polytown_,
ranks as one of my favorite CDs. Some of it sorta reminds
me of King Crimson -- David Torn's fascination with
soundscapes seems to parallel Fripp's, and the Karn/Bozzio
rhythm section is as aggressive as anything KC's done...
Compared to the Lonely Bears albums, I found Polytown to be
disappointing (I also preferred Torn's Tripping Over God).
Other places where Bozzio can be heard are Jeff Beck's Guitar
Workshop, and, for his best work, Zappa's mid-/late-70's albums.
Terry Bozzio may be the single most creative drummer currently
making music on the planet. He stretches the limits of what drums
are supposed to do and turns the instrument into another element
completely. Terry is currently working in Jeff Beck's band while
they tour the US in a package with Santana. These shows are selling
out everywhere and Terry is amazing audiences with his riveting
performances. You may contact Terry at SLAMBOZZIO @ AOL.COM for
information, CD's, Videos, merchandise, etc
Terry is now on tour with Beck and Hymas again, I saw them at
Starplex a few weeks ago, and he was incredible...
BRECKER BROS.
-------------
Michael Brecker (a little about his brother, Randy too)
At the time of the live in New York FZ,the Brecker Bros. (Michael and Randy)
were very well known studio musicians, as well as jazz fusion innovators
(Heavy Metal BeBop,etc.), > mixing jazz horn harmonies (together with
Dave Sanborn) with > down and dirty R&B and funk rhythms.
Since this time, both have continued to record with a multitude of
different artists, both jazz and pop (both played on some late 70's
Parliament-Funkadelic projects, and Michael recorded with Eric Clapton,
and toured with Paul Simon, in addition to innumerable sessions
with various jazz groups).
In the mid-80's, Michael released his first solo album with his name
as the title (with Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny, Charlie Haden, and
I think Kenny Kirkland). He has released at least two others since then.
In the early 90's, the brothers were reunited and released a Return
of the Brecker Brothers album, including an extensive tour. A second
Brecker Bros. album has since been released.
Reading something like "nothing yet" about Michael Brecker seems very
ridiculous to me. MB is one of the best-known living tenor sax
players in jazz today.
He has a fusion band together with his brother Randy
called "The Brecker Brothers", he has released three or
four albums under his own name, and he has played as
a session player on at least 500 (five-hundred!)
different albums of other artists, mostly jazz, fusion
or funk/soul. Similar comments apply to Randy Brecker.
And Ernie Watts is also a well-known jazz player who
can be heard on dozens of records. I can name a few
sources of each of the above if you are interested.
(Please excuse my English...)
NAPOLEAN MURPHY BROCK
---------------------
Joined the George Duke band in the late 70s, and recorded a few albums.
Supposedly seen in Newcastle (England) in 1989 or
1990, where he had been talking to Kitchenware Records about a solo album,
which apparently came to nothing. After leaving the music biz, he went in to
raising dogs (good occupation for an ex-Zappa player; don't know how many
poodles he got through).
JACK BRUCE
----------
Mr. Bruce played in 60s bands including "Cream" with Eric Clapton
and Ginger Baker. Recently released a Cream-like album and single
as part of the band "BBM", for "Baker, Bruce, and Moore" with Gary
Moore handling Clapton's old role.
CHUNKY
------
Nobody seems to remember Ilene Rapaport, aka Chunky. I'd be interested in
hearing what she is doing now. She had a band called Chunky, Novi and Ernie
in the 70s who played around North Hollywood. Novi played with Zappa I
believe during that period as well (she is a violist, and I forget her
name). Ernie was the token male in the band, on bass.
I'm not sure if he ever actually played with Zappa, but another violist,
Danny Seidenberg, who may have participated in some Zappa projects, is now
in Turtle Island. Does he appear on any recordings?
VINNIE COLAIUTA
---------------
I recently heard that Vinnie Colaiuta is touring with Sting. Vinnie is
doing the current tour w/Sting. They were spotted on TV in
Europe. VC did the last Sting tour in '91 which was damn good.
He plays with Sting now. I saw it on TV last week. He is still great,
although I feel he doesn't really het a change to show off that great
accompanying (sp.??) style of drumming that made it work so good with
Frank's music. Vinnie Colaiuta played with Sting last night on the
Grammys. (source: my tv)
He also drummed on Jennifer Warnes' 1986 album Famous Blue Raincoat.
Just found another album that Vinnie Colaiuta appears on
. it's another Jennifer Warnes production called The Hunter,
which dates from 1992!
As far as I remember now, he played on a few tracks on the latest
"The The" Album.
Plays on David Benoit's "Inner Motion" (one song only) .
Vinnie C. plays on Joni Mitchells "Wild Things Run Fast" (1982) and
"Dog Eat Dog" (1985). Perhaps on later albums as well, but I'm pretty
sure he didn't play on earlier albums. He left FZ in 1982. I remember
reading an interview in which Vinnie says that his first real studio
job was Al Kooper "Championship Wrestling", which was released in 1982.
Appears on a few tracks on Allan Holdsworth's Secrets and Wardensclyffe
Tower. So does Chad Wackerman.
Vince has been busy doing jazz-fusion-type things:
he appears on bassist Bunny Bruenel's 'Dedication' (Musidisc),
trumpeter Jeff Beal's 'Three Graces' (Tiloka) and guitarist (?)
Jeff Richman's 'The Way In' (MGI Records).
I think he played with Buell Neidlinger (b) , Marty Krystall (ts),
and Hugh Schick (tp) on the BIG DRUM cd dedicated to pianist Herbie Nichols.
One of my favorite albums he's on (besides Joe's Garage and Ten Summoners
Tales) is the 1991 release by Brazillian singer/songwriter/pianist Ivan
Lins (perhaps best known for his standards "The Island" and "Love Dance."
The album is called "Awa Io" and it's on reprise records.
The album also features Tony Levin on chapman stick, and Heitor T.P.
(simply red) on guitar...
Vinnie Colaiuta played drums on the album track "Breath After Breath"
from the Duran Duran album "Duran Duran (The Wedding Album)", 1993.
The song is a collaboration between Duran Duran and Milton Nascimento.
He did not tour with them.
Played on the Soundtrack to "Beaches"
I don't know if he appears on the album or not (I'll assume yes),
but Vinnie Colaiuta has appeared with John Patitucci (bassist) in
support of the latter's ANOTHER WORLD album. Reviewer Jon Andrews
said the set was long and exciting, and included "increasingly feverish
grooves with Patitucci's six-string electric bass and Gary Thomas'
soprano sax playing in unison, surrounded by thick synthesizer chords
and percussive crossrhythms from [Sammy] Figueroa and drummer Vince
Colaiuta."
Vinnie may be on some Wishful Thinking albums (a contemporary
jazz band). David Garibaldi was the drummer for the first
two albums (Wishful Thinking and Thinking Again), but was
going to leave and Vinnie was supposed to be the replacement.
I don't know if that happened or even if any more albums
were recorded, but it might be worth checking out. If so, it
may prove to be tough to get the album. It took me almost a
year to get any of the first two albums.
He also appears on all but one cut of the as-yet-unreleased Warren
Cuccurullo (aka Sophia Warren) solo album, "Thanks to Frank"
(great title, eh?)
Vinnie's new disc is called "Vinnie Colaiuta," on Stretch Records,
a subsidiary label of GRP, #STD-1110. I found it in the
Miscellaneous Jazz-C bin in my local teenage record shop. Disc features
VC on drums and programming. Rest of the cast is guest stars, a nice
collection of jazzers (Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, John Patitucci)
and ersatz jazzers (Mr. Sting & Co.)
Vinnie also appears on one or two of Vino Ginelli's(sp?) albums. Its
classic Vinnie with his phrasing over the bar lines, and other-worldly
sense of time! Also he has just released(well, maybe not just) a
solo album, the title of which eludes me right now. It might
be self-titled. The first track on it is called "I'm Tweeked",
and it rocks!
Vinny shares the drum duties with Jeff Porcaro on Nik
Kershaw's 1989 release, `The Works' on MCA.
Continuing the Duran Duran link, I *think* he was the drummer with
on various live shows promoting `Thank You'... Terry Bozzio
also plays on `Thank You'...
Vinnie is also the drummer on Warren Cuccurullo's forth-
coming solo album, `Thanks to Frank' a tribute to the late
great FZ
RAY COLLINS
-----------
Released a cassette of demos in 1993, called 'Love Songs'. Also
an album of demos in 1981(?) on Polar Records (he says from memory). An odd
character; apparently hates Zappa's guts.
I think he is briefly in "Video From Hell". Goes something like:
Collins: Is that thing recording
Zappa: No.
Collins: You're lying, the tape recorder is ALWAYS going.
...
Collins: Zappa's dishing out the shit, one more time...
It's rather funny, if I could remember at all how it went. :)
Today I was walking the two blocks between my office and my house,
whistling "Wowie Zowie". Who should I meet but Ray Collins! I introduced
myself, and he was very friendly. He is not performing
because he has no band. He mentioned the Grandmothers, but said
he's not interested in singing Zappa's music, as that was
"water under the bridge".
When I lived in L.A. I had a musician friend who knew Ray. Once
the three of us ate lunch at the Wendy's near Sunset and LaBrea.
Ray was very friendly, and the conversation mostly was about
what he'd been up to lately to make ends meet. Apparently Ray had
not been making much music and had been driving a cab amongst
other jobs.
WARREN CUCCURULLO
-----------------
Warren Cuccurullo (please note spelling, it is correct, no matter
what the liner notes say...)--in case anyone wondered what he is doing
now, he is in Duran Duran and has completely turned their sound around
and brought them into a whole new level of music. He has been with
them since 1986, and has been a full member since June 1989. The
Duran fans are being very slow to accept him, but I have won a few
converts.
If anyone has been wondering what Warren sounds like now, Duran Duran
was on MTV Unplugged Dec. 15, 1994 at 9 PM Eastern.
If you see the movie "With Honors," they (Duran Duran) did a cover
of the Led Zeppelin song "Thank You" and are on the soundtrack. Yes,
that is Warren on that great acoustic guitar and backward sounding
electric solo. He also was the guitarist on Duran Duran's recent
hits "Ordinary World," "Come Undone," and "Too Much Information."
One final note about Warren--he performed "Watermelon in Easter Hay"
as a tribute to Frank Zappa at the following Duran Duran show on the
past tour: 12/6/93 Portland OR, 12/7/93 Seattle, WA, 12/8/93 Vancouver,
BC, 1/13/94 (New York, NY) and 1/28/94 London, England.
Together with his excellent Duran Duran work of late,
Warren has recorded a tribute album to Frank Zappa,
tentatively entitled `Thanks to Frank.' He apparently
recorded and mixed the whole project in 5 days! The album
is slated for release at the tail end of '95. Musicians
featured on the album are Nick Beggs & Pino Palladino (bass)
and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums. Warren toured with Beggs and
Jerry Cuccuruloo (brother) - on drums - in the summer of '94
The title track to `Thanks to Frank' is a live recording
culled from this tour. He toured the UK with Joe Travers on
drums (he of Z, with Dweezil & Ahmet). If there are any
Beggs/Palladino fans out there, mail me! Theyre' cool.
----
Hi--here is the info about Thanks 2 Frank.
The songs were written during the 10 day period before
Warren's Stone Pony solo show, which was July 6, 1994.
He performed most of them at that show, plus a few Zappa
tunes, Duran Duran's "Ordinary World," and Missing
Persons' "Discoveries."
The album HAS been completed. The title is Thanks 2
Frank, and he recorded and mixed it himself in 5 days.
The drummer on the album is Vinnie Colaiuta, session
drummer to countless bands, and former member of Frank
Zappa's bands. He also played on Duran Duran's "Breath
after Breath."
The bassist on the album is Pino Palladino. I haven't
been able to find out much about him, except that he
was the bassist on Melissa Etheridge's latest album.
On the last song of the album, a ballad called "Thanks
2 Frank," the drummer is Warren's brother, Jerry Cuccurullo
(a NJ-based musician who has toured with Dale Bozzio) and
the drummer is Nick Beggs (formerly of Kajagoogoo).
This song was recorded
live at the Stone Pony show.
Warren is represented by Left Bank Management but
has not found a record deal, so the album has not
been released at this time.
The track listing is as follows:
Canarsie Daiquiri
Retro Harmonix
Next Page
Jam Man Jam
Galactic Ballerina
Hey Joe!
Break It Up
Indian Time Zones
Tardinha
The Spider
Thanks 2 Frank
PAMELA DES BARRES
-----------------
Played Journalist in 200 Motels. Was a member of The GTOs ("Girls
Together Outrageously") whose album was produced by Zappa. Author
of book "I'm with the band". Has slept with Chris Hillman, Mick
Jagger, Jimmy Page, etc, etc, etc.
DR. JOHN
--------
The latest release by Dr. John (Mac Rebennack), TELEVISION, has ex-Zappa
concert members Ronnie Cuber (baritone sax, horn arr. on some tracks)
and Randy Brecker (trumpet).
In his recently released autobiography, "Under a Hoodoo Moon", Dr. John
has some info. on when he played with Zappa in LA. He says that he was
asked to play the same 5-6 notes over and over again while a chorus made
wierd noises. He says that he asked to go to the bathroom and then never
returned. From his description, it appears to be the sessions for
FREAK OUT that produced either, "Help, I'm a Rock," or "Return of the
son of Monster Magnet."
GEORGE DUKE
-----------
Released many jazz albums, some of which are:
"Faces in Reflection" - 1974
Ndugu (Leon Chancler) - drums
John Heard - bass
No FZ related material
"Feel" - 1974
Ndugu (Leon Chancler) - drums
John Heard - bass
FZ appears as Obdewl X on "Love" and "Old Slipper"
"The Aura Will Prevail" - 1975
cover of "Enchidna's Arf" and "Uncle Remus"
Ndugu (Leon Chancler) - drums
Alfonso Johnson - bass
No Zappa alumnus on this one.
"I Love the Blues, She Heard My Cry"
Tom Fowler - bass
Ruth Underwood - marimba, gongs, percussion
Bruce Fowler - trombone
Johnny 'Guitar' Watson - vocals, guitar
Not all the above musicians are featured on all tracks.
"Liberated Fantasies"
Napolean Murphy Brock - vocals
Ruth Underwood - voice of riddle
Played with Billy Cobham in 1974, 1976.
Released collaborations with Stanley Clarke (even doing "Louie Louie")
Also reasonably popular as a producer among young black artistes (sorry,
I can't name any!) Continues to release albums.
George Duke produced one or two songs for one of the last Miles Davis albums.
George is currently working on his next solo release. Recent projects
include production work for Johnny Gill and Anita Baker, music direction
for Comic Relief, incidental music for assorted children's television shows,
and "The Muir Woods Suite", an album of original orchestral music. (source:
Keyboard Magazine, April 1994)
George Duke did production and practically all instruments on the
Denise Williams world-wide hit "Let's hear it for the boy" sometime
in the mid/late 80s. I've seen an interview where from memory he
said that he did most of the instrumentation using memorymoogs
and minimoogs.
Both George Duke and Ian Underwood performed on Quincy Jones:
"Back on the Block". Ian did synthesizer programming on several
songs, and George is featured solist playing fender rhodes on two
songs ("New Man Woman" and "Brasilian Wedding Song")
ANSLEY DUNBAR
-------------
Played with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers prior to joining the Mothers.
Released "Blue Whale" in 1970 which included a sixteen minute "Willy the Pimp"
He was with Jefferson Starship. I don't even know if they exist now.
I think Aynsley Dunbar was in the original Journey for a time. Poor lad.
Yes, but that was pre-schlock (read: pre-Perry) Journey. Their first
album was actually pretty good -- sort of heavy fusion-influenced rock.
There is a band called Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation with a three albums
(according to holonet). I'm not sure from what era they are.
Aynsley Dunbar RETALIATION. From the late 60's/early 70's.
I have no idea what the music was like, or who he was retaliating
against. The ads for his albums (remember vinyl?) used to appear on a lot of
record sleeves in the early 70's. As said before he played with Mayall in
the 60's. I think from '66 to '67. Last week I got my hands on their first LP
in a second hand shop. It is produced by John Mayall. No release year on
the cover, but my guess is '68. The music is basically blues or R&B oriented,
including an organ. The bass player is Alex Dmchowski, alias Erroneous.
About Ainsley Dunbar's Retaliation: he was picked to be Cream's drummer,
but Jack Bruce upstaged him somehow. Clapton pissed him off, so he
"retaliated" with his band. They are circa 1967-1969. One of
the albums is live, one rehashes older material (believe it or not).
They are worth owning...
Aynsley had played with Dweezil (playing drums on one of Dweezil's albums ).
He left Jefferson Starhip quite a while ago, played one album with Whitesnake
before Vai joined. Was interviewed by Guitar Player for their special ZAPPA!
mag in 1992. (source: Zappa! mag & my record collection)
JS from '79 to '83 covering Freedom At Point Zero, Modern Times, and
Winds Of Change. Unfortunately, the Mickey Thomas era. JS
was resurrected by Paul Kantner a few years ago (thankfully
they sounds more like the Blows/Dragonfly group than the MT era),
no Dunbar.
My friend Mike recently saw AD on tour with The Pat Travers Band.
Actually got to meet the man. Said he was *immensely* cool.
Very nice, well mannered and personable. Another snippet for
the archives on Zappa members.
If by "the drummer from Journey" you mean Aynsley Dunbar, I'd say yes,
he's one of the very few real rock drummers who can also play real jazz.
He did both with Zappa, who he played with for years. For rock, also check
out his playing with Bowie ("Pin-Ups"--some of his best recorded performances),
Nils Lofgren (first LP), Flo & Eddie, and Lou Reed ("Berlin" LP).
For jazz playing, listen to Zappa's "Grand Wazoo" and "Waka/Jawaka";
on both of these, his drumming is magnificent, and is "real" jazz playing,
not the fake stuff that rock drummers sometimes try to pull off.
TONY DURAN
----------
Found on the "For Real" by Ruben and the Jets album mentioned in some posts.
Should we remember that the lad played with Captain Beefheart? OK, we won't.
ROY ESTRADA
-----------
Formed Little Feat with Lowell George. Was in band for first couple of
albums.
Last played with Zappa around 1979(around Baby Snakes time).
He of course spent several productive years in the Magic Band, under the
pseudonym Orejon.
There is the possibility of a cassette release of demos by Roy
on Billy James' Electric Yak Records out of North Carolina. Will post again
if I hear anything.
Here's a bit about Roy Estrada:
After Roy left Little Feat (I don't know why he left), he settled
here in Loveland, Colorado. (I don't know what trick of fate brought
him to Loveland, either. Perhaps Motherly not brotherly or otherly love.)
He raised a kid here and drove a truck through Colorado and Wyoming,
delivering movies to various theaters. I used to work at one of the
places where he made his deliveries.
But I didn't really meet Roy until (sometime in the late 70s) he came
up and introduced himself to some friends of mine who were playing at
a bar in Fort Collins (a somewhat bigger town north of Loveland). He said
he really liked their playing because they reminded him a lot of Little
Feat (they did a few Feat covers), and he wanted to jam. They subsequently did.
I got to meet Roy during one of these jams and/or one of the accompanying
informal parties. Roy's a regular sort of guy and (as you might expect)
a lot of fun. He also just liked to hang out, drink beer, work on cars, etc.
Not too long after my friends and Roy started hanging out, Zappa
came to Fort Collins to play at the university there (Colorado State).
Roy got everybody in to the rehearsal. Frank gave Roy a big hug and
had him sing some of the falsetto parts to show the new band how it
was done. (I guess Roy used to sing the really high stuff on the old
Mothers albums.) They hung out for the show.
After that, Roy started thinking about getting back into the music business.
He did some demo tapes with a few of my friends and tried to shop them
around with some producers in LA. I don't know if anything ever happened
with the tapes, or if they have any correlation to the Flying Yak demo
tapes you mention. Roy did start showing up on some of Zappa's stuff
again about this time. May just be coincidence.
Anyway, in April I talked to one of my buddies who did the demo tapes with
Roy. (This guy's name is Mark Radley, and he plays a pretty mean blues guitar.)
He's stayed in touch with Roy and said the Estrada man is out in LA now,
doing music and driving a truck on the side (maybe he's delivering movies
again). (Kind of amazing that someone with as much musical talent is kind
of out on the sidelines when there's so much crap that you hear. Nobody
ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American people, I guess.)
AD was session drummer on the Herbie Mann album 'London Underground'
(circa 1974). He alternated with Robbie MacIntosh, late of the
Average White Band.
Janet Ferguson Hof
------------------
I traded E-mail with Janet recently. She now works
in some capacity for Disney! (The very thought!). She appeared on George
Duke's album "The Aura Will Prevail," in 1975, along with the albums by
Frank that she appears on. She said she has done no other vocal work
up to this time. On the Duke album, she is billed as "Amanda B Reckonwith."
She told me that George Duke came up with the name. She also said she
was expecting to see Jeff Simmons soon (he lives in Seattle), and
had recently spoken to Cal Schenkel, who still lives in the Boston area.
FLO and EDDIE
-------------
After leaving the Mothers, they released at least 5 albums with
the name Flo and Eddie.
1- The Phlorescent Leech and Eddie (1972)
2- Flo and Eddie (1973)
3- Illegal, Immoral and Fattening (1975)
4- Moving Targets (1976)
5- Rock Steady with Flo and Eddie (1981)
#4, Moving Targets, contained the song "Keep it Warm" which had quite a bit
of airplay.
#5, Rock Steady, was re-released in 1987 by Rhino records as "Prince Flo &
Jah Edward." This contains a reggae version of Happy Together!
Rhino also put out a compilation CD in 1987 called "The Best of Flo &
Eddie," which contained tracks from the first 4 albums above, plus songs
from the movies "Dirty Ducks" and "Texas Detour." Flo and Eddie have done
lots of soundtrack and backing vocal work. (They sing backup in the song
"Bang a gong.")
#3, Illegal Immoral and Fattening, was recently released on CD.
Also a disk called "The Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie Captured Live" was
released by Rhino in 1992. It contains the old Turtles hits like Happy
Together, Elanoire (sp), and others... The white hair and beard look
- - - different - but the voices are still the same.
Reunited the Turtles a year or two back and did a 20th or 25th anniversary
tour (or maybe even a 30th anniversary?).
Oops, I should have included Flo and Eddie in the news about being in the
studio with Terry and Duran Duran. Apparently they did backing vocals. This
is all verified information from Warren Cuccurullo himself.
Flo and Eddie were also the afternoon drive-time DJs at WXRK-FM
("K-Rock" -- Howard Stern's home station) in New York for a while, about
a year ago. Anybody know why they left the airwaves?
I really don't think they were cut out for that industry. Probably the
stresses were too much for them, and I don't expect they liked living in
New York. Howard thought they were idiots and used to poke fun at them
a lot (lucky for them they weren't in competition).
One snippet had two Flo & E impersonators talking about what washed up
boring has-been rock stars from the 70's they could call today. One of
them suggested the guitarrist from Blodwyn Pig. I died laughing.
They have been doing The Bottom Line in NYC for the last umteen years on New
Years. I saw them last year and two years before that as well. Excellent show.
They usually do a little segment on the Zappa years, but most of the show is
Turtles material (which is nice, but after a while, it takes on an oldies show
feel). They usually do the Sanzini Brothers. A bit slower than on the Illegal
Immoral and Fattening album, but still worth while. Last year they did a long
Nikki Hoi segment. I have a homebrew bootleg of the show from 90-91. They did a
Batman spoof in the beginning, and a Menudo spoof after the intermission.
Flo and Eddie have played at the Bottom Line in New York practically every
New Year's Eve weekend that I can remember since the mid 70's. On one of
these occasions in the late 70's, Frank Zappa showed up and played a few
songs with them. Last year at the Bottom Line they did a large chunk of
side one of We're only in it for the Money for "all the Zappa fans out
there," which was odd because they didn't sing on that album. Most of the
audience had no idea what was going on, but they did a great job.
>Flo and Eddie
And if you think about it, flow and eddy are two things that water does...
pretty neat pun huh?
I can't believe no one here has mentioned the movie Dirty Duck. Has no one here
ever seen this? It's an animated movie by Flo and Eddie with the songs Cheap as
the movie theme (now this is a cheap little movie), Karma Sutra Time, We're
Living in a Jungle and a few others.
Flo & Eddie also did backup vocals on the Alice Cooper album _From the Inside_.
For you completists out there (I haven't seen this mentioned yet),
Flo & Eddie did the prominent background vocals on Springsteen's
"Hungry Heart".
They wrote/performed the music for the Care Bears.
Luckily we don't get this in the UK, so no idea what it is/was.
They also appeared on the 'Gumby' compo album (some sort of
conservation doodad), along with Dweezil.
Also, I heard that they did the backing vocals for Marc Bolan's "Bang a Gong".
Only 70% sure on this one. I think my source was _I'm with the band_
Yeah I know some of you folks here don't care much for the F & E era, but
for those of us who do, let me say that they did excellent versions
tonight (12/94) at the Bottom Line of the following:
Magic Fingers Mystery Roach
Lonesome Cowboy Burt The Air
Call Any Vegetable Eddie Are You Kidding
We caght the Dec 31st 1994 early Bottom Line show. They did
a buncha Turtles, then announced it was "opera time" Proceeded
to do some 200 motels (inc. Lonesome Cowboy Burt), Eddie are You
Kidding and Call any Vegatable. Voices in fine form. Mark mentioned
that Howard is now a restarauteur in Oregon; Howard said Mark is
back in college! "I made the Dean's list!" crowed Mark.They
mentioned the anniversary of the death of F.Z. and said "we love
doin' this shit" .
Old news but ... I saw F&E on a tour in April of '80 or '81
They did a great satire of Pink Floyd's The Wall. They
called it "The Fence". The Wall sucks, so it was good to
see a send-up on it.
THE FOWLERS (all five or six of 'em)
------------------------------------
The Fowlers appeared behind Stan Ridgway's vocals on "The Cannon Song"
in the Kurt Weill/Bert Brecht tribute album, Lost In The Stars.
Has a disk out with most of the brass/woodwind section of the '88 band
titled BREAKFAST FOR DINOSAURS.
"Breakfast For Dinosaurs". To put my impression of this one i
perspective I should first say that I *did* like "Hunter" a lot although
I can understand why you may have not have. Some of it sort of comes
across as stuff that might make it onto a 'soft' jazz radio playlist.
And although that kind of stuff usually makes me want to stick my head
in the potty and hurl... I dunno, I can't help but liking it. I find
myself putting it on if I'm reading or surfing the 'Net and don't want
to get _too_ drawn into the music so I can stay focused on what I'm doing.
It *will* draw me out and transport me sometimes though, so at least for
me, there is something happening here. "Dinosaurs" also falls into this
'commercial' style although there are a few more kick_ass numbers on this
one. Vinnie Colaiuta is kinda wow on the three numbers he appears on and
Tom Fowler does some electric bass stuff that gets me twitchin'. Ike just
appears on one tune and although it isn't the best thing I've heard him do,
this song has a real nice full ensemble instrumental break in it.
The electric guitarist on this album, Mike O'Neill does some great
vamping throughout.
Steve Fowlers' "Captured". This one doesn't really get
me too excited. It's nice. It has its' moments. It has a decent vocal
number with <grin> Marvin Fowler singing. Mike O'Neill is present and
provides some swank guitar. Chester is perfection. If I wandered into a
club and these guys were playing this I'd clap real loud and mean it.
If my apart- ment were burning down though it would be way down on the
list of stuff to get rescued from the music collection.
Steve Fowler also has two releases: 'Captured' and 'The Last Blue Sky'.
Most of this stuff (except 'Ants Can Count' on Terra Nova Records) is on
the Brothers' own Fossil Records. Some of them were also in a band called
Airpocket who had albums released in Japan, I believe.
The Fowlers (Walt, Brice, Steve and Tom) in "The Ears Have it"
BRUCE FOWLER
------------
Bruce Fowler plays on:
Woody Herman -- Somewhere, 1969 w/ Bill Chase, Sal Nistico, Ronnie Cuber
(who is on FZ's "In New York")
Joey Sellars -- Something for Nothing, 1989 w/ Kei Akagi
I remembered the title to the Bruce Fowler/Phil Teele LP (soon to be CD).
It's called 'Synthetic Division'. Jolly odd it is too...
Bruce has two solo CDs:
"Entropy", 1993
Straight-ahead jazz-rock. First, the one that really knocked my
socks off is the one that you (DH) already have - "Entropy".
Did ya notice that Tom is on acoustic bass all the way on this.
In fact there is no electric anything; no guitar, no synths..
HEY! *Its the Fowler Brothers Unpluged*. The song "A Bash Fit
For a King" is worth the whole price of the disk. Try sitting
through that one without moving. (For extra credit: What old
American TV show theme song gets quoted by the piano at the
beginning of the last section of this tune?).
This disk goes on my top shelf.
Bruce Fowler: Trombone and Words
Steve Fowler: Also Sax, Flute
Tom Fowler: Acoustic Bass, Violin
Walt Fowler: Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Albert Wing: Tenor Sax
Chester Thompson: Drums
Billy Childs: Piano
Kei Akagi: Piano
Kurt McGettrick: Baritone Sax, Eb Contrabass Clarinet
Phil Teele: Bass Trombone
Suzette Moriarty: French Horn
"Ants Can Count" , 1990
This baby to me comes across as more of a collection of brass chamber
ensemble pieces than a jazz thing. Eight out of the eleven cuts
are sans rhythm section and feature, besides Bruce and his brothers,
Steve only plays sax on one tune and sticks to flute elsewhere.
If you were to get me in a headlock and not let go till I said something
critical about this CD then maybe after a while I'd blurt out that the
production could have been better and that a couple of tunes end a tad
abruptly. Otherwise, to my ears this is a good listen. Check out Bruce
doing circular breathing on the solo number called "One Man One Bone".
I will never understand how anybody can do that.
Bruce Fowler: trombone
Walt Fowler: trumpet
Steve Fowler: flute & alto saz
Suzette Moriarty: french horn
Phil Teele: bass trombone
Ed Fowler: piono & bass
Tom Fowler: bass
Ed Mann: percussion (two tracks)
Billy Mintz: drums (two tracks)
Chester Thompson: drums (one track)
Clark Woodard: drums (one track)
Bruce Fowler appears in the Robert Altman film Short Cuts, which
is currently showing, at least in NYC. Bruce has the part of the
trombone player, oddly enough, in a small jazz combo in an LA
nightclub called the Low Note. He's in quite a few scenes
throughout the movie, and is seen and heard playing the
trombone, but has no spoken lines. The movie has an all-star
cast; among the other musicians in the film are Tom Waits and
Huey Lewis, who both have substantial speaking roles. That band also
included Greg Cohen on bass and NRBQ's Terry Adams on piano.
Bruce is credited with orchestration on the sound track for the
soon-to-be-released Lion King (this is a Disney animation with
music by Elton John, who also sings the title cut, and lyrics by
Tim Rice).
For those of you interested in obscure session work by former Zappa
sidemen here's a new one for you to check out.
"Rhythm of the Pride Lands","Music inspired by Disneys's The Lion King"
"Warthog Rhapsody"
Arranged by Hans Zimmer and Bruce Fowler
Alto Sax: Steve Fowler
Tenor Sax: Albert Wing
Trumpet: Walter Fowler
Clarinet: Kurt McGettrick
That's not the only thing he's been up to. This film thing seems to be Bruce's
new trend---he was also responsible for orchestrating a musak-style version of
"Superfreak" for the movie "Batman Returns" a couple of years ago.
I saw his name in the credits of "Speed" last night. I think he was one
of three orchestrators/musical directors/soloists, I can't remember exactly.
I saw Bruce playing in Vinnie Golea's (sp?) band at the L.A.
Art museum a couple weeks back. The music was interesting space-jazz
that I enjoyed, but my jazz-fan ( and Fowler/Zappa fan) friend who came
along, was not as receptive. Very long pieces. In fact, I think the
last set may have been one long song.
Bruce Fowler also did some work with Oingo Boingo in the '80s. Check out the
"Boingo Alive" and "Dead Man's Party" CDs. There may be others, but since my
collection is small, I cant' say for sure.
When I saw the movie 'Shortcuts', the trombone player in the jazz
band reminded me of Bruce Fowler -- and he really was it.
TOM FOWLER
----------
Tom has a solo release 'Heartscapes' which sounds a bit like Level 42.
Also, see the "Fowler's "
WALT FOWLER
-----------
Walt is on Chad Wackerman's latest, The View.
Walt has a solo CD due for release soon.
I just found Walt Fowler playing trumpet on 70's Johnny Guitar Watson
albums "Funk beyond the call of dutry" and "A real mother". I got them
for years but never have seen Walt. Credits for studio engeneer go to
Kerry McNabb, who also dis this job on a bunch of Zappa recordings.
Both of these Watson records are great, btw. (If your into 70
cool-kinda-funk-blues-pop.
BUNK GARDNER
------------
Is a member of the "Grandmothers" (or was it Buzz ?) currently touring in
Europe. Also in this band are Jimmy Carl Black and Don Preston.
LOWELL GEORGE
-------------
Appeared on the GTO's album, "Permanent Damage"
Formed Little Feat with Roy Estrada.
Passed away in 1978, shortly after his album "Thanks, I'll Eat It Here"
came out.
New CD with old stuff (pre-Little Feat) released in 1993 - "Lightning
Rod Man". Lightning Rod Man actually features FZ as producer
and stuff, as well as Ian Underwood and other Mothers. It was
recorded before he joined the MOI by a band called The Factory.
Played Shakuhachi (bamboo flute) on Akiko Yano (later Mrs Ryuichi
Sakamoto)' debut album.
JIM GORDON
----------
Played Drums on Apostrophe, and is probably best known for co-writing Layla
with Eric (God! It's God! I see God!) Clapton.
His current claim to fame is that he's locked away forever in an insane
asylum for chopping up his mother, after becoming convinced that she was the
devil.
JOHN GUERIN
-----------
The drummer on Joni Mitchell's "Mingus" is John Guerin. John Guerin and
bass player Max Bennett were both in Tom Scotts band that backed Joni
in the Early seventies. They can be heard on "Miles of Aisles".
Guerin, Bennett and Tom Scott appear on Mitchells solo records from the
mid seventies. Bennett and Guerin appear on "King Kong, Jean-Luc
Ponty plays the music of FZ".
If this is the same guy who goes by John Guerin, and plays drums, in the
mid 70's he played with the LA Express with Tom Scott, I believed he was either
married to or "going steady" with Joni Mitchell at this time as he
played on several cuts on her "Court & Spark" Album I believe. He also
played drums on a very good studio big-band album written by Pat Williams
which contained the oft played by college bands tune entitled "Threshold".
I believe John was a TOP call LA studio drummer in this era.
John was also in a latter-day version of the Byrds (early 70's) formed
to fulfill contractual concert obligations.
BOB HARRIS - two guys
---------------------
Frank Zappa employed two guys named Bob Harris. The '70s Bob
can be seen in the picture gracing the contents page of one of the tribute
mags that came out about Frank after he died. It's a picture of the Flo/Eddie
band. He's right above Frank's left shoulder. Don't know where he is now.
FZ said in an interview in Society Pages that the one who played in the
Flo & Eddie Mothers is not the same as the one who played with Zappa
in the early 80s.
Thana Harris was the wife of Bob Harris #2. Her vocals on Sleep Dirt
were not recorded at the original sessions, but were overdubbed years
later for the CD release. The 80s Bob Harris lives in central Colorado
and performs on the weekends with his wife, Thana.
There are two photos of Bob Harris #1 in the recent Goldmine
article. In one of these, he's playing a trumpet--just like
Bob Harris #2. But I do recall FZ saying in an interview in
Society Pages that the two Bob Harrises were different guys.
It could be mentioned that the 80:s Bob Harris appeared on
Steve Vai?s "Flexable", and also, I think, on "Passion and
Warfare". Thana Harris also performed on "Flexable".
SUGARCANE HARRIS
----------------
I haven't seen anything from SUGARCANE HARRIS in years, but he's no spring
chicken anymore. I did see lots of his jazz/blues albums from the 70's
on a German label in a used record store in New Orleans recently, and now I'm
sorry I didn't buy them.
Somebody told me a couple of years ago that Sugercane had died. I hope
I'm wrong on this one.
I got to see him in LA (Long Beach actually?) in the early 70s. I've lost
my memory of this but it may have been with Dewey (his original pairing,
Don and Dewey - cf. Freak Out). I love his Epic album Sugarcane (E30027),
produced by Johnny Otis, with a back cover by Rick Griffin. A wonderful
musician. I used to live in his little house.
Around 87-88 there was this band called Tupelo Chain sex. Can't remember much
about them; I know they toured North America and had one or two lps. Guess they
were based in California but that's not entirely sure. From an interview I read
in some "alternative" rock mag of the time Sugarcane Harris was sporadically in
and out of the band; the reason he was not a regular is that he kept having
trouble with the law and had to do stints in prison. Drugs, I think.
I hope this is a helpful bit of information. Discography-wise, after his
great debut on Epic he recorded two (I think) albums with blues guitarist
Harvey Mandel. One was named "Pure Food and Drug Act" and had a cover of
"Eleanor Rigby". Then as you said he did three or four albums on the German
MPS label. I remember one of these was a live set with Robert Wyatt and had
a cover of Horace Silver's "Song for my Father"; the lp was called "Sugarcane's
got the blues". Another album was named "Cup full of Dreams".
As Aynsely Dunbar he played with John Mayall. However not at the same
time. Sugercane was with Mayall in the early 70's. At least he participate
on the double LP "Ten Years have Gone" released 1973.
RALPH HUMPHREY
--------------
I have a friend who studied at GIT (Guitar Institute of Technology, I think),
three years ago. He told me that Ralph was teaching drumming at PIT
(Percussion Institute of Technology), and referred to him as a "short, very
kind guy with a big beard. Ralph's speciality obviously was polyrythmics
(which it should be if you've played with FZ). He also had a band with
other guys at the school, called Outside Men, who played "interesting,
experimental music".
My friend also told me that Ralph played with Michael Ruff, an american
FM-rock guitarist.
Drums on Manhatten Transfer's "The Christmas Album" (1992).
I saw Ralph Humphrey 2 years ago at the NAMM Show (National Association
of Music Merchants) demoing drums for some drum manufacturer. I knew
of his work on Apostrophe so when his demo was finished I asked him
about it. He rolled his eyes as if he had forgotten the recording and
then it came to him and he smiled a s he nodded and confirmed that it
was he who beat the skins on 'St Alphonzo's Pancake Breakfast'.
If you want to find out where Ralph got the class that he brought
to Zappa's stuff, check him out with the Don Ellis big band from
the early '70's. A very young Humphrey shows where he got the
polyrythmic chops to work with Frank. Ellis never did anything
in common time, and Humphrey's work in this monster big band was
amazing. ["Don Ellis at Fillmore" (Columbia: G30243);
" Tears of Joy" (Columbia: G30927), and "Autumn"
(Columbia: CS9721 - produced by Al Kooper, by the way)].
ELLIOT INGBER
-------------
Elliot Ingber was in the Mothers at the time of "Freak Out" (oddly
enough, in those days FZ did not consider himself good enough to be
the lead guitarist in his own band!) but left shortly thereafter to
form the Fraternity of Man with Richie Hayward and Martin Kibbee
(who was the "Fred Martin" credited on some Little Feat songs).
They did only one LP that I know of, which had the original version
of "Don't Bogart That Joint" (which became world famous when "Easy
Rider" came out), as well as a version of "Oh No" a few years before
FZ would put it out himself on "Weasels Ripped My Flesh".
Eliot Ingber Was the lead guitarist of the short-lived but
notorious *Fraternity of Man* (of *Don't Bogart That Joint* fame)
c. 1968-69.
Of course, Hayward hooked with Lowell George and Roy Estrada
(when the Mothers disbanded in 69) to form Little Feat, which is
where the Feat/Ingber connection comes in.
Elliot's tenure with Beefheart was brief; he joined right after
"Lick My Decals Off" and played most of the tour in support of the
record but quit midway due to (supposedly) a distaste for life on
the road. He was christened Winged Eel Fingerling and did record
the next CB album "The Spotlight Kid" but didn't tour with him any
further. I heard a rumor he is now a mailman.
He was also involved with the Mallard project (2 albums) -
which is the Magic band (sans captain) and with real (??) names -
their eponymously titled first album (on virgin) is available
and well recommended.
There's also some Ingber-material on "looking up grannies dress"
by the Grandmothers. That's right. And on the first Grandmothers
album titled "The Grandmothers," (1980 Rhino Records) there are two
songs by Elliot Ingber:
"A Bit Blue" "We Don't Feed No Livestock Here"
Elliot Ingber - guitar Elliot Ingber - lead guitar
Johnny Dyre - harp Ira Ingber - washboard
Larry Taylor - guitar "Lil' Johnny" - guitar & vocal
[recorded in the early '70s] Richie Hayward - drums
[recorded in 1971]
The biography on the album cover says "Elliot Ingber lives in
Hollywood and keeps himself in shape by riding a 15-speed racer
and drinking lots of water. He's been writing his very different
blues and rock." [note: circa 1980]
The second Grandmothers album titled "Looking Up Granny's Dress"
(1982 Rhino Records) also has a song by Elliot Ingber on it
"Gingerwail"
Elliot Ingber - lead guitar
Ira Ingber - guitar & bass
Don U. Matic - drums
[recorded in ????]
Robbert Heederik
Archive-name: zappa-faq-whatever/part2
----------------------------------------------------------------
| alt.fan.frank-zappa FAQ Whatever Happened To ... |
| (Part 2 of 2) |
| Maintained by Douglas Obrecht (obr...@rd.qms.com) |
| Revision 5.5.5, December 21, 1995 |
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==================
EDDIE JOBSON
------------
Before joining FZ Jobson had played in Curved Air and Roxy Music and had done
various studio dates / guest apearances (sp?). After leaving FZ he formed
"UK" together with Bill Bruford, Allan Holdsworth and John Wetton.
After the first album (called "UK") Holdsworth and Bruford left. Bruford
was replaced by none other than Terry Bozzio. In this line up they recorded
"Danger Money" and "Night after Night", a live album. "UK" split up
in december '79. Jobson then joined Jethro Tull for an album (called "A") and
a tour. In '83 he recorded "The Green Album" as a member of "Zinc" a band put
together by Jobson. Since then he's been doing commercials, writing scores
for TV showes and synth-programming. Released one solo album called "Theme of
Secrets". (1985)
Anyway, while flipping though the TV last Friday night, I caught the end
credits of the NBC show "Viper". Nothing big, except when I saw "Music
composed by Eddie Jobson". I couldn't believe it. For those who don't
know, he is on Zappa's "Live In New York" CD. I had no idea what he was
up to nowadays, so I was glad to see he is still around. A side note,
this guy has also played with Yes, Jethro Tull, U.K., and a few other
bands. Very versatile guy.
Also worth mentioning is Eddie Jobson's _Theme of Secrets_ CD. Released
on the Private Music label in 1985. All compositions were composed and
performed by Eddie Jobson on the Synclavier Music Computer.
I might add that Allan Holdsworth left U.K. (the band) because Jobson
insisted he should play *exactly* the same solo every night... That's the
reason supplied in his autobio "Reaching for the Uncommon Chord"
(recommended!) A FAIR, the book also has some mention of F.Z.
The last I've heard from keyboardist/electric violinist maestro was
his album he did on the Private Music label called "Inner Secrets"
(?) in 1985. He also contributed to a piano compilation from the same
label called Piano One in 1986. Since then I haven't heard or read
anything about him or his music projects.
I thought his Zinc album "The Green Album", released in 1983 was/is
a gem. The lyrics to his son "Listen to Reason" include the following:
"high-fi sounds and new effects, Green is now, The Pink is next (Listen
to reason, oh, it stands to reason). Well I think he should have
followed through on that proposition. Having a series of prog-space rock
albums based on different colors is a great concept. I'm still waiting...
In a recent interview Bill Bruford said that EJ is now a producer
for TV ads, films for TV and also owns a big production studio in New York.
Jobson is now reforming U.K. with Wetton (and maybe Bruford,Holdsworth
only as guests an album). The record should be out at February.
Check out more news in the U.K. fan club on the Net.
MIKE KENEALLY
-------------
Solo stuff, released Hat. Helped organize Zappa's Universe back in 91
and probably was involved in the post production of the CD/Video.
Currently working on a second solo album, when not
on tour with Z. Unfortunately it won't be finished until August 94.
If it's as good as 'hat.', it'll be fab and worth all your pennies.
Mike Keneally is currently touring with Z & is a columnist
for "Guitar Player". (source:Late Show last Monday/ Guitar Player mag.)
subject: Mike Keneally in JapanIt was a small studio. 8th floor of the
Shinjuku Disc Union building.
There's only 30+ people there but the space was almost packed.
Both the store and the record company virtually no advertising about
this event. I think there is dead-line problem, probably. Maybe his
schedule is very tight. And this trip is mainly for promotion, doing
interviews for press. So I have to thank them just giving us a chance
to see him perform. Mr. Keneally appeared at 5:00 pm. Everyone welcomed
him with huge applause. After brief introduction by the staff, Mike took
(his?) guitar. It was an Ovation acoustic. He performed in completely
'unplugged' mode. "Open Up", "Idiot Bastard Son" and a few songs from
BOILS THAT DUST SPECK. The performance was short but strong. Sometimes
he play very fluid like ones on Zappa's Universe. and there's the moment
he went rough, hard-strumming style. and his singing was very emotional.
Sometimes he suddenly burst into screaming! I was surprised. Because
being an acoustic set, I expected kind of sweet songs, played tenderly.
But anyway, I was massively impressed. That's for sure. Then next,
audience participation time (not really). Nobody even try to ask him
a question so I was only questioner. Here's Mike said to me:
Z's second album, Music For Pet, will be out this year.
Scott Thunes is no longer with Z.
Mike apparently not happy with Zappa's Universe CD. When I asked
about touring of ZU, Mike said that Joel Thome might be thinking of
it but he do not want to take part in it. No ZU anymore.
About a rumour that Mike is new 'vaultmaster' for the Frank Zappa
archive. This is not true. Mike is helping Gail for some projects
but never been in such a role. He already knows such a rumor has been
around in internet. After two concerts with Shankar, Mike took
participated in his album recording. It was completed but unreleased.
Anyway 'that's not good, so you can forget about it,' Mike says.
Paris tribute show is just postponed. It seemed not being completely
cancelled. In conversation about his current activities, Mike revealed
that he has recorded with Henry Kaiser. I couldn't believe it so I had
to repeat asking. Yes, Henry Kaiser! I have confirmed it.
It was quartet; Mike, Kaiser with a bass and a drum. It was not
very improvisational nor noise-oriented. '(the recording is) very
interesting and Henry is a very good guy', Mike says. This is also
'out this year.' Mike is very generous, kindly answered my questions.
And then, people got signed, took photograph with him. Some people
got signed on their 'hat.' I, personally, said to him that you should
refrain from Zappa-cover doing things and concentrate on your own music.
I just want to listen more your stuff. --- That's what I really like to
say to him and I made it. Who knows what he think about my comment...
Anyway, it was memorable experience, indeed. Thanks, Mr. Keneally.
As you are probably aware Mike has been on the net for a short while.
There is Mike Keneally home page at:
http://psy.ucsd.edu/~scott/keneally.html
Keneally here. I finally managed to sneak enough time away from my day
job at the multi-colored aquarium-pebble factory to cobble together
another solo opus... BOIL THAT DUST SPECK - A cornucopia of moods,
rhythms & snide comments. You'll smile & hop, your brow will furrow,
your cranium walls will be a vivid emerald green.
Mike Keneally's second solo album cam out late '94, it's called
'Boil That Dust Speck'. It is phenominal. He has a
solo band that he will be touring with sometime after the next
'Z' tour is over with. His band is called "Mike Keneally and
Beer For Dolphins", if my memory serves me correctly, Taos Panos
plays drums and Z's current bassist also is in Beer for Dolphins.
Mike's newest album, "Boil That Dust Speck" is out on Immune Records -
it is a total heavy rocking guitar fest - 30 tracks of great stuff.
Not as kooky as _Hat_, but still an excellent album.
MICHAEL KENYON
--------------
This entry is here for the "completists". Michael Kenyen is the infamous
Illinois Enema Bandit. Per the news account:
"Michael H. Kenyon, 30, the suspected enema bandit who terrorized
coeds at the University of Illinois for 10 years, has pleaded
guilty in Urbana, Ill., to six counts of armed robbery. He has
admitted administering enemas to woman victims in at least three
of the six robberies."
FZ wrote "The Illinois Enema Bandit" as a ??tribute?? to this
upstanding citizen.
Former FBI agent John Finley, who researched the case for FT,
notes that Kenyon was a subscriber to Enema Digest, a specialist
magazine for devotees of water sports. There is no record of further
enema assaults since 1981.
"Enema Digest" is mentioned in the song "Porno" by the
Limbomaniacs, a very Zappa influenced funk/rock band from
california. Their lyrics dwell on sexual and scatological themes.
At least one of the members is part of the Zappa cover band Caca.
DAVID LOGEMAN
-------------
So, whatever became of David "I forget your name even though you've been
in the band..." Logeman? Where did he play previously? This guy was the
right drummer for the vocal-oriented songs which dominated the
Spring/Summer '80 tour. When came to killer instrumental improvs
well...IMHO, his chops sounded like variations on "Shave & A Haircut".
David Logeman had also been playing drums for "Jan & Dean".
(source: I believe I read this ... in GOLDMINE?????, not sure.)
AL MALKIN
---------
The reclusive New Yorker Al Malkin made a guest
appearance on Dweezil's album 'Confessions'
Al Malkin appears in the "Video from Hell." He demonstrates
(on camera) with a banana how he likes to have his cock
sucked. It's quite amusing. In the end, while he's gettin' into
it, he takes a big bite out of the banana. When he realizes what
he's done, he stops and shouts that the last part is not
something that he enjoys.
TOM MALONE
----------
He's playing in Paul Schafferr's band on "Late Nite with David Letterman"
ED MANN
-------
Has a few solo releases and was (is ?) a member of the "Repercussion Unit"
a band of 6 percussion players.
Released an album around 1990 or so (forget the name)
featuring Fowler Bros.
He teaches percussion at CalArts. I had a friend who went there and I
think Ed was one of his advisors.
Ed Mann hast at least two solo releases (early 90s) "Get Up" and
"Perfect World".
"Get Up" is totally instrumental. "This is Tomorrow" is a composition
based on a 19-bar improvised melody, or something like that. The mallet
phrase was in Modern Drummer a ways back. "Get Up" and
"The Final Tone" are other good tracks. The latter is a
long, intense, slow tune that just explodes with gongs,
chimes, cymbals and horns at the end. Very cool.
"Perfect World" adds vocals, with varying degrees of success.
The instrumentals are very good, and Ed's solo on
"Working for Change" is incredible. That's probably my favorite
of the vocal tracks, although "Walking in Balance" is excellent as well.
Bruce Fowler, Walt Fowler, and Chad Wackerman play on
Ed Mann's Perfect World.
I'm pretty sure (90%) that he played on Mick Karn's album
"Bestial Cluster".
Ed mann's "Have No Fear" due out this year on Muffin (in arrangement with
CMP)
LOU MARINO
----------
Lou Marino was in the most holy of blues bands, the 'Blues Brothers
band' for a while. He was in the movie and was also in the
Saturday Night Live band for a long while. He's cool...
Nothing recent, but interesting (?) nonetheless: was a Blues Brother,
both in the 1st film (never saw the second) and on tour. In the film
he joins 'the Mission from God' in the scene where Aretha Franklin
sings 'Think'.
SAL MARQUEZ
-----------
Has a solo release (92 ?) out called "One for Dewey". A tribute to
Miles Dewey Davis, and the music is 50s/60s -Davis like. He's also
a member of the GRP big band who released an album 1 or 2 years ago.
(His solo album is on GRP too). Like real, *real* Davis-like.
Marquez does a convincing copy, even if that's pretty much old hat
these days.
Played trumpet and did horn arrangements for Robbie Krieger's "Robbie
Krieger and Friends" (1977).
Sal was a member of the Tonight Show Band with Branford
Marsalis. Got a haircut for the gig.
TOMMY MARS
----------
Tommy Mars appeared on Steve Vai's Flexable/Leftovers. I haven't heard
from him since. I too am interested in news about him as I think
he and George Duke have been Zappa's best Kbd. players. I read in
a long ago article that Zappa said, "(Tommy Mars) definitely has his
own harmonic concept."
Toured Europe with Ed Mann in 1992 and was talking about making
an album with him. Never happened as far as I know. Shame. Makes brief
appearance on Vai's 'Flex-Able Leftovers' or the US 'Flex-Able' CD, playing
violin (what a talent!).
He recently finished recording and touring with Mona Lisa Overdrive. He
is now working on his first solo album for Stone Records. (source: Keyboard
Magazine, April 1994)
I was going thru some old tapes the other day and noticed an appearance
by Tommy Mars on Stuart Hamm's album "Radio Free Albemuth" ('88).
Only one song (title track) and he's just playing a semi-complex melody.
Nothing spectacular, but interesting. There are musicians from Vai's
Flexable on it as well.
Just a word or two about Mr.Mars. I saw him a couple months ago and
he was all excited about going up to Portland and Seattle to do
some shows with The Band from Utopia. If you don't already know,
this is a Zappa alumni kind of thing featuring (among others)
Arthur Barrow, Ralph Humphries (I think) and a whole mess o'
Fowlers. Ray White and/or Ike Willis are there, too.
The band is accompanied (at these shows at least) by a 48-piece
orchestra. Tommy was bummed that a bunch of (weasel) East Coast
promoters pulled out. They wouldn't have any trouble in Europe,
that is for sure! Apparently, they are doing vocals only on
songs that Frank did not sing originally...and when he told me
about the first rehearsals, Tommy said "he was in the room,
man, he was in the ROOM!"
Robert Martin
-------------
I was looking through promotional material for Leo Kottke, of all people,
and it mentioned that his album Great Big Boy (1991) features
"Robert Martin, conservatory-trained french horn player and FZ alumnus,
on keyboards and bass." (Bass?) This is the only mention of him I've
ever seen aside from his work with Zappa.
2 weeks ago, I watched a show on TV ("Schmidteinander" for all the
german ppl), where there had a live band playing. A guy named
Kal Davies, playing some sort of Soul and Blues, featuring Bobby
Martin on keyboards and vocals.
Let us not forget that Bobby Martin can be seen and heard
in mid-80's Stevie Nicks live tunes. He was doing many tours
with Stevie Nicks' bands through the 80's (and 90's?).
His name was indeed bandied about in the early stages of ZU.
I can't help you with pre-FZ data, but I can tell you he made
one solo album in the eighties (called "Bobby Martin") and
currently enjoys the very enviable position of Cybill Shepherd's
significant other and musical director.
KERRY McNABB
------------
Kerry sez:
Where do I start. When I left the music business in 1977, I devoted
my entire time in my families plastics business. Although I have loved
every second of it I still miss music. I dont think I will ever tire
of it. I recently bought a modem and have been playing catch ever since.
When I discovred Frank's news group on AOL I've just read my pants off.
I miss you all maybe someday I'll see you again. Give Gail a hug for me.
Kerry sez some more:
The last project I did with Frank was in NY where I recorded his show
at the Paladium on Holloween. Frank wanted me to go with him to
Chicago and I was stupid enough not to go. I had a album to do
with George Duke.
I can't tell you how sick I was when I heard about Frank's Illness.
When he died I felt as thought a piece of me died.
Frank and Gail always treated me as family. I cared for the both
of them as though they were my family. There are a lot of things
I did in the lat 70's I wish I could change. One would be to have
spent more time with Frank. If I had only known. I read Ruth's
interview. I liked Ruth alot. I use to tease her when ever I could.
I only tease the people I really care for. Ruth was very upset a
Frank's Illness also. I was really suprised she left the music business
about the same time I did.
You asked what I have been doing since I worked with Frank. When I
left the music business I went to work for my Father in his business.
You may think this is strange but I over heard Frank tell Geoge Duke
one day to "Invest in yourself. You will never cheat yourself". I took
that to heart more then Frank ever knew. For the last 14 years I have
stayed in that business. I still buy tons of cd's. I still play now
and then. I even mixed some tracks for a friend last year. And I will
never give up music. I will love music until the day I die. In many
ways the best days I had where with Frank and all the musicians in
his bands. When I have a really bad day I think back to all the good
times I had. It always makes me smile.
BILLY MUNDI
-----------
Formed a group called Rhinoceros in the early seventies. Cross
between early Chicago and R&B.
If anyone finds out where Billy Mundi is, please tell Jimmy
Carl Black who wants to get in touch with him!
PATRICK O'HEARN
---------------
Patrick O'Hearn has been releasing albums on his own. At least one of
these albums, "River's gonna rise", with the help of Terry Bozzio and
Warren Cucurrullo(?).
Patrick O'Hearn solo career--he has in fact had several albums,
and both Terry Bozzio and Warren Cuccurullo have helped on some. I know
in particular that Warren helped on Rivers Gonna Rise, Indigo, and the
White Sands Soundtrack
Released a bunch of New Age stuff. Apparently used to keep in touch
with Zappa due to Zappa's use of an instrument called a "Roland
Octapad." (1990 time frame).
Last night I began reading a screenplay named "Silent Tongue" by playwright
and actor Sam Shepard (acting credits include "The Right Stuff", "Country"),
and the title page credits Patrick O'Hearn for music.
Warren Cucurullo reckons he is going to work with Patrick and Terry
Bozzio this year (1994) on an album. Let's hope so.
Patrick O'Hearn and White Sands--yes he did the score for that movie,
as well as Fatherhood and the upcoming Silent Tongue. If you look closely
in the credits to the movie White Sands, you will see that he was assisted
in this by Warren Cuccurullo and Terry Bozzio.
Patrick O'Hearn toured (on bass) with Andy Taylor in 1987, and appeared
with Andy on the MTV New Years Eve special that year, and the band did
a 6 or 7 song set, including "When the Rain Comes Down" with Andy's
friend Dweezil Zappa with him on guitar. Also, any concert videotape
or audiotape from Andy's 1987 tour will have Patrick on it.
SHUGGIE OTIS
------------
On your (way cool) chart of featured musicians you might note that
Shuggie Otis played guitar. In case you didn't know, he was the son
of the great band leader Johnny Otis who provided a bridge between
big band jazz, jump band swing and rock and roll in the early to mid
50's introducing such acts as Little Eva. Shuggie, a pretty damned good
guitar player, was featured on an album entitled Cold Shot! and recorded
something else produced by Al Kooper (of Blues Project and BST fame).
Since then he appears to have gone to ground.
JIM PONS
--------
Has been, and as far as I know, still is--film coordinator for the NY Jets,
which is what his job was when he was profiled on TV. In that profile, they
showed him playing the bass in church, which he said is the only time he
gets to play the bass anymore.
JEAN LUC PONTY
--------------
Played with John McLaughlin in the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Jean Luc-Ponty
appears on at least two Mahavishnu Orchestra albums:
Apocalypse (1974)
Visions of the Emerald Beyond (1975)
Both these albums followed the first installment of M.O. which included
J.M., Jerry Goodman, Billy Cobham, and Jan Hammer. These particular
later albums featured a mini-orchestra (strings, horns, woodwinds,
etc), which include Jean Luc-Ponty.
Released many jazz albums, some of which are:
"Jean Luc-Ponty Experience" - 1969
Live with the George Duke Trio
Dick Berk - Drums
John Heard - Bass
No FZ related material
"Kong Kong" - 1970
JLP plaus the Music of FZ, covers of:
"King Kong", "Idiot Bastard Son", "Twenty Small Cigars", "Music for
Electric Violin and Low Budget Orchestra", "America Drinks and Goes Home"
featuring: George Duke, Art Tripp, Ian Underwood, Wilton Felder,
John Guerin, Ernie Watts, Buell Neidlinger, Don Cristieb
FZ plays guitar on "How Would You Like To Have A Head Like That"
"Aurora" - 1976
Darryl Stuermer - guitar
Patrice Rushen - keyboards
Tom Fowler - bass
Norman Fearrington - drums
"Imaginary Voyage" - 1976
Darryl Stuermer - guitar
Allan Zavod - keyboards
Tom Fowler - bass
Mark Craney - drums
He was recently seen playing in a band called "The rites of strings "
(or something like that). The said band also featured Al DiMeola on Guitar
and Stanley Clarke on bass. There was no drummer in the band.
LISA POPIEL
-----------
Daughter of the inventor of the Pocket Fisherman and Veg-o-matic,
and brother of the irritating guy who sells krylon for your head,
is now a voice teacher who lives in the valley. She accepts a limited
number of students, including formerly yours truly. She also
does some studio work, puts on vocal seminars, and raises pot-bellied pigs.
DON PRESTON
-----------
Don played synthesizer about five years ago on John Carter's Castles
of Ghana (it may be the album after that in the series--I'd have to check)
on Grammavision. He personally got rave reviews for his soloing. However,
that band never toured (Carter died last year) and I haven't heard from him
since.
Saw Don Preston playing with Robbie Krieger (Doors) at a small club
in Hollywood in the late 70's. They were playing stuff similar to Jeff Beck
and Jan Hammer (Blow By Blow - Wired).
Don Preston did a jazz/rock/flamenco album with Robby Krieger of The Doors.
Some time in the early eighties I went to see The Carla Bley Band at
the Paradise Club in Boston and was pleasantly suprised to see Don
Preston in the band.
P.S. Don Preston is also on an album by trumpeter Michael Mantler (husband
of Carla Bley?) named "Live", with Jack Bruce.
Black, Preston and Gardner appear to be in a band called the Grandmothers.
Don Preston appeared on the Mike Mantler release ALIEN on ECM/Watt around
1988 or so. I think he still plays with Mantler on occasion.
Don played in the LA Art Ensemble or whatever it was called, with people
like Buell Neidlinger and other hip CalArts types. He also played in Gil
Evans band. He was very good at transforming.
Played on:
Carla Bley -- Escalator Over the Hill, 1968-71 w/ Don Cherry, Jack Bruce,
John McLaughlin, Charlie Haden, Linda Ronstadt
Michael Mantler -- Alien, 1985 (already mentioned?)
Bobby Bradford -- Comin' On, 1988 w/ John Carter, Richard Davis, Andrew
Cyrille
John Carter -- Fields, 1988 (part of the "Roots and Folklore" series
already mentioned in other postings that includes "Shadows on a Wall")
Just moved out to Germany as well, where he lives near
Jimmy Carl Black (also resident in Germany) and is still a Grandmother. A
video from 1988 'Dr Ogo Moto' is also due soon for release, again I think
on Muffin; maybe on Electric Yak in the US.
Don Preston's _Vile Foamy Ectoplasm_ was released on CD in 1993 by
Muffin Records, Germany. It's quite good! It contains tracks that
Don Preston recorded over the years with different musicians.
1 track was recorded in 1973 with
Don Preston - Modular Moog, Mini Moog Emil Richards - vibes, percussion
Dave Prichard - guitar
Erik Lindeman - piano
Dave Parloto - bass
Chris Parloto - drums
Roy Estrada - "Get any onya"
3 tracks were recorded in 1975 with
Don Preston - Fender Rhodes, Modular Moog, Mini Moog
Arthur Barrow - guitar, bass
Bruce Fowler - trombone
Michael Crayden - percussion
Frank Wilson - drums (1 track)
Bruce Gary - drums (the other 2 tracks)
1 track was recorded in 1976 with
Don Preston - Modular Moog, Mini Moog, Moog Theremin, Steiner E.V.I.
3 tracks were recorded in 1981 with
Don Preston - vocals, Fender Rhodes, synthesizer
Jimmy Carl Black - vocals, percussion
Walt Fowler - trumpet, synthesizer
Mike Miller - guitar
Tom Fowler - bass
Tony Morales - drums
1 track (a 15 minute piece) was recorded in 1967-68 & 1993 with
Don Preston - Fender Rhodes, organ, synthesizer, piano, drums,
violin, gong
Meredith Monk - vocals, bells, bass
Donn Preston - vocals, piano
Bunk Gardner - tenor sax, flute, body noises
Tom Wayburn - percussion
Jimmy Carl Black - snorks, violin, strangeness
Roy Estrada - violin, moans, wheezes
Saw a cheezy Sci-Fi flick called "Android" on the Sci-Fi Channel the other
day. Don Preston was credited with the music. Nothing very distinctive,
but I have to admit that the film was so bad it seriously detracted from
listening very closely to the music. Not even "Cheepnis"-grade sci-fi.
No idea how old the movie was; mid-to-late 70's I would guess.
Don has been working with composer/trumpeter Michael Mantler for awhile.
Check out "Alien" and "Michael Mantler Live" on the Watt/ECM label. Sorta a
hybrid between modern jazz and modern classical music, with Don doing
orchestrations on synths. On the live album Jack Bruce sings and Nick Mason
(PF) drums as well, sorta old home week for aging art-rockers 8^)
He appears on keyboards on the live album, and also orchestrated these
massive synthesizer architectures on _Alien_ (which has nothing to do with
the movie except a similar emotional tenor). Dubs available if necessary,
but you should try and buy this stuff; Mantler's one of the more
interesting unheard composer/performers out there.
Don also contributed heavily to the last few John Carter releases (mostly
on Gramavision) before Carter passed away in the early 90's. Carter was a
pioneering composer, saxophonist and clarinetist who worked extensively
with Bobby Bradford, a cornetist who has played with Ornette Coleman
amongst others.
In the liner notes of one of the Carter releases, he dubbed Don Preston
the "father of modern synthesis."
Yeah, shouldn't that have been *mother*? It was on "Shadows on a Wall", the
last in the series.
I particularly recommend the live set, which is not on Gramavision, but
Hat Art. Don really gets to stretch out (on synth and piano)....and
basically, it's one of the most awesome "out" jazz records ever made.
Also wrote some of the music on 'Apocalypse Now'. Also a few other
films. More to follow...
Oh yeah, Don Preston's on the CD too (Eugene Chadbourne, _Locked in a Dutch
Coffeeshop_) -- but not playing with Jimmy Carl;
he's on another (earlier) session that Chadbourne just spliced in (shades
of conceptual continuity), where Chadbourne, Preston, jazz sitar player
Ashwan (sp?) Batish et al. jam out and somebody reads the text to Captain
Beefheart's "Neon Meate Dream of an Octafish."
Don Preston also appears on the Residents' album "Eskimo". By the way: the
fight between evil religious sharks and a pale pachyderm type of fish on
"Make a Jazz Noise Here", made me wonder wether there are more links
between Zappistic and Residential music, since the Residential publishing
company is called Pale Pachyderm. (Bruce Fowler did those vocals on MAJNH.
He records his stuff on Fossil Records. "Breakfast for Dinosaurs" was recorded
in 1988. So, the influence was probably only from Bruce.)
L. SHANKAR
----------
Continues to play a combination of pop and classical Indian music
and fusion.
Has been playing with Peter Gabriel since the mid 80's, and appeared on
the Tonight Show several months ago with PG's band. He and bass player
Tony Levin performed a silly dance during one of the songs.
Shankar is featured prominently on Material's new album
"Hallucination Engine". This album also features the ever-scintilating
vocals of writer & zappa-fave William S. Burroughs. (source: my
record collection)
Shankar has a band called "Shankar & Caroline". I saw them play at the
Realworld festival last year at St Austell. They have released at least
one album, but I'm not overwhelmed.
CAL SCHENKEL
------------
Calvin is alive and well and living in Willow Grove, PA. I agree, it's
hard to separate the impact of Frank's earlier stuff from Cal's
inspired images. He's a true original and every time I see his work I
smile inside. A couple of years ago, he designed the logo for my
company, Obvious Moose (it's a Reuben and the Jets-esque moose, just
kinda shrugging at you. I'm still in love with it).
I spoke with him a couple of weeks ago and he was involved in a show of
his work. He's been selling his creations in several different media,
and I believe he once told me that the Zappas had agreed to let him
sell copies of Zappa LP covers he'd designed, each one specially
modified and individually Schenkelized. I don't know if he's still
doing those.
I don't think he'd mind if I gave out his work address; he's a very
easy going dude and is very much still in business:
Cal Schenkel Artworks
P.O. Box 78
Willow Grove, PA 19090
Cal sez:
This gives me an ("adequate") opportunity to announce that I am in
the process of compiling notes about the subject of FZ album covers
--past & present incarnations-- for a future post.
(I'm wondering if others share your excitement?)
Questions & comments are welcome &
can be directed to me at:
Cal Schenkel
CaLScheNkeLaRtweRks
RRAA...@aol.com
JEFF SIMMONS
------------
A 1968 (?) solo album 'Lucille Has Messed My Mind
Up' (hey, I know that title!). However, his greatest moment is the
animation in the otherwise avoidable '200 Motels'. Rumoured to have
been working on a solo album some time in the late 1980s.
In my wanderings around the city, I strolled into an obscure record shop
in the U of W area in north Seattle looking for FZ vinyl. The owner
told me that Jeff had called him the day before about something
(apparently they are old friends) and I told him that someone on
the Net was asking about the former Mothers' whereabouts. I was
informed that Jeff now does session work and casuals in the area,
and is doing well!
RINGO STARR
-----------
Played the role of "Larry the Dwarf" in 200 Motels. Previously had
played in bands at English holiday resorts. Presently rumoured to be
recording with two buddies from the Liverpool early 60s scene. Has
drummed for Leon Russel.
CHESTER THOMPSON
----------------
Chester has played drums with Genesis, Phil Collins, and Weather Report.
To be exact...
TONY BANKS
A Curious Feeling 1979
GENESIS
Seconds Out 1977
Apparently also in the 78 & 80 touring band.
STEVE HACKETT
Please Don't Touch 1978
ALPHONSO JOHNSON
Yesterday's Dreams 1976
O'DONEL LEVY
Dawn Of A New Day 1974
SCOTT THUNES
------------
Zappas Universe, "Z" (see Mike Knealy)
Recently seen playing with the Waterboys on British TV.
Also recently, I saw Steve Vai on MTV introducing his new band. He had Scott
on bass. Scott also played in Z.
Just wanted you all to know that Scott Thunes just came through town
(Boston, MA) as the bass player in the 1995 incarnation of FEAR, Lee
Ving's LA-based punk band.
ART TRIPP
---------
After working with FZ he was with Captain Beefheart. Appears on "Shiny Beast
(Bat Chain Puller)".
In an interview with FZ (around 1984) he (FZ) said that he was an insurance
salesman now.
Yeah, he moved back here to where he grew up and joined his father's
business, and I think developed a commercial real estate business out of it
as well.
I talked to him some years back, and then tried to get a hold of him more
recently without success. I finally reached somebody at the business number
who told me after a pause that he had passed away. I was quite shocked to
hear this, but later realized that I hadn't been clear and she must have
meant his father. Gerry Pratt says he is now a chiropractor and Gerry has
some other more recent info I believe. I wonder if he still has his chops.
His work as a chiropractor apparently brought him in to contact with his
ex-employer Don (van) Vliet (Capt Beefheart), who's supposedly ill with MS,
according to Jimmy Carl Black. Interesting, as AT didn't have many good
words to say about CB (or Zappa) while he was a muso.
IAN UNDERWOOD
-------------
Ian Underwood now makes his living playing keyboards on film soundtracks
in Los Angeles. You'll see his name in film credits and recording credits
once in a while.
Some films he has been associated with are:
"The Name of the Rose", under "synthesizer programming"
"Sneakers" as a featured musician
Demon Seed
Field of Dreams
Witness (I think)
Maurice Jarre's film soundtrack to The Mosquito Coast.
Does some studio producing and synth programming. Recently produced
(or helped produce) a Quincy Jones album including synth programming
and hand clapping of all things.
Ian appears on the recently released Lowell George/Factory CD
'Lightning Rod Man'. (for apparently 15 seconds)
Played on:
Lenox School of Jazz Concert, 1959 w/ Ornette Coleman, Herb Pomeroy
John Handy -- Where Go the Boats w/ Lee Ritenour
Manhattan Transfer's "The Christmas Album" (1992)
That's right. If you've exposed yourself to any popular culture of the last
15 years or so, then you've almost certainly heard Ian's keyboard work. Among
the most "significant" studio credits of his is a little ditty called
"We Are the World."
I've seen him on Dave Grusin (sp?) albums. The man gets exposure on the
GRP label. I'll let others buy those albums, though.
Make sure you are sitting down before you read any further.
OK? ................................ OK.
He played keyboards for ...
<cringe>
..................................*Barbara Striesand* <AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHH!>... in the late 70's.
Ian played synth on the title track of Lee Ritenour's "Captain Fingers"
circa 1977.
I noticed in the closing credits to the new Mel Gibson movie,
"Braveheart," that Ian Underwood is credited with synthesizer programming.
Ian is working at Mike Post's Olive Studios in beatiful ...Burbank,
California! Yes, right off the 5N from Los Angeles!
Both George Duke and Ian Underwood performed on Quincy Jones:
"Back on the Block". Ian did synthesizer programming on several
songs, and George is featured solist playing fender rhodes on two
songs ("New Man Woman" and "Brasilian Wedding Song")
RUTH UNDERWOOD
--------------
I wish I knew. Whatever did happen to Ruth? Is she still married
to Ian? Why isn't she playing in some band or orchestra?
I know somebody (X) who purportedly knows Ruth's Parents.
According to X, Ruth now goes by her maiden name, no longer
performs, and is raising her children somewhere in
the vicinity of San Francisco.
>From a recent interview: "A couple of years ago, when I heard that
Frank was ill, I called him up. For 14 years we had no contact at all.
He invited me to the house and we enjoyed some really nice visits with
each other. Last June ('93) he called and asked if he could sample some
of my stuff. I was shocked because I hadn't touched a pair of mallets
since March of '77. I ended up practicing for 14 hours, which was all the
time I could get together in the context of my life now. I spent four
days at Frank's house sampling. This was really a miracle for me - that
I could be reunited with him and still have something to offer."
Appeared on the BBC Late Show FZ special, looking
older but still OK. Interview only. Be nice to think she still
played, though I doubt it.
I've just returned from the Public Library with a Jazz CD by John Handy
and Lee Ritenour entitled, WHERE GO THE BOATS. As I looked over the
credits for the musicians, I noticed Ian Underwood listed for synthesizer.
I would certainly agree with the above writer's assessment of Underwood.
Although there is no year given for the CD, it sounds like a disco
era recording. I wouldn't recommend it to a fan of Mothers music,
but it certainly is interesting to see some of the musical directions
taken by our former heros. Sort of like hearing a recording of Jimmy
Carl Black doing I WRITE THE SONGS THAT MAKE THE WHOLE WORLD SING.
(No, I haven't heard that.)
STEVE VAI
---------
A great album with Vai in it is the one he did with the group Alcatrazz
called Disturbing the Peace.
Does anyone out there know what's gonna happen with the project that steve vai
mentioned in sept.guitar world ,That is him ,bozzio + the ensemble moderne
playing frank's 'complicated' stuff(i.e 'black page')in fall 94.
His band Vai toured Europe late 1993, then supposedly broke up, but
apparently didn't and off to Japan in March 1994.
Steve Vai also did an album for Shankar's group "The Epidemics" in the
late '80's. (source: my record collection)
For those of you who like Steve Vai, here's big news. He'll be touring with
Satriani sometime soon, and guess what? He's working with Ozzy Osbourne now!
I don't know whether you guys did this deliberately or not, but there is so
much info on Vai cut out of the "Whatever Happened to..." FAQ.
Vai's credits are quite extensive--he has 3 albums:
Flexible - The CD version has bonus tracks from "Flexible Leftovers".
One of the tracks, "Bledsoe Bluvd," features Tommy Mars playing the
violin and ejaculating "Thren keld, wing nut, why not rheam."
Another track, "So Happy," features the infamous Laurel Fishman
(see Real FZ Book), who is noted for the spherical shitball as well
as her lifestyle (summed up in "Stevie's Spanking").
Passion and Warfare - Probably his best work.
Sex and Religion - The title made me decide not to buy it--that and I heard
his music is primarily vocal now, bordering on "pop rock."
Aside from his solo material, he has also worked with David Lee Roth, on the
album "Eat 'Em and Smile," and Whitesnake.
And then there is P.I.L's "Album" (later renamed to "Compact Disc" on CD).
The Ozzy project was cancelled by the record company pricks.
It's rumored that Zack Wilde will be doing it instead.
Also Vai has a new album do out in june called allien love
secrets, I have an advance copy and if you like Passion
you definately won't be disappointed.
Vai's work on PIL's stuff is great, as is his own earlier
solo music - Passion & Warfare has its moments, the Sex/
Religion one sucked to high heaven, and now (1995) he has
a new album out, ALIEN LOVE SECRETS (sound familiar?) I
hope this is better; a lot of the guitar `shredders' of the
1980s tried to move away from the image of `widdly widdly'
guitar playing & little else by indulging in horrendous
FM rock (Sex & Religion). I think this trend has stabilised
now, so let's hope Alien Love Secrets is better. (Vai has
also cut his hair short - a welcom relief from that metal
cut he had!)
"Alien Love Secrets": Though containing as much hard edged
hard rock riffs and melodies as his previous effort "Sex &
Religion", "Alien Love Secrets" comes off as a great effort,
but ultimately a waste of money. I have heard that he released
this album as a first of two sets, one for the die hard fans
of Steve Vai, and one for his new group of non-guitar orientated
fans. As far as I am concerned, "Alien Love Secrets" holds
many great technique orientated guitar songs, but the cost in some
areas is hardly worth the less than 35 minutes of music. I mean
come on, if you are going to put out an album these
days, it better have more substance than a Who album from
thirty years ago. The only albums in my collection that are
less than 40 minutes long and still worth the price I paid
are Frank Zappa's "Ship Arriving Too Late To Save A Drowning
Witch" and the New American Orchestra's recording of the
"Blade Runner" score. "Alien Love Secrets" most impressive
quality is the sound obtained by about a billion effects
processors used at the beginning of "Kill the Guy With The
Ball" to make a guitar sound like a human voice. Impressive
but I wouldn't buy an album for one song. "Ya-yo Gakk" is
cute, but even it's cuddly qualities hardly make up for the
blatent over-extension of Vai's "Crossroads" solo on "Bad
Horsy" or the 'bow down and worship at the alter of Vai'
material throughout the rest of the album. I will commend
Vai on what he tried to do, but the next time he releases
an album, I'm going to listen to it before I buy - which I
have never done for him in the past, having bought all of his
albums the day they came out. Love ya Steve, but better
luck next time - a fashionably long winded writer of a bass player.
CHAD WACKERMAN
--------------
Chad's got a new CD out under his own name. Haven't heard it.
Releasing solo stuff. Has 2 CDs. His band includes Alan Holdsworth
on guitar and I think Jeff Berlin on bass. He also has been doing
back-up drumming for a variety of people in the studio including
Ed Mann, Fowler Brothers, and he also appeared a few years back as
drummer to Barbara Streisand!
Chad Wackerman plays on the following Alan Holdsworth : Road Games,
Metal Fatique, Atavachron, Sand, one song on Secrets, Wardensclyffe Tower.
Chad was in the house band on the ill fated (of course, it was a great
show) Dennis Miller Show. One nite Miller decided to give the band the
name "The Wackermen".
The discography in the tribute to FZ issue of PULSE! earlier this year
has him down as the drummer from the "ill-fated Pat Sajak show".
I think they confused the two shows; I remember Wackerman taking over
the Miller band leader role when Andy Summers quit.
I believe he was also in the house band for the Pat Sajak show
(talk about your bad luck with steady jobs...).
Chad Wackerman plays on Andy Summers' jazzy album "Charming Snakes".
Chad Wackerman was just in Salt Lake City, drumming for John Tesh (The
Entertainment Tonight guy).
I saw a Chad Wackerman CD called "Forty Reasons" in a used record
shop. It features Allan Holdsworth on guitar. Any thoughts?
It's really good, at least if you're a drummer. :) It's all instrumental,
somewhere in the jazz/rock domain, quite a bit of improvisation, very tight
playing. I don't think the composing is very awe-inspiring, but the
playing certainly is.
[But what is even better are Ed Mann's CDs, especially "Get Up."]
Co-incidentally, I only logged on today to post about the new CW CD
that apparently has the same line-up as FORTY REASONS. From an ad in
JAZZIZ, Dec/Jan 1994:
CHAD WACKERMAN, the view (CMP CD 64)
~~~~~~~~
Long time Zappa drummer Chad Wackerman reassembles the virtuosic
band that burned through his solo debut, Forty Reasons (CMP 48) for
an intense set of hip, intelligent electric-jazz. Jimmy Johnson,
bass and Jim Cox, keyboards return in support of Wackerman along
with trumpeter Walt Fowler guitarist Carl Verheyen and guest soloist
Allan Holdsworth.
Chad can be seen playing the drums (smoking I should say) on the 1993
Drum Workshop promotional video. He is actually the prominent drummer
out of the numerous others on the video. Recently, he played with
the Band From Utopi a, cover band made up of mostly zappa alumni
musicians (so, is it a cover band?).
Confirmed that Chad is touring with "Banned* from Utopia", my brother
saw and spoke with him backstage at "the Middle East", which is a
nightclub in Cambridge Massachusetts, on Nov.8, 1995.
He also had his photo taken with Chad, Ike Willis, Tommy Mars, the
Fowler brothers and a rubber chicken! Ike Willis was wearing a
really cool Zappa T shirt! The music was a mixture of Zappa and
some original stuff by Tommy Mars and Chad.
DENNY WALLEY
------------
Denny Walley performed on the last night of Zappa's Universe performing
the blues version of "Bamboozled By Love" (Nov 10,1991).
He and his wife "Janet the Planet" (yes from baby Snakes movie) were
seen at The night of Zappa Music at Linclon Center in Feb 1993
(I saw them, they were 3 seats over from me). (source: my eyes & ears)
Apparently Denny runs a recording studio in the Atlanta, GA area -
Chamblee I think. A neighbor of mine is Moses Mo of Mothers Finest
and is in contact with Denny once in a while.
Currently (April '95) Denny is over in Sweden on some Captain
Beefheart reunion tour or something.
I saw him live on stage at the Fasching in Stockholm, Sweden on
the 4th of April 1995. He was playing slide guitar in a Beefheart
cover band (with the Swedish singer Freddie Wadling as Beefheart).
The two Swedish Zappa's Universe players, Morgan Agren and Mats Oberg,
were also in the band. I know the band rehearsed for one week and
played two shows. It was an unbelievably good band, and very,
very popular.
JOHNNY GUITAR WATSON
--------------------
>I saw an ad for a new Johnny Guitar Watson CD last month(11/94). Does anyone
>know anything about this CD? Is it new stuff? Is it a compilation? etc.
I haven't heard it personally but I've seen it at Tower and a friend owns it.
Supposedly one of the songs is dedicated to Frank and there's some real
intersesting new stuff on it. Still kind of funkish but good I'm told.
He is still recording, a new album was released in 1994. His 70s era albums
like "Aint That A Bitch", "Giant", etc. have recently been reissued on CD.
ERNIE WATTS
-----------
I haven't seen anyone mention that Ernie Watts used to play with
the Tonight Show Band (Johnny Carson)
He has been a member of (bassist) Charlie Haden's group Quartet West
since its inception. The four Quartet West albums are on the Verve label.
Ernie also recorded some pop/fusion for a few labels during the 80s.
RAY WHITE
---------
Ike says that Ray's been playing down around Oakland. Ike's brother,
who lives down there, stay's in closer touch with Ray, than Ike does.
For those of you living in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can see
Ray White doing some of the old Zappa tunes ("Keep It Greasy",
"City of Tiny Lights") that he used to sing.
He will be performing with a local jazz-oriented band, MMQ, at San
Francisco's own Ramp, on Friday, April 29th, around 5:30pm.
MMQ contains some serious Zappa fans, and they have performed a
blistering version of Zoot Allures for quite some time. They have
recently become friends of Ray's, who lives here in the Bay Area,
and he has happily agreed to sit in with them for a few gigs.
Ray is currently playing with a killer transvestite blues band,
Veronica Klaus, and is in great singing and playing shape,
according to MMQ. If you're a San Franciscan, or are going to
be in the area on Friday, come out and see the man!!! (The band
ain't bad either!)
Ray White is no longer with Veronica Klaus. I have a friend that
plays sax for Veronica and he just told me that she has basically
an entire new line-up. I'm not sure what he's doing now, but
I got to see him perform with my friend at our company X-mas
party just after Zappa died and they did a great rendition of
Bamboozled by Love!
IKE WILLIS
----------
Solo band out in Oregon or Washington (state).
Ike is touring Europe, Spring '94, fronting a British band,
"The Muffin Men", who have a CD of FZ covers, that sounds like
"pretty good musicians". They are sincere fans. Very sincere.
I picked up a disc by Ike Willis called "Should'a Gone Before I Left"
which is pretty good. I has Arthur Barrow on bass and Ray White doing
some vocals. Interesting find! Anyway, does anyone know if this is the
only Ike Willis solo effort and if other FZ alumni have stuff out.
I realize the obvious like Vai, Flo & Eddie, T. Bozzio., but some of
the less noticed stuff. It's on Muffin Records. The album cover is
in crayon, or some kind of colored pencil. Poor print job on the
artwork and inside picture.
Ran into Ike Willis today and he wanted to sell me a Band from Utopia
CD for $15. I guess he has that, a second solo album, the re-release
of his first solo album, and will be getting together soon with Tommy
Mars, Arthur Barrow et al to record yet another album to be released
soon. (whew!)
IKE WILLIS BAND..."Shoulda gone before I left" is re-released on CD
as a picture disc <& remixed I hope>. Available now!
IKE WILLIS BAND...New CD is already in works. Ike is busy with
recording. Guests will be Tommy Mars, Andy Treacy, Arthur Barrow,
Bruce Fowler and others. Sounds like a must!
Ike usually keeps in touch with me, but his phone was disconnected
earlier this month. He was the Master of Ceremonies for my wedding,
last month, and did a hell of a job.
I will try to look him up soon. I'm afraid hard times have befallen
him. I noticed that the MuffinMen had not brought him back over for
their most recent European tour. He doesn't appear to even be booked
for NewYearsEve, around here.
He's a great talent, and shouldn't have to wind up workin in a gas
station. (or gassin on a work station).
I don't have absolutely updated info, but I did see Ike performing
with Joel Thome's touring FZ tribute. I saw them when they played
Portland, OR last year. The show as a whole was pretty disappointing,
and Ike was not in the best voice I have ever heard. This may
explain why he is not working much these days. He also had too
much difficulty remembering the words to the songs. I wanted to rush
onstage and take the mike away and sing it myself sometimes.
I know Ike lives in the Portland OR area, so I guess he didn't
think he needed to prepare. The whole show was pretty sloppy,
but it was nice to hear Zappa's music being appreciated by a large audience.
ALBERT WING
-----------
Appeared on Breakfast for Dinosaurs and The Hunter by the Fowler
Brothers. Also wrote a few of the songs on those albums.
He was also in the same touring band as Dweezil for
the Japanese guy Yazawa some time last year (1993). Yazawa is
apparently as big as Springsteen in his native Japan, but you probably
haven't heard of him if you live outside the Nipponese islands.
PETER WOLF
----------
Peter Wolf maintains a hectic schedule of production on Los Angeles.
Recent clients include the Pointer Sisters, Chicago, and Indecent
Exposure. He is also working on his debut solo album, tentatively
scheduled for release in July 94 on the Angel label. (source: Keyboard
Magazine, April 1994).
TODD YVEGA
----------
Todd programmed the Synclavier and computers for FZ. He currently is
doing the background music for "Duckman", an adult oriented cartoon
shown on the U.S.A. network. During the program, there are snippets
of FZ compositions, some of which to date are: Big Swifty, King Kong,
T'Mershi Duween, Let's Make the Water Turn Black, Alien Orifice, plus
other bits and bites left in FZ's database.
DWEEZIL ZAPPA
-------------
Dweezil and his brother Ahmet together released an AWESOME album
called "Shampoohorn". Their band "Z" features some amazing guitar
work by Dweezil, and some incredible drumming work from people
like Terry Bozzio and bass from Scott Thunes.
He does the voice of Ajax on the Duckman series on USA.
Also the first season's episodes had a brief comment about
FZ's music being used.
MOON UNIT ZAPPA
---------------
I've seen Moon as a VJ on VH1. She's probably one of the most amusing VJs
I've seen. She sings and kids around a lot. Of course
she is forced to play a lot of bad music but that's TV...
She has left VH1 to pursue other interests, i.e., acting.
ALAN ZAVOD
----------
Alan Zavod had been playing keyboards for Jean-Luc Ponty before
joining FZ.
I saw an old X-Rated Movie from the late 70's early 80's called,
"A Taste of Money" staring Constance Money, the girl who played
the neighbor in the movie "10"...anyway...the credits listed Alan Zavhod
as the musical director and composer.
The UFO movie Communion, directed in 1989 by Phillipe Mora and starring
Christopher Walken, has music by 'Allan Zaphod'. The same guy?
OFFSHOOT AND RELATED GROUPS
===========================
CAPTAIN BEEFHEART
-----------------
Could someone confirm if Don Van Vliet is still out
in Trinidad California?
Don moved away from Trinidad many years ago. He built another house in the
woods in Big Sur, but has since moved back to the desert. Gerry Pratt said
he was going to be feted in Europe around now, but I haven't heard anything
recently about his actual whereabouts.
Supposedly very ill with something. Jimmy Carl
Black says MS (and he's in regular contact with CB).
His paintings are going on tour in 1994 too. Wish he'd give it
up and make another album.
Living as a reclusive painter, making rather a lot of money.
Rumours put about regarding him being seriously ill with either cancer
or MS are apparently completely untrue.
MALLARD
-------
Mallard were the Magic Band after they left Beefheart in 1974 (post
Clear Spot- with Bill Harkleroad (Zoot Horn Rollo), Mark Boston
(Rockette Morton), John French (Drumbo) and Art Trip III (Ed Marimba).
John French was going to be the vocalist but bottled out - so they
bought in gruff-voiced John Thomas (I think that is the name).
Released two albums - first one recorded in England
with the help of Jethro Tull was issued in UK/Europe only:-
1975 UK Mallard on Virgin V2045
Second more Country Rock was issued in UK and US:-
1976 UK In A Different Climate on Virgin V2077
1976 US In A Different Climate on Virgin PZ34489
I was told in the summer that this stuff was going to come out on CD.
Both MALLARD LPs released on one 72 Minute CD: Virgin Records Ltd.
has released a CD by the group MALLARD, with former musicians from
Captain Beefheart's Magic Band. Their debut 1975 album "Mallard"
and their second and final album from 1976 "In A Different Climate"
are on one CD. Both guitarist Bill Harkleroad (a.k.a. Zoot Horn Rollo)
and bassist Mark Boston (a.k.a. Rockette Morton) played with Captain
Beefheart from 1969's "Trout Mask Replica" album through 1974's
disastrous "Unconditionally Guaranteed" album that caused the Magic
Band to quit, after Don Van Vliet (a.k.a. Captain Beefheart) hired
outside producers who ruined the exciting basic tracks with lame
overdubs. Drummer Art Tripp, who only appears on the first Mallard
album, played with Frank Zappa and was known as Ed Marimba while he
was a member of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band. On "In A Different
Climate", George Draggota takes over on drums and John Thomas plays
keyboards. The vocalist on both albums is Sam Galpin. Mallard features
great guitar playing (especially incredible slide guitar) by Bill
Harkleroad, who arranged most of the music and who wrote a good portion
of both albums. Another Magic Band member, John French (a.k.a. Drumbo),
wrote some of the first Mallard album. Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson, a
Magic Band fan, financed their first album which resulted in their
signing with Virgin Records UK. The first Mallard album was only
available in America as an import, but "In A Different Climate"
was distributed by CBS Records in America during 1977 through its
short lived deal with Virgin UK. The CD is now available on the
budget label Caroline Blue Plate (CAROL 1897) [Virgin UK # 7243
8 39538 2
GRANDMOTHERS
------------
Well, as I already mentioned in my post, Black, Preston and Gardner appear to
be in a band called the Grandmothers. It is a band which is made up of
changing members, but the three I mentioned form the base of it. What they
sound like, or what their intentions are, I do not know. They played in
Amsterdam on december the 7th, 1994.
Black (of all persons) also appeared on MTV (yuck) on december the 7th. He
still seamed to be a bit pissed that Frank broke up the Mothers in 1969. But
hey, even he would have to admit that ALL the other drummers in the
following line-ups were better then him?!
But on a Dutch station JCB said that playing with Frank was the best
thing that ever happened to him. Didn't sound pissed to me.
Buzz Gardner or Don Preston said (forgot which one) said that Frank was
like a father figure to him, but that , like with his own father, they didn't
seem to communicate very well.
The Grandmothers are some ex-Mothers of Invention:
Don Preston
Jimmy Carl Black
Elliot Ingber
Bunk Gardner
I have one of their (two) records from ca. 1980, called "Lookin'
up Granny's Dress". It contains own compositions by the GM's and,
if memory serves me right -- some FZ stuff, too.
The record is not _that_ bad...
Saw the Grandmothers Of Invention yesterday in Brussels...
They were EXCELLENT! (whatever happened in Amsterdam and whatever Frank
said about them in the past).
About 400 people were there I guesstimate...
Lineup:
Don Preston: keyboards, vocals
Jimmy Carl Black: drums, vocals, cowboy hat
Bunk Gardner: saxes, flute, vocals, "Wait A Minute, That's IMPOSSIBLE!"
Sandro Levo (sp???): guitar, vocals
Xxxx Yyyy (???): bass, vocals
- The guitar player Sandro is an Italian: remarkably Zappa look-, move-,
and play-alike... If his voice had a lower pitch and if he wouldn't
have his Italian accent, you'd swear you had the master before you...
His guitar sound and style are pure Zappa and very okay!
- Bunk Gardner's sax was amazing.
- Jimmy's typical drum sound was really authentic.
- Don Preston's lead singing was super.
- Good bass by Xxxx Yyyy (sorry about the name).
Sound quality was extremely good: much and much and very very much
better than what the Muffin Men had to offer. The group played and
sang very disciplined and they seemed to have a very good time.
Songs:
Willie The Pimp
King Kong
Little House I Used To Live In
Theme From Burnt Weeny Sandwich
Holiday In Berlin, Full Blown
Aybe Sea
Who Are The Brain Police?
Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder
Trouble Every Day
The Dog Breath Variations
Mother People
Plastic People
Big Leg Emma
Big Swifty (not sure about this one!)
Invocation And Ritual Dance Of The Young Pumpkin
Bobby Brown (just a few measures)
Peaches En Regalia
Let's Make The Water Turn Black
Oh No
The Orange County Lumber Truck
Lonesome Cowboy Burt (encore #1)
Help, I'm A Rock (encore #2)
Brown Shoes Don't Make It
and, some very good own material
Pretty impressive list if I may say so... Some of the songs were complete,
some were just fragments.
All in all this was an excellent concert (2.5 hours of playing).
Those who weren't there because Frank once said they were pitiful,
were dead wrong. If you have a chance to go see them in Paris or
where ever, go see them. No excuse!
The Grandmothers' DREAMS ON LONG PLAY CD has been remixed and
released in the U.S. with a new cover. The cover is a blue sky w/clouds
background; on the front cover is a grandma with a red and black spiked
hairdo, with daisies for eyes and a pencil for a mouth. There are other
images spread out in the blue sky. I didn't design this cover, but it's
pretty nice anyway...
The U.S. release cleans up some tracks, balances out others,
replaces some which were corrupted (just like your favorite floppy disk
does when you least expect it!), and deletes others which were either
corrupted or detracted from the performance. Is it any better? I think
so, but you be the judge...
The remix took place while I was recording final tracks for the
album by the group I formed after leaving the Grandmothers
(Neglected Orphans' DANCES WITH WEASELS, coming soon) during late 1994.
Scott McGregor (the original engineer), Reinhard Preuss
(of Muffin Records Productions) and I worked on the remix.
For better or worse, it is absolutely the last remix.
GEROMIMO BLACK
--------------
Geronimo Black released two albums, one self-titled in 1972 on UNI, which
I think is the one you have, and "Welcome Back," on an independent label
which I don't remember since I'm not in front of my record collection at
the moment. "Welcome Back" is a markedly different record than "GB,"
resorting more to a bar-band sound than the original.
Interesting how the band included two guys FZ wound up detesting--JCB
and Bunk, as well as someone he ended up using quite a bit--Denny Walley!
MERIDIAN ARTS ENSEMBLE
----------------------
For those who haven't heard: the Meridian Arts Ensemble is a very talented
and innovative brass quintet, intent on expanding the repertoire, often
commissioning new works. The MAE released an album called "Smart Went Crazy"
which contains eleven or so minutes of FZ. This is a brass quintet with a
drummer/percussionist added. The disk is 72 minutes long. (DDD) So...
What are you waiting for? Log out and go find it! Comparison to the Kronos
Quartet is inevitable, especially now that MAE has thrown their rendition of
"Purple Haze" into the ring. Those of you searching for this tasty little
morsel, keep looking. I found it at a local Tower Records under Misc Brass
in the Classical section. The Zappa tunes are:
Big Swifty
Harry, You're a Beast
The Orange County Lumber Truck
T'mershi Duween
and Dupree's Paradise.
These are just the first 5 out of 20 cuts on the disk. It took me a while
to hear the rest of the tunes on account of I had to play this delightful
suite about six times before going on. It is GREAT! The following quote
is from the liner notes: "On March 12,1993 the Meridian Arts Ensemble
performed these pieces for Mr. Zappa at his home in Los Angeles. The
composer worked with us by critiquing the performance, making corrections
in the arrangements, and giving suggestions for further interpretations.
.We feel very fortunate to have worked with him, and to have received
his support for our continuing to adapt his work for this ensemble."
Raymond G. Stewart, tuba player of the Meridian Arts Ensemble sez:
The Meridian Arts Ensemble was formed in NYC in 1987 as a standard
brass quintet chamber ensemble. In 1988, when Frank played at the
Beacon we all were ignorant to his music. I think I had to run home
(right past the theater) and watch Cagney and Lacey that night.
I'm surprised at myself still because of any of the MAE members I had
the most FZ background. I owned BONGO FURY on 8-track in high school
and saw him on tour in the late seventies in my hometown of Carbondale, IL.
I was a musician then and his music still just overwhelmed me, but I was
more concerned about other things at that time anyway....
The members of MAE take great pleasure in bringing genres together.
This also includes you, the listener. If we can turn on the blue-hair
crowd to a rowsing set of FZ music and maybe some Babbitt, then we're
halfway there. We also want the 818PUMPKIN-junkie to come to our
concerts and perhaps discover the way Johann Hermann Schein's psalm
settings influenced JS Bach, even though the two never met.
We are not a band which plays the man's music exclusively. Never will be.
Our FORMER manager wanted us to do this. It's not for us. We're also very
"by the book" when asked to perform Frank's music. If it smells funny,
we're gone. Gail is very helpful in this way. A few other people have
really helped us out: Gary Titone, Rob Samler, John Scialli, Frans
Goddijn. I'm sure Jon Nelson could add a few names to this list.
To dispell a rumor, our next CD will not be all FZ. It will be
recorded Feb '95 in Holland and probably contain Peaches en Regalia,
Let's Make The Water Turn Black, Oh No, Igor's Boogie, Eat That Question,
and Echidna's Arf (of you). We also took Run Home Slow/Little March,
Little House I Used to Live In, and three versions of The Black Page
on tour to Europe last summer.
THE MISSING PERSONS
-------------------
The band had Dale & Terry Bozzio, Warren C. and Patrick O'Hearn on it
plus Chuck Wild on keyboards. They released two albums plus a
best of. The first one was called "Spring Session M", released in 1982.
The album by Missing Persons, "Spring Session M" is actually Missing
Persons spelled sidways and backwards, according to
the lead guitarist, Warren.
THE MUFFIN MEN
--------------
Great googly moogly,
The Muffin Men are a group of musically talented Zappa fans from
Liverpool. I have been lucky enough to see them twice, and would
describe them as the second best band you've never heard in your life.
They don't attempt Zappa's killer compositions like The Black Page but I
think that they're working up to it. Their performances are full to the
brim of raw, unbridled bafoonery in addition to the superb music. They
may be supporting the Grandmothers on their European tour.
Their debut album "Say Cheese and Thank You" has just been released on
CD. It features "Peaches", "Cosmik Debris", "Andy/Inca Roads" medley,
"The Big Medley" (probably "Oh no, let's make the Harry turn Orange"),
"Let's Move To Cleveland", "Yo Mama", "Willie The Pimp" (with Tonto
Jimmy Carl Black on vocals) and a "sick" version of "Muffin Man". It's
available from Rod Gilliard, 198 Edge Ln, Liverpool L7 5NA, UK for 12
crisp pounds and 50 new pence. (Information from T'Mershi Duween the UK
Zappa fanzine.)
THE MUFFIN MEN..."MULM" CD featuring Ike Willis is out now and available!
THE MUFFIN MEN LIVE!...CD can be expected this year yet.
MUFFIN MEN on TOUR in THE YOU-ESSS-AYYY (USA) in/around May/June 95.
They are looking for venues. The tour planning starts in two weeks.
Offers are welcome. The tour will be with IKE WILLIS and maybe some special
guest here and there (you might win a date with Pia Zadora).
THE BAND FROM UTOPIA (Banned from Utopia)
-----------------------------------------
Just in short : in was pretty good, and the audience screamed a lot,
when they had to stop at 10pm. The band finally consisted of
Bobby Martin, Tommy Mars, Ike Willis, Ed Mann, Bruce Fowler
Kurt McGettrick, Tom Fowler (On violin! most of the time, bass also),
Arthur Barrow (5-string bass, e- and a-guitar), and a drummer named Jay ???,
not a Zappa drummer.
Some of the songs included were: Illinois Enema Bandit, Pound for a brown,
Outside Now, Easy Meat Tink walks amok (!!!, this was just great),
some We`re only in it-medley. and more. The musicians were enthusiastically
welcomed one by one by the audience. It was just good to see these guys
back on stage again.
OK--I am immensely intrigued now--someone said the drummer's name
was Jay something and then someone else said he was from New Jersey.
Could it have been Jerry Cuccurullo, Warren's brother? He was the
drummer at Warren's show Wednesday night and is about 5'2", dark
hair, etc, played drums on Dale Bozzio's 1991 tour. Just curious.
Band From Utopia will be released as a single CD in November. A second CD
will be out next year. Many advance requests for it.
Band From Utopia will go on tour, probably in the Spring 95
I've recently seen a tape of the German TV show that carried the
concert. It is terrific. Most of their broadcast was actually the
encore, with Chad on drums, rather than Jay Ditammo.
I'm sure Muffin has the whole show on tape. The performances are close
to DHBIM (different lineup, of course), in quality, but Ike's up front
directing rather than Frank. Bobby Martin can still sing like a muthafucka,
and the whole band seems to be very into it (trying to do a good job
for Frank). A very sincere show of respect, as demonstrated in their
postgame interview (with German translation over the top).
The show starts with the encore, where Ike announces that Chad will replace
Jay on drums. By this time, we have:
Tommy Mars--KB,vox
Bobby Martin-KB,sax,vox
Arty Barrow-5stringBass(he played guitar early in the set)
Chad-drums
Ike-guitar,leadVox,direkshum
Tom Fowler-fiddle,(or bass when Arty played guitar)
EdMann-percussion
Bruce(or Walt?)Fowler-t-bone
Kurt McGettrick-sax,winds
---------
JayDittamo played drums during the initial set. Ike said that Jay
had auditioned with the band back around 1980, but didn't make the tour.
I read last week that the BfU had played again, in Germany, with
Chad on drums, but without Ike. This saddens me. I haven't seen
him since Nov/Dec, and I'm afraid he may be sucked under by his
expensive tastes. His phone was disconnected back then, and we've
not been able to get a search party together.
---
Ike Willis is replacing Robert Martin at the Norway concerts
of the Band from Utopia. Seems Robert had an offer of
steady employment, composing for a weekly television serious.
----
Last evening (actually this morning) I saw the Banned from Utopia
(NOT BAND as IKE pointed out several times jokingly). They played
at the infamous Toad's Place in New Haven, CT and are scheduled to
play their last show on this leg of the tour tonight
in Boston (venue unknown).
Band Members:
Ike Willis vocals, guitar, Newt Gingrich mask
Tommy Mars Keyboards and vocals
Chad Wackerman Drums Extraordinaire
Tom Fowler Bass
Bruce Fowler Trombone, vocals on Easy Meat
Walt Fowler Trumpet, Coronet
Kurt McGettrick Saxophone, fife/flute type of instr.
Mike Miller Guitar
The Banned played 3 plus hours of Zappa with 2 originals worked
in, Black Coffee written by Chad, and then Jig written by Mike
Miller. Their new disk is worth buying just for Black Coffee.
Song list included in order (although I may be missing one):
Andy, Inca Roads, Pound for a Brown, Beautiful Guy, "No Head"
as it was listed on the song list taped to Tommy's keys but
I don't think this is the name of it, The Eric Dolphy Memorial BarBQ,
Black Coffee, Lucille has Messed My Mind Up, instrumental from
Tinsletown Rebellion I think (I'm reviewing disks this evening),
BeeBop Tango, EZ Meat, then intermission. Uncle Meat, Jig, Yo Cats,
Sinister Footware, The Idiot Bastard Son, Valley of the Sun,
instrumental from Live at Roxy & Elsewhere, Peaches en Regalia
(tremendous), Sofa, Outside Now, Zombie Woof, Oh No, The Black Page.
---
The CD, "A Tribute to the Music of Frank Zappa" by the Band from
Utopia has been released. On this occasion (July 1994), the
band consisted of Bruce and Tom Fowler, Tommy Mars, Ed Mann,
Arthur Barrow, Ike Willis, Chad Wackerman, Robert Martin,
Kurt McGettrick, and Jay Dittamo. Included are Chungas Revenge,
Ain't Got No Heart, Take Your Clothes off When you Dance, Ugliest
Part of Your Body, Mother People, Help I'm a Rock, Eric Dolphy
Memorial BBQ, City of Tiny Lights, Pound for a Brown, I'm a
Beautiful Guy, BeBop Tangg, Yo Cats, Zomby Woof, Sofa, Andy.
Neglected Orphans
-----------------
Glad to see that there is an Orphans reference in your FAQ; thank you.
However, if I may contribute some more material for your use, should
you desire:
The official title of the group is "Roland St.Germain/Neglected Orphans".
The lineup consists of:
ROLAND ST.GERMAIN Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, vocals
LINDA VALDMETS Violin, vocals
SCOTT MCGREGOR Guitars, vocals
STEVE DALBACK Drums
Roland and Linda were ex-Grandmothers (1989-93); Roland left the
group rather than stay and get kicked out, and Linda stayed
and got kicked out.
The Neglected Orphans' CD, DANCES WITH WEASELS, is due out in
July from Muffin Records Productions. It contains one Zappa
track, "Road Ladies", and features cameo performances from
Robert Martin, Arthur Barrow, and Arthur "God of Hellfire"
Brown. 17 tracks in all - one of 'em has got to crack you up!
Rehearsals are in progress for the WEASELS tour.
Dave Ellis (a friend of Roland's since '71) will be taking over
the bass duties for the road >as well as the next Neglected
Orphans album, "Y.U.I. OUGHTA".
Any further questions? Please write. Thank you for your
assistance and understanding.
-Roland St.Germain, Neglected Orphan in Charge
'Z'
---
Z has one album out now called 'Shampoohorn', it is excellent!
On the album, the line up is like this:
Ahmet Zappa-vocals
Dweezil Zappa-Guitars,bg vocals
Mike Keneally-guitars,keys,bg vocals,big harmonies
Scott Thunes- bass
Various persons played drums.
Z's next album is due in April and is called 'Music for Pets',
They will be touring sometime this spring and last I heard were
playing gigs around LA.