Category Archives: Alumni

Jean-Luc Ponty in 1972

Rare footage of Jean-Luc Ponty from 1972. Performing his only original composition from his album King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa. While the album version goes 7:12 in length, this version (it is surmised that this … Continue reading

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Who Do You Think You Arf?!? – The European Grandmothers

I have always been intrigued by the D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) ethic among bands who cover and interpret Zappa’s music. True, few of these acts have any hope of actually being signed by today’s youth driven music business. In many … Continue reading

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You Ef What You Zee — The Eternal Question

In one of the previous posts, “The MOI – Conflicted Histories“, I was struck by one of the questions posed to Jimmy Carl Black:

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Small Screen Zappa – 67/68

On September 16, 1967, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention made a brief 10 minute appearance on Fred Weintraub’s WOR-TV New York show “From The Bitter End”. They lip synched “Son Of Suzy Creamcheese” from Absolutely Free, then performed … Continue reading

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Fraternity Of Man — Oh No I Don’t Believe It

“Fraternity Of Man” was released on Abc Records in 1968 and featured a cover of Frank Zappa’s “Oh No I Don’t Believe It” (which he had yet to release himself). Blues leads were handled by Elliot Ingber, and psychedelic leads … Continue reading

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The Mothers of Invention – Conflicted Histories

As time has passed since the publication of The Real Frank Zappa Book, and more interviews of original band members have emerged whose individual recollections contradict was had been written (and often taken as factual history) — it further sheds … Continue reading

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Bill Payne Interview

An exclusive 10 part series of interviews with Bill Payne of Little Feat conducted by Living Legends Music, recorded on May 1st, 2008 at The Florida Theatre in Jacksonville, FL. In part 4, above, Payne discusses 1969’s “Summer of Love”, … Continue reading

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Whatever Happened To Ray Collins?

Check this bittersweet little piece on the current whereabouts of former Mother, Ray Collins: He moved to Claremont after a modest legal settlement with Zappa over his and other founding members’ contributions to the band, he says. […] Collins turned … Continue reading

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News from Andre’ — Project/Object

This just in via email from Andre’ Cholmondeley: PROJECT/OBJECT – the music of Frank Zappa featuring IKE WILLIS & DON PRESTON and special guest RAY WHITE (on July 4 only) Sat 4th July – Western, Pa The Church Of Universal … Continue reading

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The Avalon All-Stars

The Avalon All-Stars is a loose-knit house band of the Avalon Ballroom located in San Francisco, CA, and featuring – depending on the night and availability – former members of the Jerry Garcia Band, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of … Continue reading

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