Lost KBOO Airtapes – Frank Zappa Interview


From the vaults of the popular psychedelic show ‘The Radio Lab’ which later became ‘Cryptic Propensity Projections’ and ‘Midnight Collage’ on KBOO FM, Portland, Oregon from 1971-1985, Michael Christopher, Harry Mishkin and Bill Reinhardt talk to Frank Zappa after his performance at the Paramount Theater in Portland, Oregon. In the first clip, Frank discusses Germans, pop culture, the music scene and his own dubious popularity. In the second clip, he discusses musical interests, critics, and former ‘Mothers’ drummer, Jimmy Carl Black. The third clip is a spicy stew of The Mothers of Invention and The Firesign Theater. Unavailable since it’s broadcast on the Radio Lab in 1974.

About urbangraffito

I am a writer, editor, publisher, philosopher, and foole (not necessarily in that order). Cultural activist and self-described anarchist.
This entry was posted in Bizarre, Frank Zappa, Heh Heh, Interview, Music, YouTubery and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

11 Responses to Lost KBOO Airtapes – Frank Zappa Interview

  1. Plooker says:

    I never saw Frank, but I miss him.

  2. Plooker says:

    Thanks Urban, he was always a great interview.

  3. vince says:

    Early cheerleaders for The Residents, these guys were!

  4. urbangraffito says:

    [quote comment=”4638″]Thanks Urban, he was always a great interview.[/quote]

    Does anyone else notice the parallels between early FM radio and the early days of the internet, before commercialism and business interests took precedence?

    And yes, Plooker, FZ seldom gave a bad interview — except perhaps only when his interviewer was an obvious ass (then they deserved his sardonic wit).

  5. Plooker says:

    We have a satellite radio now and I see what you mean, FM is unlistenable. Much more advertising and BS than music.

    Although some of those bad interviews are good too. My favorite is when he just walked away from Nina Blackwood in the middle of her talking to him, classic! I love the laser beam look of disgust in his eyes, but I guess he always kind of had that.

  6. Robert says:

    [quote post=”1325″]My favorite is when he just walked away from Nina Blackwood in the middle of her talking to him[/quote]

    Where’s that one from?

  7. Robert says:

    BTW, i decided now to deliberately ignore the peculiarities of quoting. Go figure out yourself whom i’m quoting.

  8. Plooker says:

    Hey Robert, I guess my 38 year old memory served me wrong.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGSGh_zJHMQ

    It was not as mean as I remember, but still painfully funny.

  9. Robert says:

    [quote comment=”4652″]Hey Robert, I guess my 38 year old memory served me wrong.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGSGh_zJHMQ

    It was not as mean as I remember, but still painfully funny.[/quote]

    Ah, that one. This is from the ’81 Halloween show. Yes, the interview is funny indeed, but FZ is actually quite nice to Nina, no signs of walking away from her or anything. So my 42 year old memory served me better here, since i vaguely remembered FZ talking to some Nina in one of my torrent-dl’ed videos at home.

  10. Alex says:

    [quote post=”1325″]And yes, Plooker, FZ seldom gave a bad interview — except perhaps only when his interviewer was an obvious ass (then they deserved his sardonic wit).[/quote]

    I’m thinking FZ on Allen Thicke – a tool among tools, if I may say so – and an interview floating around called “Disco Sucks” (why, I don’t know) which I find thoroughly amusing.

    Thicke Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96n2SiwJ5og
    Grace Slick: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpcvJiZUbzI

  11. jonnybutter says:

    [quote post=”1325″]FZ is actually quite nice to Nina,[/quote]

    My GOD is she obnoxious! The conventional wisdom is that Frank was a hard interview, difficult person, etc. but I’d say he had a LOT of patience. This is hardly the only example.

Comments are closed.