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(Hot Poop, Lukewarm Poop …final poop)

(Last updated 8 August 2022)

Tweets by idiotbastard

Hot Poop

· Watch snippets of Napi and Mats Öberg’s pre-Zappanale Hamburg church gig here. And an audience recording of The Mike Keneally Project's complete headline set at the fest itself here. [Added: 08 August 2022]

· American record executive Mo Ostin went on his final vacation last week. To mark this, here's Steve Vai telling his Vinnie Colaiuta sushi story! (I say ‘his’, but of course Arthur Barrow also tells it – see his excellent book, Of Course I Said Yes!; now Ed Mann is demanding Steve apologises to Arthur. [Added: 08 August 2022]

· This year's Zappa Night in Heubach, Germany features Inventionis Mater, Gabba Zappa Hey!, and Absolutely Frank. It takes place on 15 October at the QLTourRaum Übelmesser. [Added: 08 August 2022]

· Watch Terry Bozzio jam with Zappa Band drummer Joe Travers here. Part Two (including an exclusive ‘Art of Drumming’ interview with Art Tripp) is available to Drum Channel subscribers only. [Added: 27 July 2022]

· Coming soon from Sonicbond Publishing, On Track ... Captain Beefheart by Opher Goodwin. Order your copy here. [Added: 27 July 2022]

· Treacherous Cretins have now added some dates around their thrice-postponed 100 Club showcase gig - see Diary for details. [Added: 27 July 2022]

· Well, Zappanale #31 was indeed worth the wait – kudos to Wolfhard and Tracy for getting it all together in the face of very trying circumstances. It was great meeting for the first time Art Tripp (a genuinely nice guy). The musical highlight for me was The Mike Keneally Project. Sadly, most of the festival’s live stream has now been marked ‘private’ on YouTube – but here is the Zappawoman Trio's set, featuring Robert Martin. Next year’s date is in the Diary. See you there? [Added: 21 July 2022]

· Those who attended the Napoleon Murphy Brock/Mats Öberg concert at St Catherine’s Church in Hamburg last week were able to purchase a CD EP pre-release featuring 23 minutes of Ensemble Musikfabrik's Zappanale set from 2019 – featuring Napi hisself – as recently mixed by Ali N. Askin. [Added: 21 July 2022]

· Following his 2016 picture book (with illustrator Dan Santat), Because I'm Your Dad, Ahmet is following this up next year with Because I'm Your Mom. The blurb says, "An unconventional mother promises her child an unconventional childhood full of play, wonder, and creativity." Strikingly, it was inspired by his wife Shana rather than Gail. And talking of Gail, here's an interesting podcast about her. [Added: 21 July 2022]

· Couple of quotes on the Universal deal: “Ahmet has made sure that his father's music is in great hands...the joining of two great American families!" says Zappa Band vocalist/guitarist, Ray White; and “The trust has not been completely dissolved. The band is unrelated to the sale.” writes Zappa Band bassist and Trust Scoremeister, Scott Thunes. [Added: 21 July 2022]

· Arthur Barrow: “My old friend Bruce Fowler and his pal Tom Malone are both turning 75 this summer, and they decided to throw a birthday bash at a pub in Thousand Oaks. Bruce invited me to come and be part of a jam – of course, I said yes! It was a top notch bunch of musicians, and I was stoked to play with them. There was: Bruce, Tom, Chad Wackerman, Mike Miller and Kahlil Sabbagh. A good time was had by all!” [Added: 21 July 2022]

· To mark the return of the non-virtual Zappanale, I have re-posted my (largely unedited and newly annotated) interviews with the fest's guest alums for 2022: Robert Martin and Mike Keneally. (There is also a previously unseen one from 2020 with the latter for you to enjoy!). And of course, I recently interviewed the third special guest alumni, Art Tripp. Click on their names to enjoy. And to all those attending the festival: see you soon! [Added: 13 July 2022]

· Guitarist Henry Kaiser paid tribute to FZ in his monthly solo for June 2022. Starts here. (Thanks to Eric H for the heads up!) [Added: 13 July 2022]

· Further to last week’s announcement that the Zappa Forum will be shutting down on Friday, it has been confirmed that there will be no importing of previous data to it’s new home: we are advised to screen grab anything we wish to keep. In related news, Zappa.com has already lost its ‘upcoming dates’ tab (though the empty page can still be accessed here). [Added: 13 July 2022]

· Harmonicist Tommy Morgan, who can be heard as part of the Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra on Orchestral Favorites, sadly passed away recently at the grand old age of 89. He also played on a number of Beach Boys recordings, including Good Vibrations. [Added: 13 July 2022]

· Jeff Cotton, aka the Magic Band’s Antennae Jimmy Semens, has his debut solo album The Fantasy of Reality coming out on the Madfish label in August. It features internal artwork by Cal Schenkel. Here's the official trailer on YouTube. [Added: 13 July 2022]

· Suddenly available: I Shot Frank Zappa: My Life In Photography by Robert Davidson with John Elliott. Here's a snap John took of me introducing Pauline Butcher to Robert, over forty years after they were in the same room together at The Royal Garden Hotel. [Added: 09 July 2022]

· Fred Händl: “Don't wait 'till the fat lady sings...pre-order your copy (and get perks) of my upcoming CD: Händl Plays Zappa now, and be sure to get your hands on one. The album is available for pre-order until October 2nd (only 100 copies will be made). All new recordings – full length album – signed – free worldwide shipping – digital download – cool sticker – and, if that weren't enough – your name in the booklet All tracks arranged and performed by yours truly. Want in? Please send an email to: fredhandl72@gmail.com.” Check out Fred’s website. [Added: 09 July 2022]

· The Zappa Forum will be shutting down on Friday (July 15), it says here. I would imagine its eventual new home would not include any of the old posts – including those made by Gail, Mark Volman and other notables over the years – which will be a great shame. [Added: 09 July 2022]

· Check out It's Too Late by Candice Night and Dweezil Zappa here. [Added: 09 July 2022]

· The Zappa Trust has sold FZ's estate (including his recordings, publishing catalogue, film archive and the complete contents of The Vault) to the Universal Music Group, for a reported $25-30m. Here’s the official blurb and video. Lots of speculation on-the-line about what this all actually means for the family and fans alike. As regards the Vaultmeister, Mike Keneally posted that Travers would continue in this role (though said post was later deleted). And what of the rest of the team – like Scott Thunes (Scoremeister), Melanie Starks (President, Production, Zappa Records), Holland Greco (President, Munchkin Music) and Diva (President, ICA)? Well the latter has Tweeted that she's thrilled about it all, so I guess we all should ‘just rejoice at that news’ too. It’s not really any of our beeswax at the end of the day. But hopefully they will provide some clarity in due course. [Added: 02 July 2022]

· Bogus Pomp’s grand return to the stage tonight will be livestreamed on YouTube here – subscribe for notifications. [Added: 02 July 2022]

· Robert Davidson’s I Shot Frank Zappa book will be published by Aureus later this month. [Added: 02 July 2022]

· Author Ted Gioia has just published the first part of his Gnarly Frank Zappa Essay here. [Added: 02 July 2022]

· Ben Watson: “This radio hour could interest anyone seeking background to Frank's famous use of LioneHampton's Midnight Sun after the words ‘Dreamed I was an Eskimo...’ Of course he was emphasising tuned percussion as jazz's great contribution to modern music, but it's also about the Arctic and the Northern Lights. I wish Frank was still alive so we could talk to him about Kristian Birkeland and Hannes Alfven and their important Scandinavian contribution to Electric Universe cosmology – and Pacôme Thiellement's prescience in centering his book (Économie Eskimo: Le Rêve De Zappa, 2005) on the Eskimo, an intuition confirmed by Dance Me This.” [Added: 26 June 2022]

· Lorra lorra nice things being writ about The Zappa Band's recent US tour. Here's an audience vid of one complete show. And here's a relevant interview with Ahmet (in which he also says Dweezil has been nicer of late). Sure hope the band crosses the North Atlantic soon. [Added: 26 June 2022]

· Frank’s ‘buxom red-haired companion’, Pete (aka Lorraine Belcher Chamberlain), could use some help – read on. [Added: 26 June 2022]

· Haskell Wexler's Medium Cool is being shown at the Bertha DocHouse in London next Saturday (2 July). The film features 'incidental music' by the Mothers and Wild Man Fischer. Read here for details. [Added: 26 June 2022]

· Steve Vai recently rejoined Whitesnake... for Still Of The Night (their final song) at the Hellfest in Clisson, France – watch here. After he said, “I’m grateful I was able to contribute one last time to this phenomenal band that was such an integral part of my career. To feel David‘s energy on the stage again, and Tommy Aldridge‘s slamming beats, and to finally be able to jam with my friend Joel Hoekstra, and the rest of the 'Snakes' in front of 45,000 people was just electrifying.” [Added: 26 June 2022]

· Cool li’l interview with Ray White – and here’s mine with the man from a few years back. [Added: 18 June 2022]

· When The Zappa Band tour hit New Jersey earlier this week, Robert Martin dropped by to see Dr Dot for a bite massage. [Added: 18 June 2022]

· If anyone’s interested in paying a pittance for some of the Zappa-themed albums I compiled for Cordelia Records, check out G&S Music’s closing down sale here. And Wymer UK has knocked a bit off the price of most of my Zappa books – snout around here. You’ll find lots of stuff far cheaper than you would at my online shop! [Added: 18 June 2022]

· 54th ZappaCast, ostensibly about Zappa/Erie, ’ere. A little more detail on the set was also snuck out here. But of course, it’s out now for us all to hear. [Added: 18 June 2022]

· Dweezil has teamed up with Candice Night (Mrs Ritchie Blackmore) on a version of Carole King's It's Too Late. It will appear on an album called Songs We Were Taught by The Prog Collective – pulled together by Yes bassist Billy Sherwood. Available from 1 July 2022. [Added: 10 June 2022]

· UK FZ tribute band Burger And The Beast are playing a free gig near Bath on 24 June – details in the Diary. Meantime, check out their rendition of Lonesome Cowboy Burt here. [Added: 10 June 2022]

· Arthur Barrow has just released another new ditty on Bandcamp: Archie's Bathtub features Marcus Rezak (who recently played with Ike Willis) on guitar. [Added: 10 June 2022]

· For those who missed the broadcast of Zadie Smith's Barbican concert with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, which featured a performance of FZ’s Outrage At Valdez, it's being repeated on BBC Radio 3 on this Sunday (12 June). [Added: 10 June 2022]

· Upcoming sci-fi comedy-drama Next Exit, written and directed by Danny Elfman's daughter Mali, stars Diva Zappa. Here’s the trailer. Hopefully it's better than her last film, Vampire Burt's Serenade. [Added: 10 June 2022]

· A lost funk gem by Norma Jean Bell has just been unleashed, courtesy of former Rolling Stones Records president Earl McGrath. Check out Just Look-ah What You’ll Be Missing here. Incidentally, I tried to contact Norma around the time of my Lady Bianca interview; as well as her short stint with FZ, she was also a member of the late Tommy Bolin’s band and has played with Chic, P-Funk, Narada Michael Walden and Stevie Wonder. [Added: 10 June 2022]

· Art Tripp is to make a surprise special guest appearance at this year’s Zappanale. Here’s my recent interview with him. [Added: 05 June 2022]

· Down below I talk about other possible talking heads in Alex Winter's Zappa movie, and ascertained that Del Casher and Lorraine Belcher Chamberlain were both contacted (with Casher actually being fillumed). I have now been told that Robert Davidson, the Zappa Krappa snapper, was also approached but declined to appear. Robert is finalising his I Shot FZ book, which should be out later this year. Meantime, he will be giving a talk in Totnes in July – details in the Diary. [Added: 05 June 2022]

· A third preview track from Zappa/Erie has been unleashed: Montana from Edinboro, PA, 8 May 1974. [Added: 05 June 2022]

· Jazz drummer Tony Williams’ 'lost' 1980 trio album Play Or Die is to be re-released next month. The trio comprised Williams, keyboardist Tom Grant and Patrick O'Hearn (credited as Patrick O’Hara) on bass. [Added: 05 June 2022]

· Following release of The Mothers 1971, the Recording podcast had a chat with Joe Travers & Craig Parker Adams about their work excavating and buffing nuggets from the Vault. [Added: 05 June 2022]

· Here’s a brand new interview that I have just conducted with the legend that is Arthur Dyer Tripp III! [Added: 28 May 2022]

· I have just reviewed Dale Bozzio’s Life Is So Strange – Missing Persons, Frank Zappa, Prince & Beyond here. Includes a link to a DB Spotify playlist. [Added: 28 May 2022]

· The revised and updated version of Pauline Butcher’s memoir – re-titled Freak Out! My Life with Frank Zappa: Laurel Canyon 1968-1971 – will be now be published on 16 August in the UK, and 19 September 2022 in the US. Meantime, Alan Clayson’s long awaited official biography (Mother Superior: The Saga of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention), which was due to be published in October 2022, has been postponed once more. [Added: 28 May 2022]

· I have added The Zappa Band dates and a whole lot more to the Bastard’s Diary. [Added: 28 May 2022]

· The mighty Bogus Pomp will rise from the ashes for one more performance on Saturday 2 July at the Floridian Social Club, St. Petersburg. Says main man Jerry Outlaw: “I never thought this opportunity would present itself again but to my surprise and delight, it is actually happening. This will be a memorable evening and I hope we can share it with the world via live stream.” For those wishing to attend, modestly priced tix are available here. [Added: 28 May 2022]

· FZ's live recording engineer, George Douglas, has sadly passed away. George's work can be heard on Tinsel Town Rebellion, Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar, You Are What You Is, The Torture Never Stops (though he’s uncredited on Halloween 81), Buffalo and elsewhere. [Added: 28 May 2022]

· The tenth episode of Dweezil’s audio documentary series covers his Return Of The Son Of... album. He also discusses "the trials and tribulations of being a band leader," and confirms that the singer who “had not done any of the required preparation” for his ZPZ audition was Living Colour's Corey Glover. He also mentions the video for ZPZ’s rendition of Billy The Mountain (featuring three current members of The Zappa Band, sports fans) – which you can viddy here... [Added: 28 May 2022]

· ...and here's all of the officially released FZ versions of Billy The Mountain in one handy Spotify playlist – you know you want it! [Added: 28 May 2022]

· I have updated my Zappanale travel guide to include mention of the specially discounted German train tickets that are available throughout July (and June and August). [Added: 23 May 2022]

· Steve Vai has just had his debut album, Flex-Able, remastered by Bernie Grundman. This 36th anniversary edition is available in a variety of formats, including limited edition gold vinyl and green cassette! Watch the man himself tell you more here. [Added: 23 May 2022]

· New Zappa website – Life On The Road: An Analysis Of The Recordings Of Frank Zappa – has just been created by Alex D. May. So far it covers 1965-1969, with reviews and summaries of the recordings available and songs played. [Added: 23 May 2022]

· Second teaser track from the Zappa/Erie album is Village Of The Sun from November 1974. [Added: 14 May 2022]

· Check out the bargains at G&S Music’s closing down sale here. [Added: 14 May 2022]

· Here's a teaser for The Zappa Band’s US tour next month, on the official Zappa Band YouTube channel. [Added: 14 May 2022]

· Nostalgic Orange (featuring members of The Lovers Of Invention) will play a few Zappa tunes at the Royal Albert pub in New Cross this Sunday (15 May). [Added: 14 May 2022]

· And now...here is my interview with Lady Bianca! [Added: 10 May 2022]

· Watch Robby Krieger – with FZ alums Arthur Barrow, Jock Ellis and Sal Marquez (plus Banned From Utopia drummer, Joel Taylor) – perform two FZ tunes and more here. [Added: 10 May 2022]

· The Zappa/Erie release has been delayed until 17 June. [Added: 10 May 2022]

· Lady Bianca is to guest with the Stinkfoot Orchestra featuring Napoleon Murphy Brock when they play The New Parish, Oakland, CA on 24 June. The Idiot has just conducted an interview with her, coming soon. [Added: 06 May 2022]

· The Zappa Band is currently on the ‘Cruise To The Edge’. As well as playing two FZ sets, Messrs Keneally, Thunes and Martin are also joining Jakko Jakszyk, vocalist/guitarist for King Crimson, for his two shows. [Added: 06 May 2022]

· Not content with just finishing a tour with ProgJect and about to start another with The Zappa Band, Mike Keneally is squeezing in a gig with Beer For Dolphins in Escondido on 13 May [now postponed as MK has Covid]. He has also unleashed BFD’s 1996 album, Half Alive In Hollywood, on his Bandcamp page, for your instant downloading pleasure. [Added: 06 May 2022 / Updated: 10 May 2022 ]

· Ike Willis is teaming up with guitarist Marcus Rezak for a ‘Zappa Night’ in Connecticut this eve, and again at the Karnival Of Arts in Pennsylvania in September. [Added: 06 May 2022]

· Here’s part two of Dweezil’s Live In The Moment II audio documentary. [Added: 06 May 2022]

· After the screening of the Zappa movie at the Alex Winter season in Leicester Square recently, I asked the director if anybody had been interviewed that wasn't ultimately included in the film. The answer was, yes: Del Casher. This has kind of been redressed now, as Del appears in the Freak Out! Classic Albums documentary. But what I should have asked was, did they try to interview someone and fail. The answer to that is, yes: Lorraine Belcher Chamberlain. Lorraine tells me, “They came to San Francisco to interview me, but [very sadly, her now late husband, the underground cartoonist S. Clay] Wilson was just out of the ICU and I just couldn’t. I feel terrible about it. Bad timing! It was just before they needed to do the final edit.” Happily, my interviews with Miss Belcher about her time with FZ can be found in my book, Frank Talk – but it sure would have been great to see her telling all on the big screen. Hopefully one day Lorraine will finish her memoir. [Added: 04 May 2022]

· In 2019, Eddie Jobson was inducted (by John Taylor and Simon Le Bon) into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of Roxy Music. This year, Warren Cuccurullo will be inducted – as a part of Duran Duran, alongside Messrs Le Bon and Taylor. Kudos. Time to write that memoir, WC! #MeetWho? [Added: 04 May 2022]

· In 2019, Eddie Jobson was inducted (by John Taylor and Simon Le Bon) into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of Roxy Music. This year, Warren Cuccurullo will be inducted – as a part of Duran Duran, alongside Messrs Le Bon and Taylor. Kudos. Time to write that memoir, WC! #MeetWho? [Added: 04 May 2022]

· Watch Miss Pamela pay tribute to her late friend, Cynthia Plaster Caster, here. In the video, she reveals that Cynthia asked her to finish her memoir (answering my question below)...and also Jimi’s tallywacker! [Added: 04 May 2022]

· Since attending the Zappa Immersion Day at the Barbican in March, I have received numerous emails telling me of other upcoming events. These I have largely ignored, thus failing to report that writer Zadie Smith read extracts from her novels and essays between selected musics performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Ben Gernon, on 22 April. One piece performed was Outrage At Valdez (which was tackled by the Ubu Ensemble in March). After it, Ms Smith reveals that she was introduced to FZ by John Craven. You can hear the concert here. O@V starts at 41 minutes and 20 seconds, but the whole thing is worth a listen. Refreshing to see an influential cultural figure tip her hat in these cancel culture days, where other cheerless writers might dismiss FZ as an anti-semitic sexist. [Added: 01 May 2022]

· Got seven and a half hours to spare? Here’s three and a bit VHS tapes worth of FZ in Prague. [Added: 01 May 2022]

· Adrian Belew has a new download-only album out imminently, titled Elevator. He will tour it this summer. Here’s the press release, plus a preview track – which probably has nothing to do with the trunk road to the sea that’s gobbing distance from where I live! [Added: 01 May 2022]

· Treacherous Cretins, the London based five-piece, has sadly had to once again postpone its planned gig at London’s 100 Club. The gig was originally to have taken place in April in the year of the plague; the new date is 26 October 2022. All tickets remain valid. The band says, “We are working to get more dates in the diary, so please watch for further gig announcements. On a much more positive note, we would like to welcome our new bassist, Alex Taglione, who is working hard learning the material as we all get our musical chops back into shape.” Meantime, please check out this YouTube playlist of the guys in action, why not? [Added: 01 May 2022]

· The seventh episode of Dweezil’s audio documentary series covers his Live In The Moment II album. Watch as he attempts “to recall where the solos came from and my approach to playing them. I also discuss my overall approach to playing my dad’s music and the way my own style of guitar playing has developed.” [Added: 01 May 2022]

· First teaser track from the Zappa/Erie album is one of the two versions of You Didn’t Try To Call Me featuring the fab Lady Bianca. The album has now appeared for pre-order on Amazon UK (CD set / mp3 download) and Burning Shed. [Added: 22 April 2022]

· Very sad to learn that Cynthia Plaster Caster has just passed away. I briefly corresponded with her several years ago, and then met her at Zappanale in 2015. She seemed a lovely lady, with some great tales to tell. Wonder if this means we'll never get The Groupie Papers book now? In his Real FZ Book, Frank compared Miss Pamela's diaries to Cynthia's saying, “Good as they are, they're not nearly as well written or insightful as Cynthia's.” [Added: 22 April 2022]

· The Girls In The Magnesium Dress has just released its crowd-funded debut album, Ruutsu. Listen to Blessed Relief from it here. [Added: 22 April 2022]

· The Black Page #2, as performed by the Lovers of Invention live at the Jazz Cafe in January, will appear on YouTube on Monday. The band is playing two sets at Ronnie Scott’s on 7 May. [Added: 22 April 2022]

· A little tease from the Arfs regarding this year's Zappanale: “If all goes well, we'll welcome a very special surprise guest to the Zappanale for the first time on Sunday.” Ooh, I wonder who that could be? [Added: 20 April 2022]

· Details of the forthcoming Zappa/Erie set were added to the news page at zappa.com today. [Added: 20 April 2022]

· The second part of the Drum Channel’s ‘Art Of Drumming’ series with Terry Bozzio and Steve Vai shooting the breeze is here. Incidentally, while I’m sure y’all have seen the excellent Drummer’s of FZ roundtable discussion with Ralph Humphrey, Chester Thompson, Chad Wackerman, Ruth Underwood and Terry, it was recently uploaded to DC’s official YouTube channel here. [Added: 20 April 2022]

· The sixth and seventh episodes of Dweezil’s audio documentary series cover solo albums numbers 5 & 6: Go With What You Know & Via Zammata’. [Added: 20 April 2022]

· Robert Martin has been added to the Zappanale line-up. He will guest with a number of acts, including with fellow Zappa Band member Mike Keneally’s band. Additionally, the Hamburg pre-show on Wednesday will feature Mats Öberg and Napoleon Murphy Brock. [Added: 15 April 2022]

· GrandMother Chris Garcia: “We start rehearsals with The Muthers for a new recording, but the band this time will be Continuum accompanying them: myself (drumset, tabla, marimba, percussion, voice), Al Garcia (bass/electric guitar), Craig Ochikubo (keyboards/synths/breath synths), plus Don and Bunk being themselves. Plus some very special guests...” [Added: 15 April 2022]

· The Drum Channel has just premiered the first of a four part ‘Art Of Drumming’ series, in which Terry Bozzio interviews Steve Vai. Here's the first one. [Added: 15 April 2022]

· The debut album by Italian London-based jazz singer/storyteller Germana Stella La Sorsa features an interesting cover of FZ's Inca Roads. Germana will launch her album, titled Vapour, at London's Vortex Jazz Club on 30 April. [Added: 15 April 2022]

· For those thinking the asking price at zappa.com for the new Zappa/Erie limited edition box set is a bit steep, a standard version without the poster will be available for pre-order on 22 April. [Added: 12 April 2022]

· In all the excitement of Zappadan, the release of the 200 Motels anniversary box set, and the run-up to Xmas, I neglected to post a couple of things: one was this article about 200 Motels, which includes a revealing interview with the amazing Ruth Underwood (take care, beware: this is a subscription site, so you only get so many free views before they want paying); and t’other was this stupendous solo rendition of Treacherous Cretins by the spectacular Rachel Flowers. [Added: 12 April 2022]

· Here Pamela Des Barres talks about working with FZ on 200 Motels. [Added: 12 April 2022]

· No Rhyme, No Reason is a new 45-track, 3CD set drawing from George Duke’s three Elektra albums, Thief In The Night, George Duke and Night After Night, and his six Warner Brothers albums, Snapshot, The Muir Woods Suite, Illusions, Is Love Enough?, After Hours and Cool, plus the non-album track, Guilty (Part 2). Available from 17 June 2022. [Added: 12 April 2022]

· As we are just receiving our Mothers 71 box sets, the Zappa Trust announce the next Official Release: Zappa/Erie, a limited edition 6-CD set with poster comprising three complete shows (plus bonus tracks) recorded in 1974 and 1976, and featuring three separate band line-ups. [Added: 08 April 2022]

· Very sad to learn that G&S Music (“dedicated purveyors of Frank Zappa & related artists”) is shutting up shop. Dave Hopkinson took it on 18 years ago and feels that now is the time for him to do something else. I can only thank him for running the biznis as long as he has and wish him all the very best in whatever he now decides to turn his hand to. [Added: 08 April 2022]

· The fifth episode of Dweezil’s new audio documentary series covers solo album #3, Confessions – recalling stories from the studio and discussing the songs in detail. [Added: 08 April 2022]

· My good friend, co-author of FZ88 and ‘Broadway The Hard Way’ tour photographer, Sergio ‘Milo’ Albonico, has just written his own book, titled Frank Zappa Il Padrino Del Rock. It will be published in Italian by Aracana this October. There’s a very good chance it will be translated into English at some point. Milo tells me, “Everything is true in the book. It's about life in 88, music, the beginning of the digital revolution and why FZ is the real and true Godfather of rock. It's more like a novel than a biography.” [Added: 08 April 2022]

· The Zappa Band now has bespoke socials for to follow: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. [Added: 08 April 2022]

· The fourth episode of Dweezil’s new audio documentary series covers solo album #4, Automatic (the one he put together for “disenchanted guitar music fans,” Xmas 2000). [Added: 01 April 2022]

· Looks like The Zappa Band is doing a tour of the US East Coast starting 12 June at Homer NY followed by Holyoke MA, Tarrytown NY, Alexandria VA, Annapolis MD, Fall River MA, Beverly MA...and probably more. [Added: 01 April 2022]

· Stunt guitarist news: Mike Keneally has now added Dancing Demos to his Bandcamp page; and Steve Vai has unleashed an official music video for his Inviolate track, Teeth Of The Hydra. [Added: 01 April 2022]

· Sky Arts (Freeview Channel 11) will repeat its excellent Frank Zappa: Freak Out! Classic Albums documentary tomorrow (Saturday 26 March 2022) at 3pm. But it is available right now to rent or buy from Amazon Prime Video and iTunes – check your local stores. I would assume a physical version is not too far behind. [Added: 25 March 2022]

· Finally, confirmation of other acts playing Zappanale this July. And here, a little about the obstacles the Arf Society has faced these past couple of years. [Added: 25 March 2022]

· Idiot Fact #136: The original version of My Boyfriend’s Back by The Angels (as covered by The Mothers 1971) features Ronnie James Dio on trumpet. [Added: 25 March 2022]

· The Zappa Band is playing another gig, at the Whisky A Go Go on 3 June 2022. [Added: 25 March 2022]

· The third episode of Dweezil’s new audio documentary series covers the recording of his ‘difficult second album’, My Guitar Wants To KIll Your Mama. [Added: 25 March 2022]

· Kaigal-ool Khovalyg – the Tuvan throat singer who appears on Civilization Phaze III and Dance Me This – is touring the UK with the group he co-founded, Huun-Huur-Tu, next week. Dates in the Bastard’s Diary. [Added: 25 March 2022]

· Lots of good words have already been writ about the Barbican bash last weekend, eg. in the Grauniad. It truly was a blast. The highlight for me was the 100 piece+ BBC Symphony Orchestra navigating its way through the three movements of Mo ‘N Herb’s Vacation – woo-wee-woo-waa! Don’t forget, you can listen to highlights on BBC Radio 3 this coming Friday (25 March), and for 30 days thereafter. Ben Watson has kindly posted his recording of the chat he had with BBC Radio 3’s Andrew McGregor here. [Added: 21 March 2022]

· Fred Händl is doing a 'Zappa for solo piano' tour of Britain in April. Most of these are private house concerts, though some will be live-streamed on Facebook. But you can also pop along and heckle him in the flesh - see the Bastard’s Diary for details. [Added: 21 March 2022]

· ZappaCast #53 is here: a chat about The Mothers 1971 with the usual suspects. [Added: 21 March 2022]

· Some original members of ZPZ will reunite as One Shot Deal to play Frank’s music at the Baked Potato on 27-29 April. Obviously no DZ, but a fab line-up of musicians fer sure. [Added: 21 March 2022]

· In this recent podcast, double-bassist Jay Anderson talks about recording for FZ. (I assume he is referring to me when he talks about “the guy who runs the Frank Zappa fan club or whatever”! - our interview from a couple of years ago can be found here.) [Added: 21 March 2022]

· A few years ago, Ahmet talked of his commitment to have more people experience Frank’s orchestral music. Curiously then, there's no mention of this weekend's Zappa Total Immersion day at London's Barbican at zappa.com. For those unable to attend, you can stream the final concert in your living room - tickets here. I understand this online event will include a video chat betwixt Poodle Play author Ben Watson and ‘Zappawoman’/double-bassist, Valentina Ciardelli. Excerpts from the two concerts will also be broadcast next week on BBC Radio 3, and will be available to listen again thereafter – see here. [Added: 17 March 2022]

· As I hinted last week, the 8CD Mothers 1971 box set has been delayed and will now be released on 8 April – ‘at a revised price’. Meantime, certain folk are already receiving their vinyl copies of the Rainbow Theatre and Fillmore East albums. [Added: 17 March 2022]

· Arthur Barrow is now making his music available via Bandcamp – including some new releases, like The Sideburn (featuring Joe Travers on drums) and Freeplay (inspired by Jaco Pastorius' River People – I love Mr Gone!); both of these were mastered by Bob Rice. [Added: 17 March 2022]

· The PBS documentary tribute to The Persuasions main-man Jerry Lawson, mentioned below, can now be viddied in full on YouTube – here. [Added: 17 March 2022]

· The second episode of Dweezil’s new audio documentary series covers the recording of his FZ produced debut album, Havin’ A Bad Day. Sadly, DZ has stated that, “We haven't done any episodes for Shampoohorn or Music For Pets.” [Added: 14 March 2022]

· The Idiot is still trying to gauge the likelihood of Zappanale actually taking place this year. It's mid-March and the Arfs have only formally confirmed the one act so far: the Mike Keneally Report (although MK hasn't listed this on his own Live Dates page). I understand Dweezil will not be playing in Bad Doberan this year. And although John McLaughlin is supposed to be touring Europe this summer, his March tour of Germany was recently cancelled at the last minute. But those who have said they will be appearing in Zappa Town in July include Valentina Ciardelli, Co de Kloet and Raoul Petite, so fingers crossed something is really happening. [Added: 14 March 2022]

· The KCET documentary tribute to Rubén Guevara mentioned below can be viddied on YouTube here. And here's my Rubén essay from 2020. [Added: 14 March 2022]

· The Muffin Men have produced a lovely little video for their track on the Cordelia Records’ Would You Like A Snack? album – here. [Added: 11 March 2022]

· The third preview track from the (seemingly delayed) Mothers 1971 set is Cruising For Burgers live from the Rainbow Theatre (an extract from which of course appeared on Playground Psychotics). [Added: 11 March 2022]

· Ahmet, with his Uncle John and Aunt Magdalena et al, formed a company called LigitPro which sells, among other things, NFTs. Check out The Frank Zappa Sofa Tour here. Or maybe you'd like a physical Apostrophe Moustache Face Mask? All very enterprising. [Added: 11 March 2022]

· Another Nordic story, unearthed after the book came out. It’s all about Shirley Ann, who appeared on stage with the Mothers in 1969 – read it here. [Added: 08 March 2022]

· Dweezil has launched a new audio documentary series offering, “a weekly glance into the humble musical fabric of my career.” In the first episode, he talks to Shawn Ratches about the recording session for My Mother Is A Space Cadet. Watch it here. [Added: 08 March 2022]

· Napoleon Murphy Brock's mother has sadly passed away, aged 97. As some will know (eg. from Dr Dot's video interview last month), he has been caring for her these past few years. My sincere condolences go to Napi and his family and friends. Here's a song he wrote for his mom a few years back. [Added: 08 March 2022]

· Gerry Fialka, FZ's archivist/production assistant from 1983 to 1993, has a bunch of fun stuff to viddy: an interview with Zappa's Universe conductor Joel Thome; an interview with Ike Willis; and an interview with, and article on, Rubén Guevara. Coming next, Gerry's new Zappatista Salon One with esteemed Zappa buffs Messrs Bartram and Prentis. [Added: 08 March 2022]

· The 2022 Cruise To The Edge this May will see Adrian Belew, ProgJect (featuring Mike Keneally) and The Zappa Band (with the fantastic Marco Minnemann on drums) play aboard the Royal Caribbean, Mariner of the Seas. [Added: 01 March 2022]

· Steve Vai will tour Europe this Summer – UK and ROI dates in the Bastard’s Diary. [Added: 01 March 2022]

· L. Shankar is touring the US in April – deets here. [Added: 01 March 2022]

· Asked if he would be hitting the road again soon, Dweezil this week said, “We aren't able to tour yet. There are too many factors that make it too risky for us - most of them financial.” With artists like Lionel Richie and Tori Amos recently cancelling European tours (although Tori’s UK dates will go ahead next month), it's sadly still looking a bit bleak for live music in Europe. At least we in the UK have some interesting stuff coming up (including Tori, of course). [Added: 26 February 2022]

· For those who enjoyed Zappa Gear, here's a cool webpage detailing some of Warren Cuccurullo's guitars. [Added: 26 February 2022]

· In a recent interview promoting her new book, Life Is So Strange – Missing Persons, Frank Zappa, Prince & Beyond, Dale Bozzio sheds some light on the demise of Missing Persons: “I ran off one weekend with Warren on New Year’s Eve, broke down, and had sex with Warren. We always had some kind of passion going on, so we finally clinched the deal. Then I, Miss Conscience, went home and told Terry that I did that. And that was the end of it. That was it.” [Added: 26 February 2022]

· In the absence of a sequel to Steve Vai’s The 7th Song album from 1984 – and to celebrate the release of his excellent new album, Inviolate – I put together a playlist that strives to plug that gap. There’s worse ways to spend an hour! [Added: 26 February 2022]

· Second teaser track from The Mothers 1971 box set here. [Added: 18 February 2022]

· Somehow missed that the The Mar Vista Philharmonic ‘Frank Zappa Anniversary Session’, broadcast by BBC Radio 3 on 4 December 2003, was released as a download-only album in 2019 – titled The BBC Zappa Memorial Barbeque. Assume this is legit, but: Sad Spangled Banner (incl. Soup 'N Old Clothes) has been renamed A New Policy; the cover misspells Kurt McGettrick's first name; and Larry Klimas is listed in place of Albert Wing (which was the line-up that recorded MVP’s No Forest Fire album). [Added: 18 February 2022]

· Funko, in conjunction with the Zappa Trust, are to issue a 4.57 inch vinyl figure of FZ in June. Check it out here. [Added: 18 February 2022]

· Cordelia Records’ Would You Like A Snack? album is finally available on streaming thingies – such as YouTube and Spotify. You will hear selected wonderment from 200 Motels performed by the likes of the Muffin Men, Treacherous Cretins, Z.E.R.O., Valentina Ciardelli, Fred Händl and many more. [Added: 18 February 2022]

· The Lovers of Invention will play two shows at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club on Saturday 7 May 2022. They are also premiering another video from their Jazz Cafe gig on Sunday (20 February) – this time, it’s Zomby Woof. [Added: 18 February 2022]

· ZappaCast with Pamela Des Barres now up - here. There’s talk of an expanded reissue of the GTOs album Permanent Damage and a lot more. Miss Pamela now has her own YouTube channel: here she gives blow job advice. [Added: 15 February 2022]

· Dr Dot has just interviewed Napoleon Murphy Brock. Among many other things, he talks about his first band Communication Plus, Zappa Plays Zappa, the ZFT and, of course, Frank. He also tells how his home (and studio) was recently destroyed by fire. Check it all out here. [Added: 15 February 2022]

· Dweezil added to his Reward Music website for the first time in over a month to answer the question, “Any chance of a Z reunion?” His answer: “Zero Chance”. [Added: 15 February 2022]

· Here’s The Lovers Of Invention performing Cheepnis at the Jazz Café. [Added: 15 February 2022]

· One of the finest FZ tribute bands are making a comeback. Yes, Bogus Pomp will reunite for ‘an evening of incredible music’ at the Floridian Social Club in Saint Petersberg on 2 July 2022. Wish I could be there in the Sunshine State to see them. [Added: 15 February 2022]

· Somewhere down below. I mention that Gabba Zappa Hey!’s debut album (Hey Punk) is available to download on the line. Well drumist Douchie Zappone informs me that the band’s second smash/flop platter (And If You Don't Like It You Can F**k Off) is also to be had – here. [Added: 15 February 2022]

· The young band that played The Genius of FZ concert at London’s Jazz Cafe in January has now been renamed The Lovers Of Invention (they were nominally Nostalgic Orange on the night). Here's the first 'official' clip of them, performing Montana. More to follow soon, says main man Ben Vize. [Added: 10 February 2022]

· Co de Kloet has confirmed that he will do a special multimedia presentation based on his excellent Frank & Co book on the Mystery Stage at Zappanale on Sunday 17 July. “This will contain some very exclusive audio,” he promises. See you there! [Added: 10 February 2022]

· Percussion Under Construction, who played at Zappanale in 2019, have just unleashed their Locked Down? album. It features a stay-at-home version of The Black Page #1, plus a live in concert version of parts 1 and two. All feature Christopher Garcia (of the Grandmothers) as a special guest - as if eight drummers weren’t enough, already! Stirring stuff. [Added: 10 February 2022]

· Mike Keneally has just joined ProgJect, ‘The Ultimate Prog Rock Experience’, with top players, paying homage to their favourite Prog giants (Genesis, Yes, ELP, Crimson, et al). The band is now rehearsing for a Spring tour, which kicks off in Los Angeles on 1st April. [Added: 10 February 2022]

· Former Magic Band drummer Robert Williams will be guesting with the Zappa Band at the Baked Potato. He says he “will be sitting in on drums [for I’m The Slime] on Thursday February 24 and Sunday February 27.” [Added: 10 February 2022]

· Steve Vai is playing a full set with Living Colour at this year’s Rock In Rio festival in September. [Added: 10 February 2022]

· The estate of John Wetton v Eddie Jobson lawsuit continues, as settlement discussions have been unsuccessful. This relates to fees/royalties/earnings which apparently remain unpaid to Wetton for various vinyl/CD releases plus UK farewell tour dates. Sad. [Added: 10 February 2022]

· Jon Appleton, who helped design the Synclavier, passed away recently at the grand old age of 83. [Added: 10 February 2022]

· Many are pontificating about the rights and wrongs of Joni Mitchell and others pulling their tunes from Spotify, but I couldn’t give a FUQ. Er, wait a minute… [Added: 03 February 2022]

· The fourth and final reprint of Frank Zappa – The Nordic Stories is available now – go here to get your copy. [Added: 03 February 2022]

· A special Valentine’s Day episode of the ZappaCast, with Pamela Des Barres, should be available soon. [Added: 03 February 2022]

· First teaser track from The Mothers 1971 set is now up on streaming platforms: Willie The Pimp (live at Fillmore East, June 5, 1971, Show 2). Pre-order now also available at Amazon UK. [Added: 28 January 2022]

· News from Charles Ulrich (via Zappateers): “I am working on the second edition of The Big Note (when I'm not working on a completely new book about FZ and his influences). It will include revised and corrected versions of the chapters in the first edition, plus a chapter on FZ's recordings at Pal Studio and chapters on post-Dance Me This albums. Given that the first edition was longer than economically feasible, the second edition will be published as two or three separate books.” [Added: 28 January 2022]

· The latest edition of Guitar World magazine contains an article about FZ’s “on-again, off-again love affair with his six-string”, plus an interview with Steve Vai. Steve has recently had to postpone his planned Inviolate tour of North America after it became clear that an injury had emerged which required surgery. [Added: 28 January 2022]

· Persuasions mainman, the late Jerry Lawson, is the subject of a PBS documentary. Trailer here, with extra stuff here. [Added: 28 January 2022]

· Watch Zappa Band drummer Joe Travers talk about his Varèse vinyl collection here. [Added: 28 January 2022]

· The Mothers 1971 CD box set, plus its vinyl affiliates, can now be pre-ordered in the UK from Rough Trade, Burning Shed and G&S Music. [Added: 22 January 2022]

· Update on the Zappa bash at the Barbican in March: there will now be a free pre-concert talk about FZ and his orchestral music at 18:00, and those unable to attend can watch the final concert live online. And, wowie zowie, The Yellow Shark afternoon concert is now sold out! [Added: 22 January 2022]

· One of the many joys of my personal Zappa fandom has been that, every now and again, a group of musicians come from nowhere and very pleasantly surprise me. I'm thinking Just Another Band at Zappanale in 2012, or the Spiders Of Destiny at the Oval Tavern in 2015. Both of these bands were relatively short-lived, and I was happy to have enjoyed them while I could. One new ensemble assembled out of the blue at London’s Jazz Cafe this week for a show called The Genius Of Frank Zappa. A few years ago, sax and keyboard whizz Ben Vize instigated a solo project he called Nostalgic Orange, performing jazz flavoured original material. As an avid Zappa fan, he has now put together a group of young up and coming jazz musicians to spank some Frank under the NO banner. After being starved of live Zappa music for nearly two years (my last was Ensemble Modern in February 2020), their set was a joy to behold. Semantic Scrutinizer Simon Prentis was also there and pieced together this video compilation from their show. Ben hopes to play more FZ gigs in future, so keep an eye on these pages. [Added: 14 January 2022]

· Next Zappa Trust release will be The Mothers 1971, an 8CD box set due on 18 March 2022. This comprises: every note from the four Fillmore East shows, including the entire John & Yoko encore; the full Rainbow Theatre performance from 10 December 1971, including its shocking conclusion; an unreleased hybrid concert culled from performances in Scranton and Harrisburg; and the original Tears Began To Fall single and its non-album-b-side Junier Mintz Boogie. Vinyl freaks can also get an expanded anniversary edition of Fillmore East – June 1971 and the Rainbow Theatre show – both on separate 3LP sets. Annoyingly (as I do not possess a gramophone!), "the vinyl version of Fillmore East has been expanded to include vintage, period-perfect Zappa mixes, some of which are not included in the CD box set and can’t be found anywhere else." (Unless I am reading things wrong, this amounts to King Kong – Solos and the original version of Billy The Mountain.) Looks like cracking releases, anywho. Here’s the official announcement plus the box set’s listing at Zappa.com with track times and whatnot. [Added: 14 January 2022]

· Hopefully in 2022 we’ll get the 50th anniversary Waka/Wazoo box set, including alternate vershums etc. what the Vaultmeister has spoken of. You may recall he hoped to include up to four George Duke demo tracks which FZ produced that, “capture the same musicians, the same time period and the same sound.” Uncle Remus and For Love (I Come Your Friend) were two of these, and Psychosomatic Dung was another; you can hear that one here. [Added: 03 January 2022]

· Ruth Underwood was understandably deeply moved by Marco Pacassoni's Frank & Ruth masterclass tribute here. There's a good chance you'll get to see Marco with his quartet at Zappanale this year, and if you haven't already got the album, why not? [Added: 03 January 2022]

· First act officially confirmed for Zappanale #31 in July: The Mike Keneally Report. [Added: 03 January 2022]

· Dale Bozzio's ‘kiss and tell’ autobiography, Life Is So Strange – Missing, Frank Zappa, Prince Persons & Beyond, is now available from Cleopatra Records. [Added: 03 January 2022]

Lukewarm Poop

· Just a couple of Bruce Bickford-related titbits gleaned from the audio commentary on the Zappa movie Blu-Ray: when Bruce was told about the access that Alex Winter and his team would have to the vault, he immediately asked if they could look for the main title sequence he’d put together for Baby Snakes (that FZ never used); it was one of the first things they found and snippets can be seen in the movie. Secondly, the drawings we see during the ‘Frank goes to jail’ sequence were created by Bruce specially for the movie. Great stuff. [Added: 28 December 2021]

· Dweezil has added a 2012 ZPZ recording of Strictly Genteel to his Reward Music site. He says, “If you ask me, Strictly Genteel is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written. We only played this song a handful of times on tour and the arrangement is a hybrid of the orchestral version and the rock band version. For six musicians on stage to cover the amount of material and sound changes required in this arrangement I think it's quite an accomplishment, and I like the dynamics we were able to achieve as a band.” [Added: 28 December 2021]

· Although the 50th anniversary release of 200 Motels is a joy to behold, audiophile completists will no doubt want to hold on to their earlier versions. What we now have (in the words of the Vaultmeister) is a “new high resolution 96K24B digital patchwork stereo master constructed from all of the available safety elements we could find thus far in The Vault.” The most noticeable difference appears to be a missing keyboard overdub during Strictly Genteel (The Finale). Asked why they didn't go back to the CD version, Travers said, “dealing with the sonics of the Ryko version...wasn't the pathway we wanted to take.” Fair enough. It sounds absolutely splendid to my old lugs – but I’ll be keeping my musicassette and Ryko versions too! [Added: 28 December 2021]

· Mike Keneally is “thinking of calling the new double-album I’m trying to finish 60, with an Adele-style glamour shot on the front. Disc One is a tight collection of nine mostly vocal tracks (also includes one instrumental featuring Steve Vai) lasting about 42 minutes. Disc Two is a sprawling collection of mostly instrumental tracks.” Mike is also “in the midst of planning a lot of live appearances next year, including an April tour with a fabulous collection of musicians playing some tunes you know real well, and an appearance on ‘Cruise To The Edge’ with someone else you know real well, hopefully a Zappa Band U.S. headlining tour later in the spring, European summer gigs with the Mike Keneally Report, and there’s this OTHER band I’ve been working with in secret since 2015 and we’ve just completed our first three studio tracks which we would love to play live.” [Added: 24 December 2021]

· To celebrate Frank’s 81st birthday (and Xmas too, I guess), I stuck most of those blink-and-you’ll-miss-‘em essays I posted on this website throughout 2020 in a single PDF file. All have been ever so slightly tweaked. Grab a copy here for just a Winston (that’s £5 , or the equivalent in whatever currency you use – there’s no hidden or shipping costs involved) and I’ll send you the file then donate one English pound to Prostate Cancer UK. Barg’in! [Added: 24 December 2021]

· As well as his Inviolate album in January (which features guest appearances by Vinnie Colaiuta and Terry Bozzio), Steve Vai should also have a solo acoustic guitar/vocal record out next year. Also in 2022, Steve will be going to Holland “to record about four hours of my orchestra music with the Metropole Orchestra, and I will be in Finland recording with their symphony. I should have about four albums of diverse orchestra music when I’m done with it all.” [Added: 24 December 2021]

· One-time Mother and inventor of the wah-wah pedal, Del Casher, has just officially released the 1966 song Space Boy – featuring actress Florence Marly on vox and FZ on drums. The song was co-written by Casher with Marly, and FZ co-produced the recording with Del. Long associated with the film Queen Of Blood (in which Marly played a blood-thirsty vampire), there appears to be no (ouch!) earthly connection – though Marly did make a sequel to Queen Of Blood in 1973 titled Space Boy!, for which she re-recorded the tune. Del's Bandcamp EP features the original 1966 mono mix, “everyone knows from the Zappa bootlegs, but sounding clean and remastered directly from the master mixdown. Plus a never before heard alternate take which was done in a more slower paced arrangement. Following these are brand new mixes (done in STEREO) of both takes mixed by producer/engineer Jimmy Michaels. And as the last cut, a very experimental and ‘out there’ creation put together by Jimmy & Del called Space Boy Funk Trip.” [Added: 19 December 2021]

· Check out Pamela Des Barres' Pajama Party with Howard Kaylan here. [Added: 19 December 2021]

· The planned first cinema screening of the Zappa movie, live on stage in London with Alex Winter next month, has been postponed due to Omicron. “We are rescheduling for another date in '22 and all tickets will be transferable or refunded.” [Added: 19 December 2021]

· Ben Watson has uploaded the debut album by Gabba Zappa Hey! to t'Internet. Bravo! [Added: 19 December 2021]

· Dweezil has filed for divorce from Megan, his wife of nearly ten years, citing "irreconcilable differences". Although the couple had no children together, they did share custody of three daughters from previous relationships. Sad stuff. [Added: 11 December 2021]

· ZappaCast #51 is here: a celebration of 200 Motels with the usual suspects…and more to follow in episode 52, with special guests Miss Pamela and Jim Pons. [Added: 11 December 2021]

· The Zappa Band is playing more gigs at LA’s Baked Potato Jazz Club: 24-27 February 2022. [Added: 11 December 2021]

· Just for clarity, the special dual format edition of the ZAPPA movie (just released here in the UK) does not feature anything previously unseen: the extras (on the Blu-Ray disc only) are: the Apostrophe ad; Frank And The Pig; Haskell Wexler & Uncle Meat; and an exclusive audio commentary by director Alex Winter and editor Mike J. Nichols. The DVD is a vanilla version featuring just the film itself – nowt else. [Added: 11 December 2021]

· Over at the Steve Hoffman forum, the Vaultmeister recently stated “there is a sizeable amount of Synclavier source tapes in the Vault that will make good future releases.” I for one would like to hear as many previously unheard compositions as possible – so, yes please! [Added: 07 December 2021]

· A fourth preview track from the 200 Motels 50th anniversary box set is here: Road Ladies (Alternate Take). And here are all four bundled together on Spotify (for reasons unknown, the Mystery Roach (Dialog Protection Reel) track is now listed as ‘private’ on YouTube). [Added: 07 December 2021]

· Mike Keneally has posted a blog updating us on the short film being made for three ("five, sir"!) of his new songs. Here. [Added: 07 December 2021]

· Currently reading Steve Jones' Lonely Boy: Tales From A Sex Pistol. He mentions that Miss Cynderella of The GTOs took a shine to bassist Glen Matlock whilst she was still married to John Cale. Jones later interviewed Cale for his radio show and says he was so miserable that any woman he was with would probably want to fuck somebody else. It's a fun read! [Added: 07 December 2021]

· Book news: If I Could Only Be Sure: The Life of Nolan Porter by Patrice 'Candy' Zappa is now available from Greg Russo's Crossfire Publications (as a PDF file: hard print-on-demand copies are available worldwide from Amazon). Additionally, Crossfire has updated versions of Candy's My Brother Was A Mother (Take 4), and Greg's own Cosmik Debris: The Collected History and Improvisations of Frank Zappa and Ancient Armaments: The Frank Zappa Singles Project. [Added: 02 December 2021]

· Dr Dot recently interviewed Don Preston, who told her some great stories. You can watch their chat here. [Added: 02 December 2021]

· Seems the tracks Steve Vai dropped earlier this year – Candle Power and Knappsack – were preview pieces from his next album. And here’s another: Little Pretty. The album, Inviolate, will be released on 28 January 2022. [Added: 02 December 2021]

· Zappadan Zappajam #6 took place last week. Check out the London Zappa Collective's performance of Black Napkins here. [Added: 02 December 2021]

· Details of the ‘total immersion’ Zappa day at London’s Barbican centre can now be found here. For ease, it starts with a showing of Alex Winter’s Zappa movie, which is followed by Guildhall School Musicians (conducted by Simon Wills) paying homage to The Yellow Shark, Webern, Stravinsky and Varèse, and ends with the BBC Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Brad Lubman) playing all but one (Bogus Pomp) of the FZ pieces recorded by the LSO, plus another one of Igor's boogies. [Added: 24 November 2021]

· A third preview track from the delayed “due to circumstances” 200 Motels 50th anniversary box set is here: Magic Fingers (Version B – Mix Outtake). And here are all three bundled together on Spotify. [Added: 24 November 2021]

· Turns out that Lady Gaga sold FZ’s former home in Woodrow Wilson Drive to Mick Jagger’s daughter, Lizzy, and her film producer husband Christopher Behlau. [Added: 24 November 2021]

· Nice little article about the amazing Ruth Underwood here. [Added: 16 November 2021]

· The January 2022 edition of MOJO magazine (with the Rolling Stones on the cover) has an article – similar to my own – on 200 Motels. (At least I spelt Martin Lickert’s name right, though!). [Added: 16 November 2021]

· Dr Dot has just had another Zoom chat with Ike Willis in which he updates us on his health issues and answers a bunch of fan questions (including one from yours truly). Check it out here. [Added: 16 November 2021]

· Somehow missed that John Parkinson of Treacherous Cretins posted this drum cover of What Will This Evening Bring Me This Morning on YouTube. Nice. [Added: 16 November 2021]

· As Christmas approaches, The Idiot Bastard Shop has reduced the price of ALL of the Zappa-themed CDs IBS has compiled for Cordelia Records over the last 13 years; with each order comes an (almost) immediate free ‘auto-rip’ including one or more relevant bonus tracks not actually on the CD. Check them all out here. [Added: 07 November 2021]

· Release of the 50th anniversary edition of 200 Motels has been put back to 17 December 2021. [Added: 07 November 2021]

· The Zappa movie will be shown on the big screen in London early next year, with director Alex Winter live and in person for an intro/Q&A. Details here. [Added: 07 November 2021]

· Dweezil has posted a video of his first live performance of Watermelon In Easter Hay from Halloween 2013. "It was quite an emotional event that night in NYC at the Beacon Theater," he writes. GZ reportedly had to excuse herself. [Added: 07 November 2021]

· Frank Zappa Memorial Day #28 takes place on Saturday 4 December 2021 from 10.00 to 18.00 at Idiots Records, Rheinische Strasse 14, 44137 Dortmund, Germany. There will be live music plus photos and rarities from Frank’s last tour, plus an after-show party at the nearby Cafe Banane. [Added: 07 November 2021]

· Lady Gaga has sold the former Zappa home at 7885 Woodrow Wilson Drive. Google it and you will see that it was sold in August for $6,450,000. [Added: 01 November 2021]

· The Mayor of Vilnius has now promised not to move the Zappa monument in Lithuania. Thanks to all those who signed the petition! [Added: 29 October 2021]

· In March next year, the BBC Symphony Orchestra will take “a deep dive into the diverse musical worlds of Frank Zappa” in one of the Barbican's ‘Total Immersion’ days. More details will follow next month, but the event will be livestreamed for those who can’t make the trip into London. [Added: 29 October 2021]

· I mention below that a revised version of Pauline Butcher's book will be published next month, provisionally re-titled Freak Out! My Life With Frank Zappa At The Log Cabin 1968-1971. After Plexus called me a "bloody nuisance", I understand it will now be published as Freak Out! My Life with Frank Zappa: Laurel Canyon 1968-1971! [Added: 29 October 2021]

· Edition #108 of Raw Vision (the world's only international journal of Outsider Art) features an article about the great late Bruce Bickford by Brett Ingram, who directed the Monster Road documentary about BB. You can get both hard and soft copies (and a preview) here. [Added: 29 October 2021]

· The Idiot now has one of them Linktree pages, giving ready access to all of his socials and whatnot, should you want it. Feel free to add to bookmarks/favorites/home screen, or whatever you jam is. [Added: 29 October 2021]

· The Zappa Early Renaissance Orchestra’s new album, Make An Arf Noise Here, is suddenly available to download/stream on Bandcamp. Physical copies will follow shortly. [Added: 29 October 2021]

· The ‘Celebrate Zappa’ event with Treacherous Cretins at London’s prestigious 100 Club has been re-rescheduled and will now take place on Friday 3 June 2022. See ya there! [Added: 22 October 2021]

· Up for pre-order now, a special dual format edition the ZAPPA movie, featuring an exclusive audio commentary by director Alex Winter and editor Mike J. Nichols. Comes with four art cards and an hour and 20 minutes of separate bonus features/deleted scenes. (I asked Alex about the extended run time advertised, and he told me, “We only made one cut of the film that we thought was the best story to tell. So there is no longer cut.”) [Added: 22 October 2021 / Updated: 29 October 2021]

· Top blogger Stuart Penney tells me that in his new autobiography, Unrequited Infatuations, Steven Van Zandt claims FZ declined to be on his Sun City record and was rude and arrogant on the phone: “He muses that he would have beaten the shit out of Frank if he'd dared speak like that to his face," Stuart said. Miami Steve also claims Paul Simon referred to Nelson Mandela as a ‘Commie bastard’ until he put him straight. In my humble opinion, Little Steven is no stranger to being economical with the actualité in the interests of good publicity, often inferring that he single handedly ended racial segregation in South Africa. In the wake of Band Aid, he probably saw Artists United Against Apartheid as a good career move. FZ meanwhile no doubt viewed it all as just another business oriented bogus charity event/cocaine money laundering scheme. [Added: 22 October 2021]

· Back in the late aughts, two ensembles recorded some then unreleased FZ compositions, with the Zappa Trust's approval. Ensemble Ascolta covered Samba Funk and Uncle Sam, while the Fireworks Ensemble recorded a whole album of FZ tunes, probably including Numbers 6-9 (which they had played in concert). Sadly, Gail felt there ‘wasn’t enough of Frank’s original intent’ in the Fireworks recordings, and they had to come up with something more faithful if they wanted her consent to continue with the project. They apparently did re-record the tunes and the album (titled None Of The Above) was scheduled for release in June 2013. It didn't happen, of course. And neither have any of Ascolta's recordings seen the light of day. While the latter still occasionally perform Frank's music in concert, Fireworks appear to have been inactive for the last few years. I wonder if we'll ever get to hear any of these Trust-sanctioned recordings? Probably not now, but the interweb has some examples of their performances: here's some excerpts from Reagan At Bitburg (by Ascolta) and Drowning Witch (by Fireworks). [Added: 22 October 2021]

· The FZ bust in Vilnius may have to be moved, and the plinth destroyed, to make way for an extension to a nearby clinic. If you don’t want this to happen, sign the petition! [Added: 19 October 2021]

· Gizmodrome (that is, Stewart Copeland, Mark King & Adrian Belew feat. Vittorio Cosma) have a live album coming out next month. As well as a number of tracks from the supergroup's eponymous debut album (the limited edition EP Riff Tricks – The Instrumentals Vol. 1 was better IMHO), it also features their renditions of ditties by The Police, King Crimson and Klark Kent. [Added: 19 October 2021]

· Dweezil is promising lots of new stuff coming soon to his website, now that his home studio has been ‘plugged in’. This will include a further volume in his Live In The Moment series. [Added: 19 October 2021]

· For those unable to view the making of Freak Out! episode in the Classic Albums series, shown on Sky Arts last Friday: it features new interviews with Elliot Ingber, Terry Gilliam, Matt Groening, David Fricke, Ahmet Zappa, Pamela Des Barres, Joe Travers, Cheech Marin, Ruth Underwood, Carl Franzoni, Mike Keneally and Del Casher. Ahmet and Travers play isolated tracks from the original master tapes (lovely to hear just Ray & Frank's vox on Hungry Freaks, Daddy). There is also rare footage of Frank with his first wife, Kay. And Mike Keneally plays some riffs and licks from the album. It's a must watch, made with the full co-operation of the Zappa Trust. Hopefully it will reach a wider audience soon. Meantime, there's a trailer on Facebook here. [Added: 16 October 2021]

· Ahmet is currently co-hosting a show called ‘Rock My Collection’ on AXS TV, which looks at unique music memorabilia. In Episode 7, he featured some of his father’s collection – including handwritten lyrics, Aynsley Dunbar's bass drum head from 200 Motels, Bruce Bickford clay figures and the ‘Baby Snakes SG’. You can see the trailer here – but unfortunately not the actual episode. [Added: 16 October 2021]

· Alex Winter’s Zappa movie will be shown on BBC Four TV on 22nd October. [Added: 16 October 2021]

· Mikko Keinonen is making a ‘short film and music video trilogy in five parts’ for new music by Mike Keneally. You can back the project here. [Added: 16 October 2021]

· Paddy Moloney of The Chieftains has sadly passed away. As you may recall, Frank met Paddy at the BBC on his last visit to London in the summer of 1991. You can read a transcript of part of their meeting here. After this, Frank invited the Chieftains over to the UMRK, where they recorded several pieces for their albums, The Celtic Harp and The Long Black Veil (see here for more). It is believed that their rendition of The Green Fields Of America was played at Frank's funeral. [Added: 16 October 2021]

· Another preview track from next month’s 200 Motels 50th anniversary box set has just been unleashed – hear here. [Added: 08 October 2021]

· Four more official Zappa Band live albums are now available to stream/download from Qobuz: their recent shows from Boston, Washington DC (which features guest appearances by both Gavin Harrison and Jakko Jakszyk of King Crimson, on What's New In Baltimore?), Philadelphia and New Haven. There's now a total of 12 releases – see ‘em all here. [Added: 08 October 2021]

· Check out this cool version of Chunga’s Revenge by Robby Krieger, featuring Arthur Barrow, Sal Marquez and Jock Ellis. If you haven’t already, you should also check out Robby’s The Ritual Begins At Sundown album. [Added: 08 October 2021]

· New KCET documentary Con Safos is a tribute to Rubén Guevara, in which he recounts his youthful experiences in Santa Monica during the 1940s. The film also covers his collaborations with Cheech and Chong as well as his time as lead singer of Ruben And The Jets. Airs on PBS in the US next week....and hopefully over here at some point. Here's the trailer – and my Rubén essay from last year. [Added: 08 October 2021]

· In January, the cream of London’s emerging jazz talent will celebrate the life and music of FZ at London's Jazz Cafe. Billed as ‘The Genius of Frank Zappa’, it will be performed by Nostalgic Orange, a rotating collection of London’s finest improvised players led by Pyjæn’s Ben Vize. Here's Ben playing a section of Inca Roads on an electronic wind instrument. [Added: 08 October 2021]

· Just as The Specials unleash their version of Trouble Every Day comes news that Sky Arts in the UK will premiere another in its Classic Albums series next Friday (8 October): Frank Zappa: Freak Out! Should be interesting. [Added: 01 October 2021]

· A new, re-structured and updated version of Pauline Butcher's memoir will be published in a slightly smaller paperback format this November. Provisionally re-titled Freak Out! My Life With Frank Zappa At The Log Cabin 1968-1971, it also adds a dossier of what happened to the cast of characters and a new chapter about the Tate-LaBianca murders. [Added: 01 October 2021]

· Four more official Zappa Band live albums are now available to stream/download from Qobuz: their recent shows from Huber Heights, Holmdel (which features a guest appearance by King Crimson drummer Jeremy Stacey, on Village Of The Sun), Cleveland and Milwaukee. All four include the ‘new’ track, What’s New In Baltimore? [Added: 01 October 2021 / Updated: 08 October 2021]

· The 200 Motels 50th anniversary box set has now been officially announced. Sadly (as forewarned below) it does exclude the film on Blu-Ray and accordingly there’s a slight delay in its release. Any road up: to get you juiced for it, a first preview track, Mystery Roach (Dialog Protection Reel), can now be streamed on YouTube and Spotify (and probably elsewhere), plus there’s my special 200 Motels article, interviews and more here. [Added: 27 September 2021]

· The softcover version of my FZ88 book with Sergio Albonico is now available from Wymer UK (or there’s a few signed copies available from my online store). For those who bought the limited edition hardback, you don't need this one too: yes, it has a different cover, I've corrected a few typos and added the Last US Show to the discography plus one ‘new’ quote from Chad Wackerman about how the band was initially put together for a TV show that never happened. But that's it. Save your money for gas! [Added: 27 September 2021]

· Dweezil has gifted another Mini Concert to Silver Subscribers of his Reward Music thang…but you can still buy and download the songs à la carte if you have yet to subscribe. It includes a live in London 2017 version of Manx Needs Women with the Norwegian Wind Ensemble and two servings of Who Are The Brain Police? (“the rocking teenage combo version from the early 70s, and the original Freak Out! style.”). These F.O.H. mixes have been spiffed up in Dweezil's new home studio. [Added: 27 September 2021]

· The Girls In The Magnesium Dress – that is, Anna Astesano (harp) and Valentina Ciardelli (double bass) – are working on their first CD, and you can help them Kickstart it here. The album, to be called Rūtsu, will comprise classical repertoire inspired by Japanese culture, with a rendition of FZ's Cheepnis as an added bonus track. As many will know, Valentina (aka Zappawoman) has previously recorded her versions of Frank’s Echidna's Arf Of You and Mysterioso, and arranged a number of Zappa pieces that were performed with Inventionis Mater and Napoleon Murphy Brock in Hamburg in 2018 (ahead of her appearance at Zappanale #29). The Girls have their own website here. [Added: 27 September 2021]

· L. Shankar is releasing his first ever holiday album, Christmas From India, a brand new set of recordings where he recreates some of the most treasured holiday classics with the sound of tablas, sitar and, of course, violin and vocals to craft a Christmas album like no other. The album also includes two original compositions by Larry. He says, “It was a thrill and pure joy to work on my new album. It brought back fond memories of working on the music for both of the Jesus movies, first with the legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese and Peter Gabriel on The Last Temptation of Christ, and then with Mel Gibson and John Debney on The Passion of the Christ. Christmas From India is like a third chapter.” [Added: 27 September 2021]

· The Idiot is reliably informed that the inclusion of the 200 Motels film on Blu-ray in the 50th anniversary box set has hit a snag. Hopefully this will get resolved, but if not I’d be happy to see just The True Story… included, with a standalone release of the movie later. Let’s keep everything crossed, though. [Added: 21 September 2021]

· A little more on Alan Clayson's authorised Zappa biography, from the Little, Brown Book Group: "Mother Superior will cover the early years – 1964 to 1973. It will both re-assess the old yarns and bring to the surface new and rediscovered information via an array of interviewees from every trackway of Zappa's fifty-three years on this planet. It will draw on a huge archive, some of it quite obscure, from public domain and personal collections. It will animate not only Zappa but also those who interacted with him, and the social, cultural, economic and environmental contexts in which this much misunderstood cultural icon lived and worked." It runs to 320 pages, and is published next June. [Added: 21 September 2021]

· Three more live albums from The Zappa Band’s guest spot on the recent King Crimson US tour have just been unleashed. Grab ‘em while they’re hot! [Added: 21 September 2021]

· To celebrate the 50th anniversary of 200 Motels, I have put together a sort of true story of the making of the fillum by those involved. It includes a few previously unpublished quotes. I have also reposted my interview with Martin Lickert and The Idiot Bastard Shop is offering a modest discount on the Would You Like A Snack? CD (all orders come with a free ‘auto-rip’, including a mystery bonus track not on the album and digital booklet). [Added: 17 September 2021]

· Finally, unofficial confirmation that Zappa Records, UMe and MGM will present an extensive 7-disc 200 Motels box set next month. It contains the original soundtrack remastered by Bernie Grundman along with never-before-heard demos, studio outtakes, work mixes, interviews and movie ads. Also included is a Blu-ray disc featuring the film in 1080p high-definition with its intended screen-crop-ratio and the digital premiere of the 1987 documentary The True Story Of 200 Motels. Finally, the package contains a replica of the movie poster, a custom motel keychain, Do-Not-Disturb motel door hanger and the original 1971 soundtrack packaging along with new liner notes by Pamela Des Barres, Ruth Underwood and Joe Travers. (This info popped up on Amazon, then swiftly disappeared. Fortunately a Zappateer copied it. You can see the full spiel with tracklist here.) [Added: 17 September 2021]

· As noted down below, The Zappa Band, with special guests, will play at the Baked Potato in LA this Halloween. The dates are 28-31 October. [Added: 17 September 2021]

· Tower and HMV in Japan are listing a 6CD version of 200 Motels, to be released on 29 October. (And yes, there are vinyl and 2CD editions too!) As reported below, Pamela Des Barres has written the liner notes for this 50th anniversary reissue. More as and when. [Added: 10 September 2021]

· Italian guitarist/songwriter Marco Mattei releases his debut solo album, Out Of Control, in November. It features Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta, Pat Mastelotto and Chad Wackerman. [Added: 10 September 2021]

· Ike Willis, courtesy of Dr Dot, gives us an update on his battle with prostate cancer here. (Winning!) He also reveals that he has been asked to guest with the (unbanned-from-utopia) Zappa Band in LA later this year. Good news all-around! [Added: 07 September 2021]

· As well as catching up with Ike, Dot also had a Zoom chat with the always healthy Robert Martin. Robert reveals that (all being well) Ike will guest with the Zappa Band at one of its four shows at the Baked Potato this Halloween. And the pair also have a burp-off! Check that one out here. [Added: 07 September 2021]

· The Zappa Early Renaissance Orchestra has mixed, mastered, sequenced and shipped off to Cordelia Records its fifth album, called Make An Arf Noise Here. This features many of the usual suspects, including Prairie Prince, Ike Willis, Sandro Oliva, Fred Händl – and even yours truly – plus the latest stellar addition to the ZERO auxiliary, Randy Hansen! [Added: 07 September 2021]

· The Zappa Band (currently on tour with King Crimson) is capturing performances in hi-res quality. You can stream (or download, without subscription) a live album from Saratoga Springs right now, from Qobuz. Says Mike Keneally, “More shows coming soon! Follow the sound from town to town! No post-show mixing or fixes possible! Hear the unalloyed reality of the musics we are creating on this very tour at this very moment!” [Added: 05 September 2021]

· Zappa book news: Podmeister Scott Parker's PREPOSTEROUS! Frank Zappa On Stage 1977-1978 should finally start shipping in September; Peter Van Laarhoven's The Others Of Invention books are now readily available via print-on-demand through Amazon; Candy Zappa is writing a book about her time with Nolan Porter, called If I Could Only Be Sure, which will be published by Crossfire Publications (Crossfire will also be reissuing updated versions of Candy's My Brother Was a Mother (Take 4) and Greg Russo's Cosmik Debris in December); the Chicago Press Review has now cancelled publication of Paul Zollo's Zappa On Zappa tome; and finally, out next month is the affordable softcover version of FZ88 (the visual documentary of FZ's final tour) – pre-order now, and save a fiver! [Added: 26 August 2021]

· Ed Mann recently removed his Facebook posts about his two Gonzo Today articles, commenting that he was going away for a while as he was "stunned" about something. It very sadly transpired that his 27 year old daughter Anaïs had passed away. My sincere condolences go to Ed and the family and friends of Anaïs. How terrible. [Added: 26 August 2021]

· More sad news: those of you who attended Frank’s 1984 shows at London's Hammersmith Odeon will know of PR man Roland Hyams. (You can hear FZ's opening spiel about him from the 24 September late show here; this followed an article by Alan Rusbridger in the Grauniad.) Well, poor Roland today really is in deep shit – his wife posted on Facebook: “Roland was diagnosed with cancer last year. He had his cancer operation March this year and was making a remarkable recovery. He went into hospital two weeks ago for a small procedure. Two days later he had a cardiac arrest and a massive stroke. He won’t be able to walk again. All we can do now is pray. I am devastated and heartbroken.” Here’s hoping for a recovery of some sort for the poor chap. [Added: 26 August 2021]

· The Specials will release a new album, Protest Songs – 1924-2012, on 24 September. It includes 12 new versions of protest songs by artists like Bob Marley, Leonard Cohen, and...FZ's Trouble Every Day! [Added: 19 August 2021]

· Chapter Two of Ed Mann’s Hired by Frank Zappa tale is here. A great read. [Added: 19 August 2021]

· The 15-piece Stinkfoot Orchestra has re-scheduled it’s San Jose gig, with special guest Napoleon Murphy Brock, which was planned to celebrate Frank's 80th last year: it will now take place on September 11. Read a new interview with Napi here, and visit the ensemble’s website for more. [Added: 19 August 2021]

· The virtual Zappanale has been…but it’s not gone. If you want, you can still check out my personal highlight: Patrick O’Hearn‘s solo bass rendition of Twenty Small Cigars – here! [Added: 14 August 2021]

· Interesting new article here about Tom Wilson and his move to MGM/Verve and working as producer on albums by the Mothers, The Animals and The Velvet Underground. And who can forget Pamela Zarubica's reminiscences here? [Added: 14 August 2021]

· Australian pianist Michael Kieran Harvey, who previously recorded Ruth Is Sleeping and 48 Fugues For Frank: A Homage To Frank Zappa, has a new FZ influenced project. Catalogue des Errances Bibliques/Bible Stories, for eight keyboardists and four percussionists – together with spoken narration, written and spoken by Arjun von Caemmerer – has just been released on CD. Check it out here – and over here also. “The influence of Zappa – both on the music and text – exceeds that of frozen beef pies,” says Arjun. [Added: 14 August 2021]

· Cherry Red subsidiary él Records will release I’d Love to Turn You On, Vol. 2, a 4-CD set, in October. It “explores the relationship between 60s pop and classical music, free jazz and the avant-garde; providing many examples of how popular music evolved, matured and became liberated under the influence of apparently deeper, more expansive genres.” Representing FZ's influences, it collects together Igor Stravinsky’s L`Histoire du Soldat, Five Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 16 by Arnold Schoenberg and selections from Music On The Desert Road: A Sound Travelogue by Deben Bhattacharya. (Vol. 1 included Varèse's Hyperprism.) [Added: 14 August 2021]

...and finally, Esther...

...coming soon!

Contact: disco.boy@blueyonder.co.uk