This page contains a variety of additional materials that are relevant to the course, including supplemental readings and links to interesting websites.
This page contains a variety of additional materials that are relevant to the course, including supplemental readings and links to interesting websites.
Books are on reserve in Willis Library, and may be checked out for a limited time; see the librarian at the main music desk for assistance.
• Kostelanetz, Richard. The Frank Zappa Companion. New York: Schirmer Books, 1997. [ML410.Z285 F7 1997]
• Lennon, Nigey. Being Frank: My Time with Frank Zappa. Los Angeles: California Classic Books, 2003.
• Miles, Barry. Zappa: A Biography. New York: Grove Press, 2004. [ML410.Z285 M49 2004]
• Slaven, Neil. Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story of Frank Zappa. London: Omnibus Press, 2003. [ML410.Z285 S48 2003]
• Walley, David. No Commercial Potential: The Saga of Frank Zappa. New York: Da Capo Press, 1996. [ML410.Z285 W3 1996]
• Watson, Ben. Frank Zappa: The Negative Dialectics of Poodle Play. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1993. [ML410.Z285 W37 1995]
• Zappa, Frank, with Peter Occhiogrosso. The Real Frank Zappa Book. New York: Poseidon Press, 1989. [ML410.Z285 A3 1999]
afka.net (an extensive archive of written and printed material about FZ).
Kill Ugly Radio (includes FZ discography, forums, and links to other FZ-related sites)
The Planet of My Dreams (miscellaneous FZ information)
Some of the more significant video documentation from FZ's career (including interviews, performances, and video/films), arranged in reverse chronological order:
FZ interview on Today Show — One of FZ's last interviews, with NBC's Jamie Gangel (14 May 1993).
The Yellow Shark Rehearsals — German documentary with FZ and the Ensemble Modern (1992).
Two excerpts from The True Story of 200 Motels [1 2] — Documentary about the making of Zappa's innovative and controversial 1971 film.
PMRC Hearing [1 2 3 4] — FZ's testimony before the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee regarding the Parents' Music Resource Center proposal to label music that contains "explicit lyrics or content"; in four parts (19 September 1986).
FZ as panelist on CNN's Crossfire — Discussion of censorship and PMRC hearings with John Lofton and hosts Tom Braden and Robert Novak (28 March 1986).
Does Humor Belong in Music? (excerpts) — Live performance of "Bobby Brown Goes Down," "Cosmik Debris," and "Keep It Greasy," recorded at The Pier in New York City; featuring FZ, Ike Willis, Ray White, Chad Wackerman, Scott Thunes, Bobby Martin, Allan Zavod, and Ed Mann (August 1984).
FZ interview on Late Night with David Letterman — Discussion of recent projects including Thing Fish (31 October 1983).
Halloween concert at the Palladium (NYC) — Live performance of "Stevie's Spanking," featuring FZ, Steve Vai, Ray White, Chad Wackerman, Scott Thunes, Ed Mann, Tommy Mars, and Bobby Martin (31 October 1981).
"You Are What You Is" — This 1981 music video includes controversial religious, political, and racial themes, and is full of conceptual continuity references (begins at 5:15). [This clip also includes "Night School," featuring clay animation by Bruce Bickford.]
Baby Snakes (complete version, in 21 parts) — excerpts include "Pound for a Brown (On a Bus)," "The Poodle Lecture," and "Black Page #2 Dance Contest," from FZ's 1978 concert film, featuring Terry Bozzio, Patrick O'Hearn, Tommy Mars, Adrian Belew, Ed Mann, Peter Wolf, and Roy Estrada.
FZ on Saturday Night Live — Performance of "I'm the Slime" with Terry Bozzio, Patrick O'Hearn, Ruth Underwood, Ray White, the SNL Band, and announcer Don Pardo (11 December 1976).
FZ on KCET-TV Los Angeles — Demonstration-performance of "Approximate" with Roxy Band Napoleon Murphy Brock, George Duke, Chester Thompson, Tom Fowler, Ruth Underwood (August 1974).
FZ interview on Adelaide Tonight with Ernie Sigley — FZ demonstrates his improvisational hand signals on this Australian talk show (June 1973).
200 Motels — complete version of FZ's innovative 1971 film; excerpts include "Centerville," "What's the Name of Your Group," and "Penis Dimension," featuring Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan ("Flo & Eddie"), Aynsley Dunbar, George Duke, Jimmy Carl Black, Ian Underwood, Ringo Starr, and Theodore Bickel.
The Mothers of Invention on BBC's Colour Me Pop — Studio performance of "Oh, In the Sky" featuring FZ, Roy Estrada ("pachuco falsetto"), Jimmy Carl Black, Don Preston, Ian Underwood, Bunk Gardner, and Motorhead Sherwood (1968). Also, note in the interview at the end of this clip (c. 2:25) FZ's prescient comments about American society.
FZ on Steve Allen Show [1 2 3 4] — FZ's first television appearance, including demonstration and performance with a musical bicycle; in four parts (March 1963).
A collection of documents, articles, and various conceptual continuity clues:
A collection of Zappa tributes by various jazz and classical ensembles, compiled on Willard's Wormholes.
A collection of Archetypal American Musical Icons: Louie, Louie (Richard Berry), My Sharona (The Knack), Twilight Zone Theme (Marius Constant), Tonight Show Theme (Paul Anka), Jaws Theme (John Williams), "Whip It" (Devo), Mister Roger's Neighborhood Theme (Fred Rogers).
Charlie perfume commercial ("Kinda young kinda wow...") — An example of 1970s pop-culture detritus referenced by FZ in "Catholic Girls" and "Charlie's Enormous Mouth."
Franz Kafka — "In the Penal Colony": Short story referenced by FZ in the liner notes to We're Only In It For The Money.
Steve Martin's "Cruel Shoes": Zeitgeist or pop culture reference? This short story from Steve Martin's 1979 book of the same name and stand-up routine from his 1979 album Comedy is Not Pretty! bears a conceptual relationship to FZ's "Sinister Footwear."
A very cool graphic timeline of FZ's early career created by artist Ward Shelley (2008).