107.9 The River » Frank Zappa

25 Years Ago: Frank Zappa Releases 'You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 1′

Sterling Whitaker — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:51:34 +0000

One of the most confounding musicians ever to grace the rock genre, Frank Zappa had a penchant for taking what essentially amounted to full-blown avant garde compositions and arranging them for rock ensemble playing. His bizarre, conceptual live performances were an astonishing mix of exceptional musicianship, onstage theatrics and pop culture satire. On May 16, 1988 Zappa showcased some of the standout live tracks from various eras of his development by releasing a career-spanning double live album titled 'You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol 1.'

45 Years Ago: Frank Zappa Releases 'Lumpy Gravy'

Ryan Reed — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:40:26 +0000

Frank Zappa is often regarded as one of the most brilliant, idiosyncratic musicians in rock music. But, looking back at his eclectic, monstrous body of work as a composer, guitarist, vocalist, and bandleader, Zappa really wasn't a "rock" musician. That fact is cemented on 'Lumpy Gravy,' Zappa's first official solo album, which was released 45 years ago today (May 13, 1968).

45 Years Ago: The Mothers of Invention's 'We're Only in It for the Money' Album Released

Michael Gallucci — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 01:28:40 +0000

From the mocking cover art to the orchestral notes that grace the music to the loose thematic ties that link the songs, the Mothers of Invention’s ‘We’re Only in It for the Money’ turns ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ on its head. But it’s not so much the Beatles’ masterpiece -- which was released nine months before the Mothers album -- that Frank Zappa and his band of musical pranksters ruthlessly skewer; it’s the culture that fed and supported it.

Frank Zappa's '200 Motels' to Make Full-Length Live Orchestral Debut

Jeff Giles — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 04:15:30 +0000

More than 40 years after its initial release, Frank Zappa‘s ’200 Motels’ is scheduled to make its orchestral world premiere thanks to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The L.A. Philharmonic will perform Zappa’s song suite on Oct. 23 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, coming full circle with a musical saga that started in 1970, when [...]

Mothers of Invention Co-Founder Ray Collins Dies at 76

Sterling Whitaker — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 03:58:54 +0000

Ray Collins, the singer and co-founder of the Mothers of Invention, died on Monday (Dec. 24) in Pomona, Calif. He had been hospitalized since Dec. 18 after suffering a massive heart attack, and was removed from life support on Saturday. He was 76 years old. Collins grew up in Pomona and got his musical start [...]

Frank Zappa's 'Roxy by Proxy' to be Distributed by Fans

Dave Lifton — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 01:23:34 +0000

The career of Frank Zappa has been nothing if not innovative. Nearly 20 years after his death, his estate is continuing his tradition by coming up with a new way of licensing his music, by allowing his fans to serve as independent distributors. Between now and Dec. 28, the Zappa Family Trust is selling master [...]

19 Years Ago: Frank Zappa Dies

Sterling Whitaker — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:03:24 +0000

Frank Zappa was one of the most innovative and versatile rock musicians of his generation, creating a vast body of work that encompassed almost every genre of music -- but he wouldn't have wanted to hear it. The mercurial genius actively resisted those kinds of labels and effusive public praise, focusing instead on the work itself in a career that spanned more than three decades. He died on Dec. 4, 1993 at the age of 52 after a long battle with prostate cancer.

'From Straight to Bizarre' DVD Documents History of Frank Zappa's Early Record Labels

Chris M. Junior — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:30:07 +0000

When Frank Zappa parted ways with Verve Records in 1968, he knew what was best for his career moving forward, and that was starting his own label. Actually, Zappa co-founded two labels — the Straight and Bizarre imprints (which were distributed by Warner Brothers). And not only was Zappa’s then-band, the Mothers of Invention, part [...]