Frank Zappa

Latest about Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa and Serj Tankian
“The fact that he managed to mix the political with the comical and the absurd, without comprising his output, is a big influence”: Frank Zappa is Serj Tankian’s prog hero

By Ben Myers Published

System Of A Down vocalist hails the Mothers Of Invention leader for more than just his ambitious approach to making music

Interviews
A close up of Frank Zappa’s face
“The band thought I was dead. My neck was bent like it was broken”: the time Frank Zappa was severely injured after being pushed offstage by a fan

By Paul Travers Published

Frank Zappa survived being assaulted onstage by a fan in London in 1971 – but he was left with lifelong pain

Bands & Artists
Frank Zappa, Chester Thompson
"Every time we finished a rehearsal, I felt that my brain was sweating": former Genesis/Weather Report drummer Chester Thompson on why playing with Frank Zappa was the best education he ever received

By Paul Brannigan Published

Playing with Frank Zappa could be a challenging experience, as legendary drummer Chester Thompson discovered

Bands & Artists
Frank Zappa photograph
“When I listen to Sheik Yerbouti and Joe’s Garage, it reminds me of what a giant he was." Frank Zappa's incredibly busy and industrious 1979

By Malcolm Dome Published

Terry Bozzio and Adrian Belew look back on the year Frank Zappa created Baby Snakes, Sheik Yerbouti, Joe's Garage and more

Interviews
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“He was incapable of saying anything fond about anyone or anything. Affection didn’t exist in his life, only weird sex”: how Frank Zappa survived the 70s

By Mark Ellen Published

Throughout the 1970s, he hated the hippies, loved jazz as much as rock and played dumb with incredible technical prowess, making his music thrillingly unique

Tracks & Singles
Frank Zappa Over-Nite Sensation 50th Anniversary
“He may be lauded by some as a genius, but without this team’s heavy lifting, these pieces might fail”: Frank Zappa’s Over-Nite Sensation 50th Anniversary Edition

By Sid Smith Published

Five-disc, 88-track set proves his music lasts - even if many of his lyrics don’t

Albums
Frank Zappa sitting on a chair and leaning forward
“People thought the Beatles were God. That's not correct”: the genius of Frank Zappa, the rock’n’roll icon who had no time for rock’n’roll

By Mick Wall Published

Musical genius, rock’n’roll outsider, sexual obsessive, the ‘original shock rocker’ – this is the epic story of how Frank Zappa became Frank Zappa

Interviews
PMRC Senate Hearings in 1985
Ten songs that fought back against the PMRC

By Joe Daly Published

In 80s America, the Parents Music Resource Center sought to censor music by imposing a series of draconian rules. Here’s how a group of rock, metal and punk bands fought back

Bands & Artists
Frank Zappa studio portrait
The Frank Zappa albums you should definitely own

By Tommy Udo Published

Buying guide From the glorious to the impenetrable, Frank Zappa's best albums needs to be negotiated carefully – but it’s worth it

Buying guide
Jin Dawson, Jimi Hendrix, Robert Plant and The Beatles
10 great heavy metal songs that came before Black Sabbath

By Joe Daly Published

Black Sabbath may have been the official ground zero for metal, but these heavy-as-lead bangers all predate that classic first album

Tracks & Singles
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